GRASS startup explained

git-svn-id: https://svn.osgeo.org/grass/grass/trunk@41048 15284696-431f-4ddb-bdfa-cd5b030d7da7

lib/init/Makefile

@@ -45,7 +45,13 @@ FILES = \
 	$(HTMLDIR)/variables.html \
 	$(HTMLDIR)/grass7.html \
 	$(HTMLDIR)/helptext.html \
-	$(HTMLDIR)/help_loc_struct.png
+	$(HTMLDIR)/help_loc_struct.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/circle_1.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/circle_2.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/circle_3.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/circle_4.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/circle_5.png \
+	$(HTMLDIR)/grass_start_small.jpg
 
 ifeq ($(findstring darwin,$(ARCH)),darwin)
 	FILES += \

lib/init/helptext.html

@@ -24,32 +24,69 @@ visualization. GRASS is currently used in academic and commercial
 settings around the world, as well as by many governmental agencies
 and environmental consulting companies.
 
-<h2>Introduction</h2>
+<h2>1. Startup of GRASS GIS</h2>
+
+<p>
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<IMG SRC="grass_start_small.jpg" ALT="[GRASS start screen]">
+
+<h3><IMG SRC="circle_1.png" ALT="[(1)]">&nbsp;Selecting the GIS Database directory</h3>
+
 GRASS data are stored in a directory referred to as DATABASE
 (also called "GISDBASE").  This directory has to be created
-with <tt>mkdir</tt> or a file manager, before starting to work
+with a file manager or the <tt>mkdir</tt> command, before starting to work
 with GRASS.  Within this DATABASE, the projects are organized
 by project areas stored in subdirectories called LOCATIONs.
-<p>
+
+<h3><IMG SRC="circle_2.png" ALT="[(2)]">&nbsp;Selecting the LOCATION (a project)</h3>
+
 A LOCATION is defined by its coordinate system, map projection and
 geographical boundaries. The subdirectories and files defining a
 LOCATION are created automatically when GRASS is started the first
-time with a new LOCATION.
+time with a new LOCATION. It is important to understand that each
+projection stays in its own LOCATION.
 <p>
+See <IMG SRC="circle_4.png" ALT="[(4)]">&nbsp; the "Location Wizard" to
+easily create a new LOCATION from scratch from a geocoded file, by
+defining the parameters or by selecting the corresponding EPSG projection
+code.
+
+<h3><IMG SRC="circle_3.png" ALT="[(3)]">&nbsp;Selecting the MAPSET (a subproject)</h3>
+
 Each LOCATION can have many MAPSETs. Each MAPSET is a LOCATION's
-subdirectory. New MAPSET can be added at GRASS startup. To remove a
-MAPSET, remove it's directory using your file manager or by <br>
-<tt>rm -rf
-/path/to/the/mapset_to_delete</tt>. The <a href="wxGUI.html">wxGUI</a>
-graphical user interface provides options to rename/remove LOCATIONs
-and MAPSETs.
+subdirectory. New MAPSET can be added at GRASS startup (see related
+button).
+
+<h3><IMG SRC="circle_4.png" ALT="[(4)]">&nbsp;Location Wizard</h3>
+
+The "Location Wizard" let's you easily create a new LOCATION. You
+will be guided through a series of dialogues to browse and select
+predefined projections (also via EPSG code) or to define individual
+projections. Find below some rules to define the default raster
+resolution for a new LOCATION.
+
+<h3><IMG SRC="circle_5.png" ALT="[(5)]">&nbsp;Start GRASS</h3>
+
+Once you have selected an existing LOCATION/MAPSET or defined a new
+one, you can enter GRASS. The graphical user interface 
+<a href="wxGUI.html">wxGUI</a> will open and provide you with a
+menu system, map visualization tool, digitizer, and more.
+
+
+<h2>2. Background GRASS Location structure</h2>
 
