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2.3. Lesson: An Overview of the Interface

We will explore the QGIS user interface so that you are familiar with the menus, toolbars, map canvas and layers list that form the basic structure of the interface.

The goal for this lesson: To understand the basics of the QGIS user interface.

2.3.1. basic Try Yourself: The Basics

../../../_images/gui_numbered.png

The elements identified in the figure above are:

  1. Layers List / Browser Panel
  2. Toolbars
  3. Map canvas
  4. Status bar
  5. Side Toolbar

2.3.1.1. basic The Layers List

In the Layers list, you can see a list, at any time, of all the layers available to you.

Expanding collapsed items (by clicking the arrow or plus symbol beside them) will provide you with more information on the layer’s current appearance.

Right-clicking on a layer will give you a menu with lots of extra options. You will be using some of them before long, so take a look around!

Some versions of QGIS have a separate Control rendering order checkbox just underneath the Layers list. Don’t worry if you can’t see it. If it is present, ensure that it’s checked for now.

Note

A vector layer is a dataset, usually of a specific kind of object, such as roads, trees, etc. A vector layer can consist of either points, lines or polygons.

2.3.1.2. basic The Browser Panel

The QGIS Browser is a panel in QGIS that lets you easily navigate in your database. You can have access to common vector files (e.g. ESRI shapefile or MapInfo files), databases (e.g.PostGIS, Oracle, Spatialite or MSSQL Spatial) and WMS/WFS connections. You can also view your GRASS data.

2.3.1.3. basic Toolbars

Your most oft-used sets of tools can be turned into toolbars for basic access. For example, the File toolbar allows you to save, load, print, and start a new project. You can easily customize the interface to see only the tools you use most often, adding or removing toolbars as necessary via the Settings ‣ Toolbars menu.

Even if they are not visible in a toolbar, all of your tools will remain accessible via the menus. For example, if you remove the File toolbar (which contains the Save button), you can still save your map by clicking on the Project menu and then clicking on Save.

2.3.1.4. basic The Map Canvas

This is where the map itself is displayed.

2.3.1.5. basic The Status Bar

Shows you information about the current map. Also allows you to adjust the map scale and see the mouse cursor’s coordinates on the map.

2.3.2. basic Try Yourself 1

Try to identify the four elements listed above on your own screen, without referring to the diagram above. See if you can identify their names and functions. You will become more familiar with these elements as you use them in the coming days.

Check your results

2.3.3. basic Try Yourself 2

Try to find each of these tools on your screen. What is their purpose?

  1. fileSaveAs

  2. zoomToLayer

  3. whatsThis

  4. ../../../_images/toggle_render.png

  5. measure

Note

If any of these tools is not visible on the screen, try enabling some toolbars that are currently hidden. Also keep in mind that if there isn’t enough space on the screen, a toolbar may be shortened by hiding some of its tools. You can see the hidden tools by clicking on the double right arrow button in any such collapsed toolbar. You can see a tooltip with the name of any tool by holding your mouse over the tool for a while.

Check your results

2.3.4. What’s Next?

Now you’ve seen how the QGIS interface works, you can use the tools available to you and start improving on your map! This is the topic of the next lesson.