Hiding specific points in shapefile layer

I would do this by:

  • adding a column to the attribute table, name that "visible"
  • check those points that you don't want to be visible as "no".
  • in the shapefile properties (doubleclick on the shapefile) select properties>style>categorized>
  • select the "visible" column, and click on 'classify'
  • EITHER delete the "no" records from the style dialog window
  • OR uncheck their visibility checkbox
  • OR make them completely transparent

If it is ok to add a field to determine show / no show of your points, for instance:

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"Rule-based" styling can be set as "Show" = 'show' and "Show" = 'no show'.

On Rule properties window (by double-clicking on the 'no show' rule), you can tick-off the small box next to Symbol. This turns off symbol appearance.

When you need the hidden points back, turn the box on.


As long as there are only a few points to be hidden you could easily filter them even by listing their IDs (if necessary, when the respective points don't share a common attribute):

  • right-click the layer in layer-window

  • select 'Filter...'

  • type " 'ID' NOT IN ('id1','id2',...) " with 'id' being the point-IDs to hide and 'ID' the (name of the) unique ID-field

You can apply the same rule to any field-name / value combination to identify your points to hide, in case of an (unlikely) missing ID field.