 <p>
-<IMG SRC="help_loc_struct.png" ALT="[GRASS Location structure]">
+&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<IMG SRC="help_loc_struct.png" ALT="[GRASS Location structure]">
 <BR>
 <i>Fig. 1: GRASS Location structure</i>
-
 <p>
+
+A LOCATION is simply a set of directories which contains the GRASS
+data of a project. Within each LOCATION, a mandatory "PERMANENT"
+MAPSET exists which contains projection information and some
+more definitions. It can be used to store the base cartography
+in it as "PERMANENT" is visible to all users accessing a LOCATION.
+
+<h3>Creating and maintaining MAPSETs</h3>
 One motivation to maintain different MAPSETs is to store maps
 related to project issues or subregions. Another motivation is to
 support simultaneous access of several users to the map layers
@@ -63,7 +100,8 @@ MAPSET.
 You can learn more about mapsets and how to seamlessly access maps
 found in another MAPSET of the same LOCATION in the
 <a href="g.mapsets.html">g.mapsets</a> documentation.
-<p>
+
+<h3>The role of the "PERMANENT" LOCATION</h3>
 When creating a new LOCATION, GRASS automatically creates a special
 MAPSET called PERMANENT where the core data for the project can be
 stored. Data in the PERMANENT MAPSET can only be added, modified or
@@ -81,26 +119,36 @@ all mapsets a WIND file is kept, for storing the current boundary
 coordinate values and the currently selected raster resolution.  Users
 have the option of switching back to the default region at any time.
 
-<h2>Creating a GRASS database</h2>
+<h2>3. Creating a GRASS database with sample data</h2>
 
 To create the GRASS database:
 
 <OL>
 <LI> Find a place on your disk where you have write access and that
-    has enough diskspace to hold your decompressed data.</LI>
+    has enough diskspace to hold your spatial data.</LI>
 <LI> Create a subdirectory that will hold the general GRASS database
-    (e.g. <tt>mkdir /data/grassdata</tt> or 
+    (e.g. using a file manager or with <tt>mkdir /data/grassdata</tt> or 
     <tt>mkdir /home/yourlogin/grassdata</tt>).</LI>
 </OL>
 
 <P>
-Sample data such as the Spearfish or the North Carolina sample datasets
+Sample data such as the "Spearfish" or the "North Carolina" sample datasets
 may be downloaded from 
 <A HREF="http://grass.osgeo.org/download/data.php">http://grass.osgeo.org/download/data.php</A>
 and placed in this new database directory.
 <P>
 
-<h3>A) Create New Location with text screen</h3>
+
+<h3>A) Create New Location with wxGUI</h3>
+The <a href="wxGUI.html">wxGUI</a> graphical user interface provides a
+graphical "Location Wizard" instead which let's you easily create a
+new LOCATION. You will be guided through a series of dialogues to
+browse and select predefined projections (also via EPSG code) or to
+define individual projections. The rules to define the resolution as
+described above also apply here.
+
+
+<h3>B) Create New Location with text screen</h3>
 Click on the "Create New Location" button, which will take you to a
 text screen on which you can enter a new location name, and then
 continue by pressing "ESC"-"RETURN" - i.e. press (NOT hold) the ESC key,
@@ -161,29 +209,19 @@ Now the project area, i.e. the location including a mapset, has been
 created. You have "arrived" in the GRASS system and can start working
 within this new location.
 
-<h3>B) Create New Location with wxGUI</h3>
-The <a href="wxGUI.html">wxGUI</a> graphical user interface provides a
-graphical "Location Wizard" instead which let's you easily create a
-new LOCATION. You will be guided through a series of dialogues to
-browse and select predefined projections (also via EPSG code) or to
-define individual projections. The rules to define the resolution as
-described above also apply here.
-
-
 <H2>Further Reading</H2>
 
 Please have a look at the GRASS web site for tutorials and books:
 <A HREF="http://grass.osgeo.org/gdp/index.php">http://grass.osgeo.org/gdp/index.php</A>.
 
 <H2>See also</H2>
-
-<a href="grass7.html">GRASS 7 launch manual page</a>
-<br>
 <a href="index.html">GRASS 7 Reference Manual</a>
+<br>
+<a href="grass7.html">Manual page of GRASS 7 launch program</a>
 
 <p><i>Last changed: $Date$</i>
 <HR>
 <P><a href=index.html>Help Index</a>
-<P>&copy; 2005-2009 <a href="http://grass.osgeo.org">GRASS Development Team</a></P>
+<P>&copy; 2005-2010 <a href="http://grass.osgeo.org">GRASS Development Team</a></P>
 </BODY>
 </HTML>