Geografic-Information-System/lib/vector/vectorlib.dox

/*! \page Vector_Library GRASS 6 Vector Architecture

by GRASS Development Team

http://grass.osgeo.org

<h2>Table of contents</h2>

Specifications:

- \subpage background
- \subpage intro
- \subpage libraries
- \subpage vlib_topology_management
- \subpage vlib_spidx
- \subpage vlib_categories_layers
- \subpage vlib_attributes
- \subpage vlibtin
- \subpage grassdglib
- \subpage vlibascii
- \subpage vectmodulesoper

\subpage vlibfunc

- \subpage area
- \subpage array
- \subpage box
- \subpage break_lines
- \subpage break_polygons
- \subpage bridges
- \subpage buffer
- \subpage build
- \subpage build_nat
- \subpage build_ogr
- \subpage cats
- \subpage cindex
- \subpage clean_nodes
- \subpage close
- \subpage constraint
- \subpage dangles
- \subpage dbcolumns
- \subpage error
- \subpage field
- \subpage find
- \subpage graph
- \subpage header
- \subpage hist
- \subpage init_head
- \subpage intersect
- \subpage legal_vname
- \subpage level
- \subpage level_two
- \subpage line
- \subpage list
- \subpage map
- \subpage net
- \subpage open
- \subpage overlay
- \subpage vpoly
- \subpage read
- \subpage remove_areas
- \subpage remove_duplicates
- \subpage rewind
- \subpage select
- \subpage sindex
- \subpage snap
- \subpage tin
- \subpage type
- \subpage delete
- \subpage write

\subpage contacts

\subpage references

\subpage seealso


\section background Background

Generally, the vector data model is used to describe geographic
phenomena which may be represented by geometric entities like points,
lines, and areas. The GRASS vector data model includes the description
of topology, where besides the coordinates describing the location of
the primitives (points, lines, boundaries, centroids, faces, and
kernels), their spatial relations are also stored. In general,
topological GIS require a data structure where the common boundary
between two adjacent areas is stored as a single line, simplifying the
map maintenance.


\section intro Introduction

The GRASS 6 vector format is very similar to old GRASS 4.x (5.0/5.3)
vector format.

This description covers the new GRASS 6 vector library architecture.
This new architecture overcomes the vector limitations of GRASS
4.x-5.4.x by extending the vector support with attributes stored in
external relational databases, and by new 3D capabilities. Besides
internal file based storage the geometry may alternatively be stored
in a PostGIS database. This enables users to maintain large data sets
with simultaneous write access. External GIS formats such as
SHAPE-files may be used directly, without requiring format conversion.

The current implementation includes:   

<ul>
<li> multi-layer: features in one vector map may represent more layers and 
    may be linked to more external tables (see \ref vlib_categories_layers);
<li> 2D and 3D vector geometry with topology (see \ref vlib_topology_management);
<li> multi-format: external data formats supported (SHAPE-file, OGR sources etc.);
<li> portability: platform independent internal format, read- and writable on 32bit,
      64bit etc. computer architectures;
<li> integrated \ref dglib: support for vector network analysis;
<li> spatial index: based on R-tree method for fast vector geometry access (see \ref vlib_spidx).
<li> multi-attribute: attributes saved in external Relational Database Management 
      System (RDBMS) connected through DBMI library and drivers (\ref vlib_attributes);
</ul>

GRASS vector maps are stored in an arc-node representation, consisting
of curves called arcs. An arc is stored as a series of x,y,z
coordinate pairs. The two endpoints of an arc are called nodes. Two
consecutive x,y,z pairs define an arc segment. The user specifies the
type of input to GRASS; GRASS doesn't decide. GRASS allows for the
line definition which allows for multiple types to co-exist in the
same map. Centroid are assigned to area it is within/inside
(geometrically). An area is identified by an x,y,z centroid point
geometrically inside with a category number (ID). This identifies the
area. Such centroids are stored in the same binary 'coor' file with
other primitives. Each element may have none, one or more categories
(cats). More cats are distinguished by field number (field, called
"layer" at user level).  Single and multi-category support on modules
level are implemented. Z-coordinate is optional and both 2D and 3D
files may be written.

