Provided by: grass-doc_6.4.3-3_all 
NAME
ps.map - Produces hardcopy PostScript map output.
KEYWORDS
postscript, map, printing
SYNOPSIS
ps.map
ps.map help
ps.map [-rpeb] [input=string] [output=string] [scale=mapscale] [copies=integer] [--verbose]
[--quiet]
Flags:
-r
Rotate plot 90 degrees
-p
List paper formats ( name width height left right top bottom(margin) )
-e
Create EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) instead of PostScript file
-b
Describe map-box's position on the page and exit (inches from top-left of paper)
--verbose
Verbose module output
--quiet
Quiet module output
Parameters:
input=string
File containing mapping instructions
Use '-' to enter instructions from keyboard
output=string
PostScript output file
scale=mapscale
Scale of the output map, e.g. 1:25000 (default: Auto-sized to fit page)
copies=integer
Number of copies to print
Options: 1-20
DESCRIPTION
ps.map is a cartographic mapping program for producing high quality hardcopy maps in PostScript format.
Output can include a raster map, any number of vector overlays, text labels, decorations, and other
spatial data.
A file of mapping instructions that describes the various spatial and textual information to be printed
must be prepared prior to running ps.map.
This program can also be run in an interactive command-line mode, which is launched by running ps.map
from the command line without the input parameter. The interactive mode will prompt the user for items
to be mapped and does not require the user to prepare a file of instructions (n.b., some options may not
be used in interactive mode).
Rules may also be given via direct pipe from stdin.
NOTES
The order of commands is generally unimportant but may affect how some layers are drawn. For example to
plot vpoints above vareas list the vpoints entry first. Raster maps are always drawn first, and only a
single raster map (or 3 if part of a RGB group) may be used.
The hash character ('#') may be used at the beginning of a line to indicate that the line is a comment.
Blank lines will also be ignored.
Be aware that some mapping instructions require the end command and some do not. Any instruction that
allows subcommands will require it, any instruction that does not allow subcommands will not.
The resolution and extent of raster maps plotted with ps.map are controlled by the current region
settings via the g.region module. The output filesize is largely a function of the region resolution, so
special care should be taken if working with large raster datasets. For example if the desired output is
US-Letter sized paper at 300dpi, with 1" margins and the raster filling the entire page, the usable area
on the page will be 6.5" x 9", which at 300 dots/inch is equivalent to a region of 1950 columns x 2700
rows (see "g.region -p"). Any higher resolution settings will make the output file larger, but with a
consumer printer you probably won't be able to resolve any better detail in the hardcopy.
The user can specify negative or greater than 100 percentage values for positioning several map
decorations and embedded EPS-files, to move them outside the current map box region (for example to
position a caption, barscale, or legend above or below the map box).
One point ("pixel") is 1/72 of an inch.
For users wanting to use special characters (such as accented characters) it is important to note that
ps.map uses ISO-8859-1 encoding. This means that your instructions file will have to be encoded in this
encoding. If you normally work in a different encoding environment (such as UTF-8), you have to transform
your file to the ISO-8859-1 encoding, for example by using the iconv utility:
iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO_8859-1 utf_file > iso_file
MAPPING INSTRUCTIONS
The mapping instructions allow the user to specify various spatial data to be plotted. These instructions
are normally prepared in a regular text file using a system editor. Some instructions are single line
instructions while others are multiple line. Multiple line instructions consist of the main instruction
followed by a subsection of one or more additional instructions and are terminated with an end
instruction.
Instruction keywords:
[ border | colortable | comments | copies | eps | geogrid | greyrast | grid | group | header | labels |
line | mapinfo | maploc | maskcolor | outline | paper | point | psfile | raster | read | rectangle |
region | rgb | scale | scalebar | setcolor | text | vareas | vlines | vpoints | vlegend | end ]
Common instructions
Instructions that may be included in the subsection under several different main instructions are:
where x y
The top left corner of the bounding box of the item to be plotted is located x inches from the
left edge of the paper and y inches from the top edge of the paper. If x is less than or equal to
zero, the default horizontal location is used. If y is less than or equal to zero, the default
vertical location is used.
font font name
The name of the PostScript font. Fonts present in all PostScript implementations are: Times-
Roman, Times-Italic, Times-Bold, Times-BoldItalic, Helvetica, Helvetica-Oblique, Helvetica-Bold,
Helvetica-BoldOblique, Courier, Courier-Oblique, Courier-Bold, and Courier-BoldOblique.
