wxGUI is a native GraphicalUserInterface (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 three main components:
• The LayerManager includes map layer management, integrated command-line prompt, and command
output window tab.
• The MapDisplayWindow 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.
• Module dialogs enable running GRASS modules that can be searched and launched via Tools tab.
LayerManager
The LayerManager 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 MapDisplayWindow. 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).
LayerManagerToolbarStartnewmapdisplay
Opens a new map display and creates empty layer tree tab in Layer Manager.
Createnewworkspace
Removes all layers from the layer tree and creates a new, empty tree where new layers can be added.
Openexistingworkspacefile
Opens an previously saved workspace file, containing a set of display layers and their option
settings.
Savecurrentworkspacetofile
Saves current set of layers and their options to a workspace file.
Loadmaplayersintoworkspace
Loads selected raster or vector maps into current layer tree.
Addrastermaplayer
Adds raster map to layer tree, see d.rast.
Addvariousrastermaplayers(RGB,HIS,shadedrelief...)
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Add3Drastermaplayer
Adds 3D raster map to layer tree.
AddRGBrasterlayer
Combines and displays three raster maps defined as red, green, and blue channels to create an RGB
color map, see d.rgb.
AddHISrasterlayer
Combines and displays two or three raster maps defined as hue, intensity, and (optionally) saturation
channels to create a color map, see d.his.
Addshadedreliefrastermaplayer
Adds shaded relief raster map layer, see r.relief and d.shade.
Addrasterarrowslayer
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.
Addrasternumberslayer
Adds map of raster cells with numbers representing the cell values, see d.rast.num.
Addvectormaplayer
Adds a vector map layer, see d.vect.
Addvariousvectormaplayers(thematic,chart...)
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Addthematicarea(choropleth)maplayer(forallvectortypes)
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.
Addthematicchartlayer(forvectorpoints)
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.
Addgroup
Adds an empty group. Layers can then be added to the group.
Addgridorvectorlabelsoverlay
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
Addoverlaygridsandlines
Adds layer to display regular grid see d.gridAddlabelslayerforvectorobjects(fromexistinglabelsfile)
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.
Addgeodesiclinelayer
Add layer to display geodesic line for latitude/longitude projects only, see d.geodesicAddrhumblinelayer
Add layer to display rhumblines (for latitude/longitude projects only), see d.rhumbline.
Addcommandlayer
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
Deleteselectedlayer
Removes selected map layer or map layer group from layer tree.
Editvectormaps
Opens vectordigitizer to allow editing selected vector map.
Showattributetable
Opens attributetablemanager for selected vector map.
ImportrasterorvectordataImportrasterdata
Import selected raster data into GRASS using r.in.gdal and load them into current layer tree.
Linkexternalrasterdata
Link selected external raster data as GRASS raster maps (using r.external) and load them into current
layer tree.
Setrasteroutputformat
Define external format for newly created raster maps (see r.external.out for details)
Importvectordata
Import selected vector data into GRASS using v.in.ogr and load them into current layer tree.
Linkexternalvectordata
Link selected external vector data as GRASS vector maps (using v.external) and load them into current
layer tree.
Setvectoroutputformat
Define external format for newly created vector maps (see v.external.out for details)
RasterMapCalculator
Launches Raster Calculator GUI front-end for r.mapcalc.
GraphicalModeler
Launches graphicalmodeler to create models and run them.
GeorectifierTool
Launches GCPManager to create, edit, and manage Ground Control Points.
CartographicComposer
Launches CartographicComposer to create interactively hardcopy map outputs.
ShowGUIsettings
Opens dialog to change GUI settings.
Showhelp
Opens GRASS manual.
MapDisplayWindow
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.
MapDisplayToolbarRe-renderdisplay
Re-renders all active map layers regardless of whether they have changed or not, see d.redraw.
Erasedisplay
Erases the currently selected map display to a white background, see d.erase.
Pointer
Select arrow cursor for map display.
Selectfeaturesfromvectormap
Interactively select features from given vector map. Selection can be stored to a new vector map, see
v.what and v.extract.
Queryraster/vectormaps
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.
Zoomin
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.
Zoomout
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.
Zoomtoselectedmap(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.
Zoomtocomputationalregionextent
Set zoom extent based on the current computational region extent, see g.region.
Returntopreviouszoom
Returns to the previous zoom extent. Up to 10 levels of zoom back are maintained, see g.region.
Variouszoomoptions
Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to:
• Zoomtodefaultregion
• Zoomtosavedregion. Zooms to previously saved named region.
• Setcomputationalregionextentfromdisplay. The computational region (the mapset’s WIND file)
is set to match the current display extent (does not change the resolution), see g.region.
• Setcomputationalregionextentinteractively. The computational region is set simply by drawing
a box with the left mouse button on Map Display.
• Setcomputationalregionfromnamedregion. This option doesn’t affect display zoom.
• Savedisplaygeometrytonamedregion
• SavecomputationalregiontonamedregionAnalyzemenu
Opens a dropdown menu with:
Measuredistance
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.
Measurearea
Interactive measurement of area defined with the mouse. Area is measured in the current measurement
unit. Double-click to switch off measuring.
Profilesurfacemap
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.
Createbivariatescatterplotofrastermaps
Interactively create bivariate scatterplot of raster maps.
Createhistogramofrastermap
Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new window.
Createhistogramwithd.histogram
Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new window, see d.histogram.
Vectornetworkanalysistool
See tool’s manual page.
Addoverlay
opens a dropdown menu that allows user to
Addrastermaplegend
Adds layer to display with legend of selected raster map, see d.legend.
Addscalebar
Adds layer to display a scalebar. Options include scalebar placement (using screen coordinates or a
mouse), scalebar format, and scalebar colors, see d.barscale.
Addnortharrow
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.
Addtextlayer
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.
Savedisplaytographicfile
Save the visible image in map display to different raster graphic formats.
Printmap
Prints map on system native printer or PostScript device; saves visible map display (including
PostScript text and labels) to PDF or EPS file.
Mapdisplaymode
Opens a dropdown menu for selecting different display mode
2Dview
Normal GIS display. All active layers are composited and displayed in 2D mode.
3Dview
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
Vectordigitizer
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.
Rasterdigitizer
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.
Keyboardshort-cutsLayerManager
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
MapDisplay
F11
Fullscreen mode (toggle on/off)
Ctrl+W
Close map display
Ctrl+R
Render map (re-renders map)
F5
Render map (re-renders map)
StartingtheGUIfromcommandline
By default, the GUI is always started, but if only the command line (shell) is running, the GUI can be
also started manually using:
g.gui
If the wxGUI is not the default user interface, it can defined as default by typing at the GRASS GIS
command line:
g.gui -d wxpython
Alternatively, it may be defined in the main configuration file ($HOME/.grass8/rc on GNU/Linux and macOS,
%APPDATA%\Roaming\GRASS8\rc on MS Windows) using the GUI variable set to wxpython (GUI: wxpython) or by
the environmental variable GRASS_GUI. To start with a previously saved workspace file:
g.gui workspace=file.gxw
The user can also start GRASS from the shell command line with the wxGUI specifying the --gui switch:
grass --gui
The GUI can be quit by selecting the ’File > Quit GRASS GIS’ menu item which gives options to close only
GUI or to quit GRASS GIS entirely if GRASS GIS is running with a command line (a shell in a terminal
application). Exiting the shell (typically by the exit command) ends the GRASS session including any
running GUIs.
BackgroundinformationwxGUI is a native GraphicalUserInterface (GUI) for GRASS GIS written in Python using wxPython library.
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