<p>
The following vector objects are defined:

<ul>
<li> point: a point;
<li> line: a directed sequence of connected vertices with two endpoints called nodes;
<li> boundary: the border line to describe an area;
<li> centroid: a point within a closed boundary;
<li> area: the topological composition of centroid and boundary;
<li> face: a 3D area;
<li> kernel: a 3D centroid in a volume;
<li> volume: a 3D corpus, the topological composition of faces and kernel.
</ul>

Note that all lines and boundaries can be polylines (with nodes in
between). 

\section libraries Vector libraries

Besides internal library functions there are two main libraries:

<ul>
<li> Vlib (Vector library), see \ref vlib
<li> DGLib (Directed Graph Library), see \ref dglib
</ul>

For historical reasons, there are two internal libraries for vector:

<ul>
<li> diglib (with dig_*() functions), GRASS 3.x/4.x
<li> Vlib (with V1_*(), V2_*() and Vect_*() functions), GRASS 4.x/5.x (except for the 5.7 interim version)
</ul>

The vector library was introduced in GRASS 4.0 to hide internal vector
files' formats and structures.  In GRASS 6, everything is accessed via
Vect_*() functions, for example:

Old 4.x code:
\verbatim
    xx = Map.Att[Map.Area[area_num].att].x;
\endverbatim
New 6.x functions:
\verbatim
    Vect_get_area_centroid()
    Vect_get_centroid_coor()
\endverbatim

In GRASS 6, all internal, mostly non-topological vector functions are
hidden from the modules' API (mainly dig_*(), V1_*() and V2_*()
functions). All available Vect_*() functions are topological vector
functions.

\subsection vlib Introduction to Vlib (Vector library)

<i>Note: For details please read Blazek et al. 2002 (see below) as well as the
references in this document.</i>

\subsubsection Directory_structure Directory structure

Directory structure and file names are changed with respect to
previous GRASS versions.  All vector files for one vector map are
stored in one directory:<br>

<b>$MAPSET/vector/vector_name/</b>

<p>
 
This directory contains these files:
<ul>
<li><b>coor</b> - binary file, coordinates [former dig/ file]
<li><b>topo</b> - binary file, topology [former dig_plus/ file]
<li><b>cidx</b> - binary file, category index 
<li><b>head</b> - text file, header information [former part of dig/ file]
<li><b>dbln</b> - text file, link(s) to attribute table(s)
<li><b>hist</b> - text file, vector map change history
</ul>

\subsubsection coor_file_format_specification Coor file format specification

<ol>
<li> In the coor file the following is stored: 'line' (element) type,
   number of attributes and layer number for each category.
<li> Coordinates in binary file are stored as double (8 bytes).
</ol>

<b>Head</b>

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>Version_Major </TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>file version (major)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Version_Minor </TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>file version (minor)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Back_Major</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>supported from GRASS version (major)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Back_Minor</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>supported from GRASS version (minor)</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>byte_order</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>little or big endian
                  flag; files are written in machine native order but
                  files in both little and big endian order may be
                  readl; zero for little endian</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>size</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>coor file size</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>with_z</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2D or 3D flag; zero for 2D</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>reserved</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>10</TD><TD>not used</TD></TR>

</TABLE>

<p>

<b>Body</b>

The body consists of line records:
<br>

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>record header</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>
<UL>
  <LI><B>0. bit</B> : 1 - alive, 0 - dead line
  <LI><B>1. bit</B> : 1 - categories, 0 - no categories
  <LI><B>2.-3. bit</B> : type - one of: GV_POINT, GV_LINE, 
                              GV_BOUNDARY, GV_CENTROID
  <LI><B>4.-7. bit</B> : reserved, not used 
</UL>
</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>ncats</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>number of categories 
    (written only if categories exist) </TD></TR>

<TR><TD>field</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>ncats</TD><TD>field identifier,
    distinguishes between more categories append to one line (written
    only if categories exist; field is called "layer" at user
    level)</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>cat</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>ncats</TD><TD>category value (written
    only if categories exist)</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>ncoor</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>written for GV_LINES and GV_BOUNDARIES 
    only</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>x</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>ncoor</TD><TD>x coordinate</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>y</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>ncoor</TD><TD>y coordinate</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>z</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>ncoor</TD><TD>z coordinate; present if
    with_z in head is set to 1</TD></TR> </TABLE>