The default is Helvetica.
fontsize font size
The size of the PostScript font (in 1/72nds of an inch). The default is 10 point.
color name
The following colors names are accepted by ps.map: aqua, black, blue, brown, cyan, gray, grey,
green, indigo, magenta, orange, purple, red, violet, white, yellow
For vectors and some plotting commands you can also specify ’none' or 'R:G:B' (e.g '255:0:0').
yes|no
For options that take a yes or no answer, you can simply use the letters "y" or "n", or type out
the full words "Yes" or "No" if you prefer. It is not case-sensitive. Typically the option with
have a default answer and you only need to specify one if you wish to override it.
Command usage
border
Controls the border which is drawn around the map area.
USAGE: border [y|n]
color color
width #
end
The color may be either a standard GRASS color, a R:G:B triplet, or "none". The width is specified in
points, unless followed by an "i" in which case it is measured in inches. The default is a black border
box of width 1 point.
The border can be turned off completely with the "border n" instruction. In this case the end command
should not be given as the main command will be treated as a single line instruction.
This example would create a grey border 0.1" wide.
EXAMPLE:
border
color grey
width 0.1i
end
colortable
Prints the color table legend for the raster map layer anywhere on the page.
USAGE: colortable [y|n]
where x y
raster raster map
range minimum maximum
width table width
height table height (FP legend only)
cols table columns
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
nodata [Y|n]
tickbar [y|N]
discrete [y|n]
end
For a categorical (CELL) map the color table will create a legend displaying the colors for each of a
raster map's category values along with its associated category label. For a floating point (FCELL or
DCELL) map a continuous gradient legend will be created.
If raster is omitted, the colortable defaults to the previously registered raster layer. The default
location for the colortable is immediately below any other map legend information, starting at the left
margin. The default text color is black. Omitting the colortable instruction would result in no color
table.
If the colortable is turned off with a "colortable N" instruction the end command should not be given as
the main command will be treated as a single line instruction.
See also the vlegend command for creating vector map legends.
Categorical (CELL) Maps
Adding the nodata N instruction will prevent the "no data" box from being drawn (category based legends
only). If you have manually added a "no data" label to the cats/ file it will be shown regardless.
Note: Be careful about asking for color tables for integer raster map layers which have many categories,
such as elevation. This could result in the printing of an extremely long color table! In this
situation it is useful to use the discrete N instruction to force a continuous color gradient legend.
Be aware that the color table only includes categories which have a label. If there are only a few
categories, you can use r.support to manually add labels. If there are too many categories to do this by
hand, you can supply a label rules file to the r.category module.
Floating point (FCELL and DCELL) Maps
The legend's range can be adjusted for floating point rasters, but if set beyond the extent of the map's
range be sure that you have set up color rules with r.colors which cover this range. If the map has been
given a data-units label with r.support then this label will be displayed. For floating point legends
width is width of color band only. height is used only for floating point legend. Adding the tickbar Y
instruction will change the tick mark style so that ticks are drawn across the color table instead of
protruding out to the right (floating point legends only). Adding the discrete Y instruction will
command the program to treat the map as a categorical map. In this way the legend can be created with
discrete range bands instead of a continuous gradient. You must use the r.category or r.support module to
set up the range labels first.
This example would print a color table immediately below any other map legend information, starting at
the left margin, with 4 columns:
EXAMPLE:
colortable y
cols 4
width 4
end
comments
Prints comments anywhere on the page.
USAGE: comments commentfile
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
end
The default location is immediately below the last item item printed, starting at the left margin. The
default text color is black.
If you wish to use parentheses spanning multiple lines you will need to quote them with a backslash to
prevent the PostScript interpreter from getting confused. e.g. '\(' and '\)'
This example prints in blue whatever is in the file veg.comments starting at 1.5 inches from the left
edge of the page and 7.25 inches from the top of the page, using a 15/72 inch Helvetica Bold font.
EXAMPLE:
raster vegetation
comments veg.comments
where 1.5 7.25
font Helvetica Bold
fontsize 15
color blue
end
Presumably, the file veg.comments contain comments pertaining to the raster map layer vegetation, such
as "This map was created by classifying a LANDSAT TM image".
copies
Specifies the number of copies to be printed.
