wxGUI(1grass) GRASS GIS User's Manual wxGUI(1grass)
wxGUI
DESCRIPTION
wxGUI is a native Graphical User Interface (GUI) for GRASS GIS. Its
main features include displaying geographical data in 2D and 3D, call-
ing GRASS GIS modules, and interacting with data.
Overview
The GUI is composed of three main components:
• The Layer Manager includes map layer management, integrated
command-line prompt, and command output window tab.
• The Map Display Window integrates basic tools for zooming, pan-
ning, data querying, and map elements (north arrows, barscale,
etc.). Each display window is associated with its own set of
map layers in the layer manager. The user may start multiple
map displays during a session. The map layers for each display
are grouped under different tabs in the Layer Manager.
• Module dialogs enable running GRASS modules.
Layer Manager
The Layer Manager provides an interactive graphical interface for cre-
ating and managing GRASS displays. There is a toolbar to manage dis-
played map layers, a layer tree frame in which map layers for display
are organized, a command output window tab, and interactive command
line prompt. On Linux and Windows platforms, the layer manager also has
a menu bar with a set of pull-down menus for all GRASS GIS functions
(analysis, file I/O, GIS configuration and management); on a Mac, the
GRASS functions menu is at the top of the screen.
Figure: Layer Manager screenshot on Ubuntu
The top left button of the toolbar opens a new Map Display Window. Each
map display has a unique set of layers to display and region settings.
Other toolbar buttons add layers of different types for display in the
selected map display window. There are additional buttons for saving or
opening workspace file, and others.
Map layers are listed in the window frame below the toolbar. Layers can
include raster and vector maps, vector labels, and commands (where any
GRASS command can be written). Layers are displayed as arranged in the
layer tree: the bottom layer is displayed first and the top layer is
displayed last, as if the layers were a series of stacked overlays.
The check box to the left of each layer makes it active or inactive for
display. Only active layers are displayed/redisplayed when the display
button is pressed. Layers can be organized into groups; entire groups
can be activated or deactivated for display. Layer tree composition can
be saved to a workspace file and opened in subsequent sessions, restor-
ing all layers and their display options.
A right mouse click on a layer or left clicking the button to the right
of the layer opens a dropdown menu with options to remove or rename the
layer (not the actual map), change its display properties (d.rast and
d.vect options such as color, symbol, etc.), show its metadata (r.info,
v.info) or attributes, if applicable.
A left mouse double click on a layer opens GUI for its display options
These options are those for the d.* command for each layer type
(d.rast, d.vect, or d.grid, for example).
Layer Manager Toolbar
Start new map display
Opens a new map display and creates empty layer tree tab in Layer
Manager.
Create new workspace
Removes all layers from the layer tree and creates a new, empty
tree where new layers can be added.
Open existing workspace file
Opens an previously saved workspace file, containing a set of dis-
play layers and their option settings.
Save current workspace to file
Saves current set of layers and their options to a workspace file.
Load map layers into workspace
Loads selected raster or vector maps into current layer tree.
Add raster map layer
Adds raster map to layer tree, see d.rast.
Add various raster map layers (RGB, HIS, shaded relief...)
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Add 3D raster map layer
Adds 3D raster map to layer tree.
Add RGB raster layer
Combines and displays three raster maps defined as red, green, and
blue channels to create an RGB color map, see d.rgb.
Add HIS raster layer
Combines and displays two or three raster maps defined as hue, in-
tensity, and (optionally) saturation channels to create a color
map, see d.his.
Add shaded relief raster map layer
Adds shaded relief raster map layer, see r.relief and d.shade.
Add raster arrows layer
Adds map of raster cells with directional arrows drawn. Arrow di-
rection and length are determined by separate aspect/directional
map and (optional) slope/intensity map, see d.rast.arrow.
Add raster numbers layer
Adds map of raster cells with numbers representing the cell values,
see d.rast.num.
Add vector map layer
Adds a vector map layer, see d.vect.
Add various vector map layers (thematic, chart...)