<P>
<B>Types used in coor file</B>
<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Type</TD><TD>Name</TD><TD>Size in Bytes</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>D</TD><TD>Double</TD><TD>8</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>L</TD><TD>Long  </TD><TD>4</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>I</TD><TD>Int   </TD><TD>4</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>S</TD><TD>Short </TD><TD>4</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>C</TD><TD>Char  </TD><TD>1</TD></TR>
</TABLE>


\subsubsection head_file_format Head file format

The file is an unordered list of key/value entries. The <i>key</i>
is a string separated from <i>value</i> by a colon and optional
whitespace. Key words are:<br>

\verbatim
ORGANIZATION
DIGIT DATE
DIGIT NAME
MAP NAME
MAP DATE
MAP SCALE
OTHER INFO
ZONE
MAP THRESH
\endverbatim

\section vlib_topology_management Vector library topology management

Topology general characteristics:
<ol>
<li> geometry and attributes are stored separately
   (don't read both if it is not necessary (usually it is not))</li>
<li> the format is topological (areas build from boundaries)</li>
<li>currently only 2D topology is supported
</ol>

<p>
Topology is written for native format while pseudo-topology is written
for OGR sources, SHAPE-link.

\subsection topo_file_format Topo file format

<b>Head</b>

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>Version_Major </TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>file version (major)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Version_Minor </TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>file version (minor)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Back_Major</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>supported from GRASS version (major)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>Back_Minor</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>supported from GRASS version (minor)</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>byte_order</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>little or big endian
                  flag; files are written in machine native order but
                  files in both little and big endian order may be
                  readl; zero for little endian</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>head_size</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>header size</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>with_z</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>2D or 3D flag; zero for 2D</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>box</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>6</TD><TD>Bounding box coordinates (N,S,E,W,T,B)</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>n_nodes, n_lines, etc.</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>Number of
nodes, edges, lines, areas, isles, volumes and holes</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>n_plines, n_llines, etc.</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>Number of
points, lines, boundaries, centroids, faces and kernels</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>Node_offset, Edge_offset,
etc.</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>7</TD><TD>Offset value for nodes, edges, lines,
areas, isles, volumes and holes</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>coor_size</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>File size</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<b>Body</b>

For each node (n_nodes):

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Number of lines (0 for dead node)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>Line ids</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>angles</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>Angle value</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>n_edges</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Reserved for edges (only for with_z)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>x,y</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>Coordinate pair</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>z</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Only for with_z</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

For each line (n_lines):

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>feature type</TD><TD>C</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>0 for dead</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>offset</TD><TD>L</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Line offset</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>N1</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>First node id (only if feature type is GV_POINTS, GV_LINES or GV_KERNEL)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>N2</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Second node id (only if feature type is GV_LINE or GV_BOUNDARY)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>left</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Left area id for feature type GV_BOUNDARY / Area id for feature type GV_CENTROID</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>right</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Right area id (for feature type GV_BOUNDARY)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>vol</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Reserved for kernel (volume number, for feature type GV_KERNEL)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>N,S,E,W</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>Line bounding box (for feature type GV_LINE, GV_BOUNDARY or GV_FACE)</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>T,B</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>Line bounding box for 3D (only if with_z=1)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

For each area (n_areas):

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>number of boundaries</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>Line ids</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>n_isles</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Number of isles</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>isles</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>n_isles</TD><TD>Isle ids</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>centroid</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Centroid id</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>N,S,E,W</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>Area bounding box</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>T,B</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>Area bounding box for 3D (only if with_z=1)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

For each isle (n_isle):

<TABLE border=2>
<TR><TD>Name</TD><TD>Type</TD><TD>Number</TD><TD>Description</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>number of boundaries</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>lines</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>n_lines</TD><TD>Line ids</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>area</TD><TD>I</TD><TD>1</TD><TD>Area id</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>N,S,E,W</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>4</TD><TD>Area bounding box</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>T,B</TD><TD>D</TD><TD>2</TD><TD>Area bounding box for 3D (only if with_z=1)</TD></TR>
</TABLE>

<b>Feature types:</b>

\verbatim
/* Vector types used in memory on run time - may change */
#define GV_POINT      0x01
#define GV_LINE       0x02
#define GV_BOUNDARY   0x04
#define GV_CENTROID   0x08
#define GV_FACE       0x10
#define GV_KERNEL     0x20
#define GV_AREA       0x40
#define GV_VOLUME     0x80
\endverbatim

\verbatim
#define GV_POINTS (GV_POINT | GV_CENTROID )
#define GV_LINES (GV_LINE | GV_BOUNDARY )
\endverbatim

Face and kernel are 3D equivalents of boundary and centroid, but there 
is no support (yet) for 3D topology (volumes). Faces are used in a
couple of modules including NVIZ to visualize 3D buildings and other
volumetric figures.