USAGE: copies n
Each page will be printed n times.
This instruction is identical to the copies command line parameter.
eps
Places EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) pictures on the output map.
USAGE: eps east north
eps x% y%
epsfile EPS file
scale #
rotate #
masked [y|n]
end
The EPS picture location is entered in the main instruction line by giving either the map coordinates or
by using percentages of the geographic region. The EPS picture will be centered at the given position.
The user must specify full EPS file path epsfile. The user may also specify the scale of the icon
(default is 1.0), the rotate i.e. rotation in degrees (default is 0) and whether the point is to be
masked by the current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask for more information on the mask.)
This example would place a EPS file ./epsf/logo.eps at the point (E456000 N7890000). This picture would
be rotated 20 degrees clockwise, 3 times bigger than in original file and would not be masked by the
current mask.
EXAMPLE:
eps 456000 7890000
epsfile ./epsf/logo.eps
scale 3
rotate 20
masked n
end
Of course, multiple EPS pictures may be drawn with multiple eps instructions.
geogrid
Overlays a geographic grid onto the output map.
USAGE: geogrid spacing unit
color color
numbers # [color]
font font name
fontsize font size
width #
end
The spacing and spacing unit of the geographic grid is given on the main instruction line. The spacing
unit is given as one of d for degrees, m for minutes, and s for seconds. The subsection instructions
allow the user to specify the color of the geographic grid lines, whether coordinate numbers should
appear on the geographic grid lines, the width of the lines (accepts decimal points [floating points] as
well as integers), and if they should appear every grid line (1), every other grid line (2), etc., and
what color the numbers should be. The defaults are black grid lines, unnumbered.
NOTE: The geogrid draws grid numbers on the east and south borders of the map.
This example would overlay a blue geographic grid with a spacing of 30 minutes onto the output map.
Alternate grid lines would be numbered with yellow numbers.
EXAMPLE:
geogrid 30 m
color blue
numbers 2 yellow
end
greyrast
Selects a raster map layer for output in shades of grey.
USAGE: greyrast mapname
For each ps.map run, only one raster map layer can be requested (using either the greyrast or the raster
instruction).
grid
Overlays a coordinate grid onto the output map.
USAGE: grid spacing
color color
numbers # [color]
cross cross size
font font name
fontsize font size
width #
end
The spacing of the grid is given (in the geographic coordinate system units) on the main instruction
line. The subsection instructions allow the user to specify the color of the grid lines, whether
coordinate numbers should appear on the grid lines, and if they should appear every grid line (1), every
other grid line (2), etc., and what color the numbers should be. The cross argument draws grid
intersection crosses instead of grid lines, with cross size given in geographic coordinate system units.
The defaults are black grid lines, unnumbered.
This example would overlay a green grid with a spacing of 10000 meters (for a metered database, like UTM)
onto the output map. Alternate grid lines would be numbered with red numbers.
EXAMPLE:
grid 10000
color green
numbers 2 red
end
group
Selects an RGB imagery group for output.
USAGE: group groupname
This is similar to raster, except that it uses an imagery group instead of a raster map layer. The group
must contain three raster map layers, comprising the red, green and blue bands of the image.
header
Prints the map header above the map.
USAGE: header
file header file
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
end
If the file sub-instruction is absent the header will consist of the map's title and the location's
description. The text will be centered on the page above the map. The default text color is black.
If the file sub-instruction is given the header will consist of the text in the text file specified, with
some special formatting keys:
%% - a literal %
%n - ? newline ?
%_ - horizontal bar
%c - " in mapset "
%d - today's date
%l - location name
%L - Location's text description
%m - mapset name
%u - user name
%x - mask info
%- - advance to this character column number (see example below)
Example header file:
%_
LOCATION: %-27l DATE: %d
MAPSET: %-27m USER: %u
RASTER MAP: %c
MASK: %x
%_
Produced by: US Army CERL, Champaign Illinois
Software: GRASS
%_
This example prints (in red) whatever is in the file soils.hdr above the map, using a 20/72 inch Courier
font.
EXAMPLE:
header
file soils.hdr
font Courier
fontsize 20
color red
end
labels
Selects a labels file for output (see manual entry for v.label ).