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Add thematic area (choropleth) map layer (for all vector
types)
Adds layer for thematic display values from a numeric attribute
column associated with a vector map. Options include: thematic dis-
play type (graduated colors or point sizes), methods for creating
display intervals, SQL query of attribute column to limit vector
objects to display, control of point icon types and sizes, control
of thematic color schemes, creation of legend for thematic map, and
saving the results of thematic mapping to a ps.map instructions
file for later printing, see d.vect.thematic.
Add thematic chart layer (for vector points)
Adds layer in which pie or bar charts can be automatically created
at vector point locations. Charts display values from selected col-
umns in the associated attribute table. Options include: chart
type, layer and attributes to chart, chart colors, and chart size
(fixed or based on attribute column), see d.vect.chart.
Add group
Adds an empty group. Layers can then be added to the group.
Add grid or vector labels overlay
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Add overlay grids and lines
Adds layer to display regular grid (for all locations) see d.grid
Add labels layer for vector objects (from existing labels file)
Add a layer of text from a labels file for vector objects created
with the v.label module. A labels file can also be created with a
text editor, see d.labels.
Add geodesic line layer
Add layer to display geodesic line for latitude/longitude locations
only, see d.geodesic
Add rhumbline layer
Add layer to display rhumblines (for latitude/longitude locations
only), see d.rhumbline.
Add command layer
Adds a layer in which a GRASS GIS command or command list can be
entered. For a command list use the semi-colon (";") symbol as a
separator. For example:
d.rast soils;d.rast -o roads;d.vect streams col=blue
Note that when an option of the command contains spaces, you need
to "escape" them with the backslash (’\’) character, for example:
d.text text=Population\ density
Delete selected layer
Removes selected map layer or map layer group from layer tree.
Edit vector maps
Opens vector digitizer to allow editing selected vector map.
Show attribute table
Opens attribute table manager for selected vector map.
Import raster or vector data
Import raster data
Import selected raster data into GRASS using r.in.gdal and load
them into current layer tree.
Link external raster data
Link selected external raster data as GRASS raster maps (using
r.external) and load them into current layer tree.
Set raster output format
Define external format for newly created raster maps (see r.exter-
nal.out for details)
Import vector data
Import selected vector data into GRASS using v.in.ogr and load them
into current layer tree.
Link external vector data
Link selected external vector data as GRASS vector maps (using
v.external) and load them into current layer tree.
Set vector output format
Define external format for newly created vector maps (see v.exter-
nal.out for details)
Raster Map Calculator
Launches Raster Calculator GUI front-end for r.mapcalc.
Graphical Modeler
Launches graphical modeler to create models and run them.
Georectifier Tool
Launches GCP Manager to create, edit, and manage Ground Control
Points.
Cartographic Composer
Launches Cartographic Composer to create interactively hardcopy map
outputs.
Show GUI settings
Opens dialog to change GUI settings.
Show help
Opens GRASS manual.
Map Display Window
The map display window includes toolbar that can be docked and undocked
from the window, a map canvas where a map composition of one or more
layers is displayed, and a statusbar with information about the geo-
graphic region of the maps displayed.
Figure: Map Display screenshot on Ubuntu
Each Map Display Window has a unique layer tree (in the layer manager)
and geographic region setting. At the top of the window is a toolbar
with buttons to manage the map in the display (render, erase, zoom and
pan), for query and and analysis (distance measurement, profile, and
histogram creation), to overlay map elements onto the display (scale,
north arrow, legend, and custom text), and to export or print the dis-
play.
In the statusbar, the user can choose to display the geographic coordi-
nates under the cursor, current geographical region extent, computa-
tional region (including graphical visualization in map display), map
display geometry (number of rows, columns, resolution) and map scale.
Checking the render button in the statusbar will cause the map display
to update automatically any time a map is added to, removed from, or
changed in its layer tree.
It is important to note that zooming in any display will have no effect
on the ’computational region’ setting (set with g.region). Only by se-
lecting the ’Set current region to match display’ item in the zoom menu
(in the map display toolbar) will the current display extents be copied
to the computational region extents.
Map Display Toolbar
Re-render display
Re-renders all active map layers regardless of whether they have
changed or not, see d.redraw.
