Combine way does not work

[axel@…]

If a way has been split an attempt to combine the split ways again using "Combine way" results in the error message "Could not combine ways (They could not be merged into a single string of nodes)". (Version 990)

[stoecker]

Cannot be reproduced. Make sure that you really select the correct elements. Add a better description and reopen report if still existing.

[anonymous]

Sorry that I did not provide the steps below initially!
The problem occurs only if a way splits, e.g. a T like junction.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Use "Draw Nodes" to create a way consisting on one segment (segment id is 1).
   
2. Create another (separate) way consisting of one segment (segment id is 1).
   
3. Select the node at the end of the first way and the node at the beginning of the second way.
   
4. Do "Merge nodes".
   
5. Select both ways and do "Combine way": Both segments will form one way and the id of the second way becomes 2. (-> Combine ways works in this case)
   
6. Create another separate way consisting of one segment (segment id is 1)
   
7. Select the node at the beginning of of the newly created way and the middle node of the already combined way.
   
8. Do "Merge nodes".
   
9. Select both ways and do "Combine way": You will receive the error message "Could not combine ways (They could not be merged into a single string of nodes).
   

OS: Ubuntu Feisty
Java: jdk1.6.0_10

[anonymous]

This is correct. A way in OSM does not mean a street in real worl, but is more a line. This you have a start and a end (which may be same) and nodes inbetween.

A T like contruction must be represented as two ways. You can give them same attributes, but you cannot join them.

This is a design fact of OSM.

Also when a street contains a bridge, in OSM this will be 3 ways. The part before, the part after the bridge and the brige itself.

And a note: If you find out, that you can actually do the on-way T by overlapping the side way of the T -- Don't do that. This produces a lot of problems in rendering and navigation.

If you don't like the rendering result - I agree, that renderers should get a bit more clever and join similar texts. I hope they will learn that in next time.