USAGE: labels labelfile
font font name
end
NOTE: ps.map can read new option 'ROTATE:' from labels file, which specifies counter clockwise rotation
in degrees.
This example would paint labels from the labels file called town.names. Presumably, these labels would
indicate the names of towns on the map.
EXAMPLE:
labels town.names
end
line
Draws lines on the output map.
USAGE: line east north east north
line x% y% x% y%
color color
width #
masked [y|n]
end
The beginning and ending points of the line are entered on the main instruction. These points can be
defined either by map coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic region. The user may also
specify line color, width in pixels (accepts decimal points [floating points] as well as integers), and
if the line is to be masked by the current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask
for more information on the mask.)
This example would draw a yellow line from the point x=10% y=80% to the point x=30% y=70%. This line
would be 2 pixels wide and would appear even if there is a mask.
EXAMPLE:
line 10% 80% 30% 70%
color yellow
width 2
masked n
end
Of course, multiple lines may be drawn with multiple line instructions.
mapinfo
Prints the portion of the map legend containing the scale, grid and region information, on or below the
map.
USAGE: mapinfo
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
background box color|none
border color|none
end
The default location is immediately below the map, starting at the left edge of the map. The default
text color is black. The default background box color is white.
border will draw a border around the legend using the specified color. (see NAMED COLORS)
This example prints (in brown) the scale, grid and region information immediately below the map and
starting 1.5 inches from the left edge of the page, using a 12/72 inch Courier font.
EXAMPLE:
mapinfo
where 1.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 12
color brown
end
maploc
Positions the map on the page.
USAGE: maploc x y [width height]
The upper left corner of the map will be positioned x inches from the left edge of the page and y inches
from the top of the page. If width and height (in inches) are present, the map will be rescaled, if
necessary, to fit.
This example positions the upper left corner of the map 2.0 inches from the left edge and 3.5 inches from
the top edge of the map.
EXAMPLE:
maploc 2.0 3.5
maskcolor
Color to be used for mask.
USAGE: maskcolor color
outline
Outlines the areas of a raster map layer with a specified color.
USAGE: outline
color color
width width of line in pixels
end
Distinct areas of the raster map will be separated from each other visually by drawing a border (or
outline) in the specified color (default: black). For width the program accepts decimal points [floating
points] as well as integers. Note: it is important the user enter the instruction end even if a color is
not chosen. (It is hoped that in the future the outline of a different raster map layer other than the
one currently being painted may be placed on the map.)
This example would outline the category areas of the soils raster map layer in grey.
EXAMPLE:
raster soils
outline
color grey
width 2
end
paper
Specifies paper size and margins.
USAGE: paper paper name
height #
width #
left #
right #
bottom #
top #
end
paper may select predefined paper name (a4,a3,a2,a1,a0,us-legal,us-letter,us-tabloid). Default paper
size is a4. The measures are defined in inches. left, right, bottom and top are paper margins. If the
plot is rotated with the -r command line flag, measures are applied to the rotated page.
EXAMPLE:
paper a3
end
EXAMPLE:
paper
width 10
height 10
left 2
right 2
bottom 2
top 2
end
point
Places additional points or icons on the output map.
USAGE: point east north
point x% y%
color color
fcolor color
symbol symbol group/name
size #
rotate #
masked [y|n]
end
The point location is entered in the main instruction line by giving either the map coordinates or by
using percentages of the geographic region. The user may also specify the point color, the size of
symbol in points, the rotation angle (in degrees CCW), and whether the point is to be masked by the
current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask
for more information on the mask.)
This example would place a purple diamond (from icon file diamond) at the point (E456000 N7890000). This
diamond would be the the size of a 15 points and would not be masked by the current mask.
EXAMPLE:
point 456000 7890000
fcolor purple
color black
symbol basic/diamond
size 15
masked n
end
Of course, multiple points may be drawn with multiple point instructions.
psfile
Copies a file containing PostScript commands into the output file.
Note: ps.map will not search for this file. The user must be in the correct directory or specify the
full path on the psfile instruction. (Note to /bin/csh users: ~ won't work with this instruction).
USAGE: psfile filename
This example copies the file "logo.ps" into the output file.
EXAMPLE:
psfile logo.ps
raster
Selects a raster map layer for output.