Erase display
Erases the currently selected map display to a white background,
see d.erase.
Pointer
Select arrow cursor for map display.
Select features from vector map
Interactively select features from given vector map. Selection can
be stored to a new vector map, see v.what and v.extract.
Query raster/vector maps
Query selected raster, RGB raster (all three map channels will be
queried), or vector map(s) using the mouse. Map(s) must be selected
before query. Vector charts and thematic vector maps cannot be
queried. The results of the query will be displayed in a dialog.
See r.what, v.what.
Pan
Interactive selection of a new center of view in the active display
monitor. Drag the pan cursor while pressing the left mouse button
to pan. Panning changes the location of the region displayed but
not the size of the area displayed or the resolution. Panning does
not affect the computational region for other GIS processes, see
g.region.
Zoom in
Interactive zooming with the mouse in the active display monitor.
Drawing a box or just click with the mouse (left button) and
zoom-in cursor causes the display to zoom in so that the area de-
fined by the box fills the display. The map resolution is not
changed. Clicking with the zoom-in cursor causes the display to
zoom in by 30%, centered on the point where the mouse is clicked.
Zooming resets the display region extents (both size and location
of area displayed). It does not affect the computational region for
other GIS processes, see g.region.
Zoom out
Interactive zooming with the mouse in the active display monitor.
Drawing a box or just click with the mouse (left button) and
zoom-out cursor causes the display to zoom in so that the area dis-
played shrinks to fill the area defined by the box. The map resolu-
tion is not changed. Clicking with the zoom-out cursor causes the
display to zoom out by 30%, centered on the point where the mouse
is clicked. Zooming resets the display region extents (both size
and location of area displayed). It does not affect the computa-
tional region for other GIS processes, see g.region.
Zoom to selected map(s)
Set zoom extent based on selected raster or vector maps. Zooming
resets the display region extents (both size and location of area
displayed). It does not affect the computational region for other
GIS processes, see g.region.
Zoom to computational region extent
Set zoom extent based on the current computational region extent,
see g.region.
Return to previous zoom
Returns to the previous zoom extent. Up to 10 levels of zoom back
are maintained, see g.region.
Various zoom options
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to:
• Zoom to default region
• Zoom to saved region. Zooms to previously saved named region.
• Set computational region extent from display. The computa-
tional region (the mapset’s WIND file) is set to match the cur-
rent display extent (does not change the resolution), see g.re-
gion.
• Set computational region extent interactively. The computa-
tional region is set simply by drawing a box with the left
mouse button on Map Display.
• Set computational region from named region. This option
doesn’t affect display zoom.
• Save display geometry to named region
• Save computational region to named region
Analyze menu
Opens a dropdown menu with:
Measure distance
Interactive measurement of lengths defined with the mouse. The
length of each segment and the cumulative length of all segments
measuered is displayed in the command output window frame. Lengths
are measured in the current measurement unit. Double-click to
switch off measuring.
Measure area
Interactive measurement of area defined with the mouse. Area is
measured in the current measurement unit. Double-click to switch
off measuring.
Profile surface map
Interactively create profile of a raster map. Profile transect is
drawn with the mouse in map display. The profile may be of the dis-
played map or a different map. Up to three maps can be profiled si-
multaneously.
Create bivariate scatterplot of raster maps
Interactively create bivariate scatterplot of raster maps.
Create histogram of raster map
Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new window.
Create histogram with d.histogram
Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new window,
see d.histogram.
Vector network analysis tool
See tool’s manual page.
Add overlay
opens a dropdown menu that allows user to
Add raster map legend
Adds layer to display with legend of selected raster map, see
d.legend.
Add scalebar
Adds layer to display a scalebar. Options include scalebar place-
ment (using screen coordinates or a mouse), scalebar format, and
scalebar colors, see d.barscale.
Add north arrow
Adds layer to display a north arrow. Options include north arrow
placement (using screen coordinates or a mouse), north arrow style
and color, see d.northarrow.
Add text layer
Adds layer to display a line of text using default GRASS font (se-
lected with d.font). Options include: text placement (screen coor-
dinates); and text size, bolding, and color, see d.text.