\verbatim
/* Topology level details */
#define GV_BUILD_NONE  0
#define GV_BUILD_BASE  1
#define GV_BUILD_AREAS  2
#define GV_BUILD_ATTACH_ISLES 3  /* Attach islands to areas */
#define GV_BUILD_CENTROIDS 4 /* Assign centroids to areas */
#define GV_BUILD_ALL GV_BUILD_CENTROIDS
\endverbatim

GV_BOUNDARY contains geometry and it is used to build areas.
GV_LINE cannot form an area.

\verbatim
struct line_cats
{
      int *field;	/* pointer to array of fields a.k.a. layer*/
      int *cat;		/* pointer to array of categories */
      int n_cats;	/* number of vector categories attached to element */
      int alloc_cats;	/* allocated space */
};
\endverbatim


\subsection Topology_Example_1 Topology Example 1:

A polygon may be formed by many boundaries (more primitives but connected).
One boundary is shared by adjacent areas.

\verbatim
+--1--+--5--+
|     |     |
2  A  4  B  6
|     |     |
+--3--+--7--+

1,2,3,4,5,6,7 = 7 boundaries (primitives)
A,B = 2 areas
\endverbatim


\subsection Topology_Example_2 Topology Example 2:

This is handled correctly in GRASS: A can be filled, B filled differently.

\verbatim
+---------+
|    A    |
+-----+   |
|  B  |   |
+-----+   |
|         |
+---------+
\endverbatim

In GRASS, whenever an 'inner' ring touches the boundary of an outside area, even in
one point, it is no longer an 'inner' ring, it is simply another area.
A, B above can never be exported from GRASS as polygon A with inner ring B
because there are only 2 areas A and B and no island.


\subsection Topology_Example_3 Topology Example 3:

v.in.ogr/v.clean can identify dangles and change the type from boundary
to line (in TIGER data for example). 
Distinction between line and boundary isn't important only for dangles. Example:

\verbatim
+-----+-----+
|     .     |
|     .     |
+.....+.....+
|     .     |
|  x  .     |
+-----+-----+

----  road + boundary of one parcel => type boundary
....  road => type line
x     parcel centroid (identifies whole area)
\endverbatim

Because lines are not used to build areas, we have only one area/centroid,
instead of 4 which would be necessary in TIGER.


\subsection vlib_topo_memory Topology memory management

Topology is generated for all kinds of vector types.  Memory is not
released by default. The programmer can force the library to release
the memory by using Vect_set_release_support(). But: The programmer
cannot run Vect_set_release_support() in mid process because all
vectors are needed in the spatial index, which is needed to build topology.

Topology is also necessary for points in case of a vector network
because the graph is built using topology information about lines
and points.

The topology structure does not only store the topology but also
the 'line' bounding box and line offset in coor file (index).
The existing spatial index is using line ID in 'topology' structure
to identify lines in 'coor' file. Currently it is not possible to build
spatial index without topology.


\section vlib_spidx Vector library spatial index management

Spatial index (based on R-tree) is generated on the fly.

Spatial index occupies a lot of memory but it is necessary for 
topology building. Also, it takes a long time to release the memory
occupied by spatial index (dig_spidx_free()). 

The function building topology (Vect_build()) is usually called 
at the end of modules (before Vect_close()) so it is faster to call
exit() and operating system releases all the memory much faster.
By default the memory is not released.

It is possible to call Vect_set_release_support() before Vect_close()
to enforce memory release, but it takes a long time on large files.