USAGE: raster mapname
For each ps.map run, only one raster map layer (or set of layers or imagery group; see below) can be
requested. If no raster map layer is requested, a completely white map will be produced. It can be useful
to select no raster map layer in order to provide a white background for vector maps.
Note that an imagery group selected with the group option, or a set of three raster layers selected with
the rgb option, count as a raster map layer for the purposes of the preceding paragraph.
The PostScript file's internal title will be set to the raster map's title, which in turn may be set with
the r.suppport module.
This example would paint a map of the raster map layer soils.
EXAMPLE:
raster soils
read
Provides ps.map with a previously prepared input stream.
USAGE: read previously prepared UNIX file
Mapping instructions can be placed into a file and read into ps.map.
Note: ps.map will not search for this file. The user must be in the correct directory or specify the
full path on the read instruction. (Note to /bin/csh users: ~ won't work with this instruction).
This example reads the UNIX file pmap.roads into ps.map. This file may contain all the ps.map
instructions for placing the vector map layer roads onto the output map.
EXAMPLE:
read pmap.roads
The user may have created this file because this vector map layer is particularly useful for many ps.map
outputs. By using the read option, the user need not enter all the input for the vector instruction, but
simply read the previously prepared file with the correct instructions.
rectangle
Draws rectangle on the output map.
USAGE: rectangle east north east north
rectangle x% y% x% y%
color color
fcolor fill color
width #
masked [y|n]
end
The two corners of the rectangle are entered on the main instruction. These points can be defined
either by map coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic region. The user may also specify
line color, fill color fcolor, width in pixels (accepts decimal points [floating points] as well as
integers), and if the rectangle is to be masked by the current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask for
more information on the mask.)
Multiple rectangles may be drawn by using multiple rectangle instructions.
This example would draw a yellow rectangle filled by green from the point x=10% y=80% to the point x=30%
y=70%. This line would be 2 pixels wide and would appear even if there is a mask.
EXAMPLE:
rectangle 10% 80% 30% 70%
color yellow
fcolor green
width 2
masked n
end
region
Places the outline of a smaller geographic region on the output.
USAGE: region regionfile
color color
width #
end
Geographic region settings are created and saved using the g.region module. The ps.map region option
can be used to show an outline of a smaller region which was printed on a separate run of ps.map on other
user-created maps.
The user can specify the color and the width in pixel units (accepts decimal points [floating points] as
well as integers) of the outline. The default is a black border of one pixel width.
This example would place a white outline, 2 pixels wide, of the geographic region called fire.zones onto
the output map. This geographic region would have been created and saved using g.region.
EXAMPLE:
region fire.zones
color white
width 2
end
rgb
Selects three raster map layers for output as an RGB color image.
USAGE: rgb red green blue
This is similar to raster, except that it uses three raster map layers instead of a single layer. The
three layers are composed to form a color image, similar to d.rgb.
For each layer, only one of the components of the layer's color table is used: the red component for the
red layer, and so on. This will give the desired result if all of the layers have a grey-scale color
table, or if each layer's color table uses the hue appropriate to the layer.
scale
Selects a scale for the output map.
USAGE: scale scale
The scale can be selected either as:
a relative ratio, e.g. 1:25000;
an absolute width of the printed map, e.g. 10 inches;
the number of printed paper panels, e.g. 3 panels .I (at the present time, only 1 panel is
supported);
the number of miles per inch, e.g. 1 inch equals 4 miles.
This example would set the scale of the map to 1 unit = 25000 units.
EXAMPLE:
scale 1:25000
This instruction is identical to the scale command line parameter.
NOTE: Using "scale" from the command line is depreciated and while still provided for compatibility
reasons it will be removed in the future. Please use the "scale" mapping instruction instead.
scalebar
Draws a scalebar on the map.
USAGE: scalebar [f|s]
where x y
length overall distance in map units
units [auto|meters|kilometers|feet|miles|nautmiles]
height scale height in inches
segment number of segments
numbers #
fontsize font size
background [Y|n]
end
Draw one of two types of scale bar. Fancy (f) draws alternating black and white scale boxes. Simple
(s) draws a plain line scale. The default type is fancy. The subsection instructions allow the user to
set where the scalebar is placed, the length of the scalebar (in geographic coordinate system units, or
those given by units), the height of the scalebar in inches, and the number of segments (or tics for
simple). The number of annotations numbers every n-th segment. The background command can turn off the
background box for the text.