Save display to graphic file
Save the visible image in map display to different raster graphic
formats.
Print map
Prints map on system native printer or PostScript device; saves
visible map display (including PostScript text and labels) to PDF
or EPS file.
Map display mode
Opens a dropdown menu for selecting different display mode
2D view
Normal GIS display. All active layers are composited and displayed
in 2D mode.
3D view
Experimental replacement for NVIZ. Displays all active layers in 3D
perspective using OpenGL. A new control panel opens to manage the
3D view. 3D view can be zoomed, panned, rotated, and tilted. The
vertical exaggeration of rasters and 3D vectors can be set. Various
color and lighten settings are possible. Not yet functional for
Windows platforms
Vector digitizer
Puts display into vector digitizing mode and opens a new digitizing
toolbar. The user can digitize a new vector map or edit an existing
map.
Raster digitizer
Puts display into raster digitizing mode and opens a new digitizing
toolbar. The user can digitize a new raster map or edit an existing
map.
Keyboard short-cuts
Layer Manager
Ctrl+Tab
Switch ’Layers’ and ’Console’ tab
Ctrl+Q
Quit
Ctrl+R
Render map in all map displays Workspace
Ctrl+N
Create new workspace
Ctrl+O
Load workspace from file
Ctrl+S
Close workspace Layers
Ctrl+Shift+L
Add multiple raster or vector map layers to current map display
Ctrl+Shift+R
Add raster map layer to current map display
Ctrl+Shift+V
Add vector map layer to current map display
Ctrl+W
Close current map display Console
Tab
Show command tooltips
Esc
Hide command tooltips
Ctrl+Space
Show auto-complete suggestions
Up/Down
List command history
Enter
Run command
Ctrl++
Increase font size (numerical keyboard plus key)
Ctrl+-
Decrease font size (numerical keyboard minus key)
Ctrl+mouse wheel
Increase or decrease font size
Map Display
F11
Fullscreen mode (toggle on/off)
Ctrl+W
Close map display
Ctrl+R
Render map (re-renders map)
F5
Render map (re-renders map)
Starting the graphical user interface
If the wxGUI is not the default user interface, it can defined as de-
fault by typing at the GRASS GIS command line prompt:
g.gui -u wxpython
Alternatively it may be defined in GISRC file ($HOME/.grass7/rc on
GNU/Linux, $APPDATA\GRASS7\rc on MS Windows) by GUI variable
GUI: wxpython
or by the environmental variable GRASS_GUI.
The GUI can be quit by selecting the ’File -> Exit GUI’ menu item. On
MS Windows when GRASS is launched without an interactive command line
this will end the entire GRASS session. In other cases the terminal
window will remain running; type exit at the command prompt to end the
GRASS session.
The GUI can be restarted from the GRASS command line prompt by typing
g.gui
or
g.gui wxpython
To restart with previously saved workspace file:
g.gui wxpython workspace=file.gxw
The user can also start GRASS from the shell command line with the
wxGUI specifying the --gui switch:
grass78 --gui
Background information
wxGUI is a native Graphical User Interface (GUI) for GRASS GIS written
in Python using wxPython library.
SEE ALSO
wxGUI components
wxGUI module dialogs wxGUI toolboxes (menu customization)
See also wxGUI wiki page (especially various video tutorials), and
Quick wxGUI Tutorial.
AUTHORS
Martin Landa, FBK-irst (2007-2008), Trento, Italy, and Czech Technical
University in Prague, Czech Republic
Michael Barton, Arizona State University, USA
Daniel Calvelo Aros
Jachym Cepicky
Markus Metz, Germany
Anna Kratochvilova, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague,
Czech Republic
Vaclav Petras, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech
Republic
Stepan Turek, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Re-
public
Tereza Fiedlerova, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague,
Czech Republic
Matej Krejci, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Re-
public
Icons created by Robert Szczepanek, Poland (Git repository)
Main index | Topics index | Keywords index | Graphical index | Full in-
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© 2003-2022 GRASS Development Team, GRASS GIS 7.8.7 Reference Manual
GRASS 7.8.7 wxGUI(1grass)
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