26.8. Using processing from the command line

QGIS comes with a tool called QGIS Processing Executor which allows you to run Processing algorithms and models (built-in or provided by plugins) directly from the command line without starting QGIS Desktop itself.

From a command line tool, run qgis_process and you should get:

QGIS Processing Executor - 3.27.0-Master 'Master' (3.27.0-Master)
Usage: C:\OSGeo4W\apps\qgis-dev\bin\qgis_process.exe [--help] [--version] [--json] [--verbose] [--no-python] [command] [algorithm id, path to model file, or path to Python script] [parameters]

Options:

  --help or -h      Output the help
  --version or -v   Output all versions related to QGIS Process
  --json            Output results as JSON objects
  --verbose         Output verbose logs
  --no-python       Disable Python support (results in faster startup)

Available commands:

  plugins          list available and active plugins
  plugins enable   enables an installed plugin. The plugin name must be specified, e.g. "plugins enable cartography_tools"
  plugins disable  disables an installed plugin. The plugin name must be specified, e.g. "plugins disable cartography_tools"
  list             list all available processing algorithms
  help             show help for an algorithm. The algorithm id or a path to a model file must be specified.
  run              runs an algorithm. The algorithm id or a path to a model file and parameter values must be specified.
                   Parameter values are specified after -- with PARAMETER=VALUE syntax.
                   Ordered list values for a parameter can be created by specifying the parameter multiple times,
                   e.g. --LAYERS=layer1.shp --LAYERS=layer2.shp
                   Alternatively, a '-' character in place of the parameters argument indicates that the parameters should be read from STDIN as a JSON object.
                   The JSON should be structured as a map containing at least the "inputs" key specifying a map of input parameter values.
                   This implies the --json option for output as a JSON object.
                   If required, the ellipsoid to use for distance and area calculations can be specified via the "--ELLIPSOID=name" argument.
                   If required, an existing QGIS project to use during the algorithm execution can be specified via the "--PROJECT_PATH=path" argument.

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Only installed plugins that advertise hasProcessingProvider=yes in their metadata.txt file are recognized and can be activated or loaded by qgis_process tool.

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Before calling qgis_process on a system without window manager (e.g. a headless server), you should set:

export QT_QPA_PLATFORM=offscreen

The command list can be used to get a list of all available providers and algorithms.

qgis_process list

The command help can be used to get further information about commands or algorithms.

qgis_process help qgis:regularpoints

The command run can be used to run an algorithm or model. Specify the name of the algorithm or a path to a model as first parameter.

qgis_process run native:buffer -- INPUT=source.shp DISTANCE=2 OUTPUT=buffered.shp

Where a parameter accepts a list of values, set the same variable multiple times.

qgis_process run native:mergevectorlayers -- LAYERS=input1.shp LAYERS=input2.shp OUTPUT=merged.shp

While running an algorithm a text-based feedback bar is shown, and the operation can be cancelled via CTRL+C.

The run command also supports further parameters.

  • --json will format stdout output in a JSON structured way.

  • --ellipsoid will set the ellipsoid to the specified one.

  • --distance_units will use the specified distance units.

  • --area_units will use the specified area units.

  • --project_path will load the specified project for running the algorithm.

Complex input parameters, i.e. parameter types which are themselves specified as a dictionary type object for algorithms, are supported by qgis_process. To indicate that parameters will be specified via stdin, the qgis_process command must follow the format (with a trailing - in place of the usual arguments list).

qgis_process run algorithmId -

The JSON object must contain an „inputs” key, which is a map of the input parameter values. E.g.

echo "{'inputs': {'INPUT': 'my_shape.shp', 'DISTANCE': 5}}" | qgis_process run native:buffer -

Additionally, extra settings like the distance units, area units, ellipsoid and project path can be included in this JSON object:

{
 'ellipsoid': 'EPSG:7019',
 'distance_units': 'feet',
 'area_units': 'ha',
 'project_path': 'C:/temp/my_project.qgs'
 'inputs': {'DISTANCE': 5, 'SEGMENTS': 8 ... }
}

Specifying input parameters via stdin implies automatically the JSON output format for results.