The scalebar length is the only required argument. The defaults are a fancy scalebar with 4 segments,
each segment labeled, and a height of 0.1 inches. The default location is 2 inches from the top of the
page and halfway across.
NOTE: The scalebar is centered on the location given.
This example draws a simple scalebar 1000 meters (for a metered database, like UTM) long, with tics every
200 meters, labeled every second tic. The scalebar is drawn 5 inches from the top and 4 inches from the
left and is 0.25 inches high.
EXAMPLE:
scalebar s
where 4 5
length 1000
height 0.25
segment 5
numbers 2
end
setcolor
Overrides the color assigned to one or more categories of the raster map layer.
USAGE: setcolor cat(s) color
This example would set the color for categories 2,5 and 8 of the raster map layer watersheds to white
and category 10 to green. (NOTE: no spaces are inserted between the category values.)
EXAMPLE:
raster watersheds
setcolor 2,5,8 white
setcolor 10 green
Of course, setcolor can be requested more than once to override the default color for additional
categories. More than one category can be changed for each request by listing all the category values
separated by commas (but with no spaces). Also ranges can be included, for example "1,2,6-10,12". Colors
for "null" and the "default" (i.e. out-of-range) color may also be reassigned.
text
Places text on the map.
USAGE: text east north text
text x% y% text
font fontname
color color|none
width #
hcolor color|none
hwidth #
background color|none
border color|none
fontsize font size
size #
ref reference point
rotate degrees CCW
xoffset #
yoffset #
opaque [y|n]
end
The user specifies where the text will be placed by providing map coordinates or percentages of the
geographic region. The text follows these coordinates on the same instruction line. More than one line
of text can be specified by notating the end of a line with \n (e.g. USA\nCERL).
The user can then specify various text features:
font: the PostScript font. Common possibilities are listed at the start of this help page. The default is
Helvetica.
color (see NAMED COLORS);
width of the lines used to draw the text to make thicker letters (accepts decimal points [floating
points] as well as integers);
size and fontsize. size gives the vertical height of the letters in meters on the ground (text size will
grow or shrink depending on the scale at which the map is painted). Alternatively fontsize can set the
font size directly. If neither size or fontsize is given, a default font size of 10 will be used;
the highlight color (hcolor) and the width of the highlight color (hwidth);
the text-enclosing-box background color; the text box border color;
ref. This reference point specifies the text handle - what part of the text should be placed on the
location specified by the map coordinates. Reference points can refer to: [lower|upper|center]
[left|right|center] of the text to be printed; The default is center center, i.e the text is centered on
the reference point.
rotate sets the text rotation angle, measured in degrees counter-clockwise.
yoffset, which provides finer placement of text by shifting the text a vertical distance in pixels from
the specified north. The vertical offset will shift the location to the south if positive, north if
negative;
xoffset, which shifts the text a horizontal distance in pixels from the specified east The horizontal
offset will shift the location east if positive, west if negative;
opaque, whether or not the text should be opaque to vectors. Entering no to the opaque option will allow
the user to see any vectors which go through the text's background box. Otherwise, they will end at the
box's edge.
The following example would place the text SPEARFISH LAND COVER at the coordinates E650000 N7365000. The
text would be a total of 3 pixels wide (2 pixels of red text and 1 pixel black highlight), have a white
background enclosed in a red box, and be 500 meters in size. The lower right corner of the text would be
centered over the coordinates provided. All vectors on the map would stop at the border of this text.
EXAMPLE:
text 650000 7365000 SPEARFISH LAND COVER
font romand
color red
width 2
hcolor black
hwidth 1
background white
border red
size 500
ref lower left
opaque y
end
vareas
Selects a vector map layer for output and plots areas.
