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wxGUI
DESCRIPTION
wxGUI is a native Graphical User Interface (GUI) for GRASS GIS. Its main features include displaying
geographical data in 2D and 3D, calling GRASS GIS modules, and interacting with data.
Overview
The GUI is composed of two 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, panning, 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.
Layer Manager
The Layer Manager provides an interactive graphical interface for creating and managing GRASS displays.
There is a toolbar to manage displayed 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, restoring 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 display 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, intensity, 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 direction 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 display 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 columns 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.external.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.external.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
geographic 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
display.
In the statusbar, the user can choose to display the geographic coordinates under the cursor, current
geographical region extent, computational 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 selecting 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
Display map
Displays all active layers from layer tree and re-renders for display any layers that have changed
since the last time the display was updated, including layers added or removed.
Re-render map
Re-renders all active layers regardless of whether they have changed or not.
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 defined 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 displayed
shrinks to fill the area defined by the box. The map resolution 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 computational 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 computational region (the mapset’s WIND file)
is set to match the current display extent (does not change the resolution), see g.region.
• Set computational region extent interactively. The computational 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 displayed map or a different map. Up to three maps can be profiled
simultaneously.
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 placement (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 (selected with d.font). Options
include: text placement (screen coordinates); 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 mode
Normal GIS display. All active layers are composited and displayed in 2D mode.
3D view mode
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
Digitize mode
Puts display into vector digitizing mode and opens a new digitizing toolbar. The user can digitize a
new map or edit an existing map.
Keyboard short-cuts
Layer Manager
Ctrl+Tab
Switch ’Map layers’ and ’Command output’ tab
Ctrl+Q
Quit Workspace
Ctrl+N
Create new workspace
Ctrl+O
Load workspace from file
Ctrl+S
Close workspace Map 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 Command line prompt
Tab
Show command tooltips
Esc
Hide command tooltips
Ctrl+Space
Map entries without arguments (as in r.info [mapname])
Up/Down
List command history
Enter
Run command
Map Display
F11
Fullscreen mode (toggle on/off)
Starting the graphical user interface
If the wxGUI is not the default user interface, it can defined as default 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 (or
-wxpython) switch:
grass71 -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 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 Republic
Tereza Fiedlerova, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
Matej Krejci, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic
Icons created by Robert Szczepanek, Poland (SVN)
$Date: 2015-09-06 14:24:18 +0200 (Sun, 06 Sep 2015) $
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