USAGE: vareas vectormap
layer # (layer number used with cats/where option)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement
masked [y|n]
color color
fcolor color
rgbcolumn column
width #
label label to use in legend
lpos position in legend
pat pattern file
pwidth #
scale #
end
The user can specify:
color - color of the vector lines or area boundaries;
fcolor - the area fill color;
rgbcolumn - name of color definition column used for the area fill color;
width - width of the vectors lines or area boundaries in pixels (accepts decimal points [floating points]
as well as integers);
masked - whether or not the raster map layer is to be masked by the current mask; (see manual entry
r.mask for more information on the mask)
cats - which categories should be plotted (default is all);
where - select features using a SQL where statement. For example: vlastnik = 'Cimrman';
label - for description in vlegend. Default is: map(mapset);
lpos - position vector is plotted in legend. If lpos is 0 then this vector is omitted in legend. If more
vectors used the same lpos then their symbols in legend are merged and label for first vector is used.
pat - full path to pattern file. The pattern file contains header and simple PostScript commands. It is
similar to EPS but more limited, meaning that while each pattern file is a true EPS file, most EPS files
are not useful as pattern files because they contain restricted commands. Color of patterns are set by
fcolor (red, green, ..., none, R:G:B) by the color instruction. Pattern may be scaled with the scale
command. Several standard hatching patterns are provided in $GISBASE/etc/paint/patterns/. Demonstrative
images can be found on the GRASS Wiki site. You can also create your own custom pattern files in a text
editor. Example of pattern file:
%!PS-Adobe-2.0 EPSF-1.2
%%BoundingBox: 0 0 10 10
newpath
5 0 moveto
5 10 lineto
stroke
scale - pattern scale
pwidth - pattern line width, width is used by pattern until the width is overwritten in pattern file.
EXAMPLE:
vareas forest
color blue
width 1
masked y
cats 2,5-7
end
vlines
Selects a vector map layer for output and plots lines.
USAGE: vlines vectormap
type line and/or boundary
layer # (layer number used with cats/where option)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement like: vlastnik = 'Cimrman'
masked [y|n]
color color
rgbcolumn column
width #
cwidth #
hcolor color
hwidth #
offset #
coffset #
ref left|right
style 00001111
linecap style
label label
lpos #
end
The user can specify:
type - the default is lines only;
color - color of the vector lines or area boundaries;
rgbcolumn - name of color definition column used for the vector lines or area boundaries;
width - width of the vectors lines or area boundaries in pixels (accepts decimal points [floating points]
as well as integers);
cwidth - width of the vectors lines. If cwidth is used then width of line is equal to cwidth * category
value and width is used in legend;
hcolor - the highlight color for the vector lines;
hwidth - the width of the highlight color in pixels;
offset (experimental) - offset for the vectors lines in pixels for plotting parallel lines in distance
equal to offset (accepts positive or negative decimal points). Useful to print streets with several
parallel lanes;
coffset (experimental) - offset for the vectors lines. If coffset is used then offset of line is equal
to coffset * category value and offset is used in legend;
ref (experimental) - line justification.
masked - whether or not the raster map layer is to be masked by the current mask; (see manual entry
r.mask for more information on the mask);
style - the line style allows the vectors to be dashed in different patterns. This is done by either
typing "solid", "dashed", "dotted", or "dashdotted", or as a series of 0's and 1's in a desired sequence
or pattern. The first block of repeated zeros or ones represents "draw", the second block represents
"blank". An even number of blocks will repeat the pattern, an odd number of blocks will alternate the
pattern. The default is "solid";
linecap - the linecap specifies the look of the ends of the line, or the end of the dashes in a dashed
line. The parameters are: ’butt' for butt caps (default), 'round' for round caps and 'extended_butt' for
extended butt caps. The shape of the round and the extended butt caps is related to the line thickness:
for round butts the radius is half the linewidth, while for extended butt the line will extend for half
the linewidth.
cats - which categories should be plotted (default is all);
label - for description in vlegend. Default is: map(mapset);
lpos - position vector is plotted in legend. If lpos is 0 then this vector is omitted in legend. If more
vectors used the same lpos then their symbols in legend are merged and label for first vector is used.
EXAMPLE:
vlines streams
color blue
width 2
hcolor white
hwidth 1
masked y
cats 2
label Streams - category 2
end
vpoints
Selects vector point data to be placed on the output map
USAGE: vpoints vectormap
type point and/or centroid
layer # (layer number used with cats/where/sizecol options)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement like: vlastnik = 'Cimrman'
masked [y|n]
color color
fcolor color
rgbcolumn column
width #
eps epsfile
symbol symbol group/name
size #
sizecolumn attribute column used for symbol sizing
scale scaling factor for sizecolumn values
rotate #
rotatecolumn column
label legend label
lpos position in legend
end
The user may specify the the color of the sites (see section on NAMED COLORS); either the GRASS symbol
or the eps Encapsulated Postscript file to be used to represent the presence of a site (if '$' is used in
the EPS file path it will be replaced by category number); and rotate (in degrees) for counter-clockwise
rotation.
The size of the icon (number of times larger than the size it is in the icon file) is typically given by
the size option. Alternatively the size of the symbol or EPS graphic can be taken from an attribute
column by using the sizecolumn command. The value given by sizecolumn may be scaled by using the scale
factor setting (default scaling is 1.0). In a similar manner symbol color can be read from rgbcolumn and
the rotation angle read from rotatecolumn.
EXAMPLE:
vpoints windmills
color blue
symbol mills/windmill
size 10
end
vlegend
Prints the portion of the map legend containing the vector information, on or below the map.
USAGE: vlegend
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
width width of color symbol
cols number of columns to print
span column separation
border color|none
end
The default location is immediately below the legend containing the scale, grid and region information,
starting at the left edge of the map. If the where instruction is present and y is less than or equal to
zero, the vector legend will be positioned immediately below the map, starting x inches from the left
edge of the page.
width is the width in inches of the color symbol (for lines) in front of the legend text. The default is
1/24 * fontsize inches.
cols is the number of columns to split the legend into. The default is one column. The maximum number of
colums is 10, or equal to the number of legend entries if there are less than 10 entries.
span is the column separation distance between the left edges of two columns in a multicolumn legend. It
is given in inches. The default is automatic scaling based on the left margin and the right hand side of
the map box.
border will draw a border around the legend using the specified color. (see NAMED COLORS)
Alternatively, the user can create a custom legend by using the point, and text instructions.
See also the colortable command for creating raster map legends.
This example prints the vector legend immediately below the map and starting 4.5 inches from the left
edge of the page, using a 12/72 inch Helvetica font.
EXAMPLE:
vlegend
where 4.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 12
end
end
Terminates input and begin painting the map.
USAGE: end
EXAMPLES
The following are examples of ps.map script files.
Simple example
The file has been named spear.basic:
# this ps.map example draws a map of Spearfish, SD
raster elevation.dem
header
end
vlines roads
color brown
end
end
Generate map as Postsript file:
ps.map input=spear.basic output=spear_basic.ps
More complicated example
The file has been named spear.soils:
# this ps.map example draws a map of Spearfish, SD
raster soils
outline
color black
width 1
end
comments soil.cmt
where 1 6
font Helvetica
end
colortable y
where 1 6.5
cols 4
width 4
font Helvetica
end
setcolor 6,8,9 white
setcolor 10 green
vlines roads
width 2
style 0111
color grey
masked n
end
vlegend
where 4.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 8
end
text 30% 100% SPEARFISH SOILS MAP
color red
width 1
hcolor black
hwidth 1
background white
border red
size 500
ref lower left
end
line 606969.73 3423092.91 616969.73 3423092.91
color yellow
width 2
end
point 40% 60%
color purple
symbol basic/diamond
size 25
masked n
end
scale 1:125000
scalebar f
where 4.5 6.5
length 5000
height 0.05
segment 5
numbers 5
end
geogrid 60 s
color blue
numbers 2 yellow
end
paper a4
end
end
This script file can be entered at the command line:
# First set the region
g.region rast=soils
# Generate comment file (or use text editor)
echo "Spearfish (SD) soils" > soil.cmt
# Generate map as Postsript file
ps.map input=spear.soils output=soils.ps
More examples can be found on the GRASS Wiki help site.
CHANGES BETWEEN VERSION 5.0.x/5.4.x and 6.0
Devices and ps.select do not exist any more. Paper is defined by the paper instruction.
vpoints are used instead of sites (points are read from vector).
vector is substituted by vpoints, vlines and vareas.
Symbols are used instead of icons (different format and directory).
Map legend can be printed in columns.
SEE ALSO
g.region, v.label
AUTHOR
Paul Carlson, USDA, SCS, NHQ-CGIS
Modifications: Radim Blazek, Glynn Clements, Bob Covill, Hamish Bowman
Last changed: $Date: 2013-02-15 14:04:18 -0800 (Fri, 15 Feb 2013) $
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© 2003-2013 GRASS Development Team
GRASS 6.4.3 ps.map(1grass)