Currently most of the modules do not release the memory occupied for
spatial index and work like this (pseudocode):

\verbatim
int 
main
{
     Vect_open_new()
     //writing new vector

     Vect_build()
     Vect_close()  // memory is not released
}
\endverbatim

In general it is possible to free the memory with Vect_set_release_support()
such as:

\verbatim
int 
main
{
     Vect_open_new()
     // writing new vector

     Vect_build()
     Vect_set_release_support()
     Vect_close()  // memory is released
}
\endverbatim

but it takes longer. 
<P>
It make sense to release the spatial index if it is used only at the beginning
of a module or in permanently running programs like QGIS.
For example:

\verbatim
int 
main
{
     Vect_open_old()
     // select features using spatial index, e.g.  Vect_select_lines_by_box()
     Vect_set_release_support()
     Vect_close()  // memory is released

     // do some processing which needs memory
}
\endverbatim



\section vlib_categories_layers Vector library categories and layers

<P>
<i>Note: "layer" was called "field" in earlier version.</i>
<P>

In GRASS, a "category" or "category number" is a vector feature ID
used to link geometry to attributes which are stored in one or several
(external) database table(s). This category number is stored into the
vector geometry as well as a "cat" column (integer type) in each
attribute database table. The category number is used to lookup an
attribute assigned to a vector object. At user level, category numbers
can be assigned to vector objects with the v.category command.

In order to assign multiple attributes in different tables to vector
objects, each map can hold multiple category numbers. This is achieved
by assigning more than one "layer" to the map (v.db.connect
command). The layer number determines which table to be used for
attribute queries. For example, a cadastrial vector area map can be
assigned on layer 1 to an attribute table containing landuse
descriptions which are maintained by department A while layer 2 is
assigned to an attribute table containing owner descriptions which are
maintained by department B.

Each vector feature inside a vector map has zero, one or more
&lt;layer,category&gt; tuple(s). A user can (but not must) create
attribute tables which are referenced by the layer, and rows which are
essentially referenced by the &lt;layer,category&gt; pair.  <P>
Categories start with 1. Categories do not have to be continuous.

\section vlib_cidx Vector library category index

The category index (stored in the cidx file) improves the performance of all
selections by cats/attributes (SQL, e.g. 'd.vect cats=27591', 'v.extract list=20000-21000').
This avoids that all selections have to be made by looping through all vector lines.
Cidx is also essential for simple feature representation of GRASS vectors.

Cidx is created for each field. In memory, it is stored in

\verbatim
struct Cat_index {
    int field;     /* field number a.k.a. layer*/
    int n_cats;    /* number of items in cat array */
    int a_cats;    /* allocated space in cat array */
    int (*cat)[3]; /* array of cats (cat,type, lines/area) */
    int n_ucats;   /* number of unique cats (not updated) */
    int n_types;   /* number of types in type */
    int type[7][2];/* number of elements for each type (point, line, boundary, centroid, area, face, kernel) */
    long offset;   /* offset of the beginning of this index in cidx file */
};
\endverbatim

Cidx is built with topology, but it is not updated if vector is edited on level 2.
Cidx is stored in 'cidx' file, 'cat' array is written/read by one call of
dig__fwrite_port_I( (int *)ci->cat, 3 * ci->n_cats, fp) or
dig__fread_port_I( (int *)ci->cat, 3 * ci->n_cats, fp).

Stored values can be retrieved either by index in 'cat' array 
(if all features of given field are required) or by category value
(one or few features), always by Vect_cidx_*() functions.

To create cidx, it will be necessary to rebuild topology for all existing vectors.
This is an opportunity to make (hopefully) last changes in 'topo', 'cidx' formats.


\section vlibtin Vector TINs

TINs are simply created as 2D/3D vector polygons consisting of 
3 vertices.


\section vlib_attributes Vector library and attributes

The old GRASS 4.x 'dig_cats' files are not used any more and vectors'
attributes are stored in external database.  Connection with the
database is done through drivers based on DBMI library (DBF, SQLite,
PostgreSQL, MySQL and ODBC drivers are available at this
time). Records in a table are linked to vector entities by layer and
category number. The layer identifies table and the category
identifies record.  I.e., for any unique combination
map+mapset+layer+category, there exists one unique combination
driver+database+table+row.

The general DBMI settings are defined in the "MAPSET/VAR" text file
(maintained with db.connect command at user level).

Each vector maps has its own DBMI settings stored in the
"MAPSET/vector/vector_name/dbln" text file. For each pair <B>map +
layer</B>, all of <B>table, key column, database, driver</B> must be
defined in a new row. This definition must be written to
"MAPSET/vector/vector_name/dbln" text file.  Each row in the "dbln"
file contains names separated by spaces in following order ([] -
optional): <BR><BR>

\verbatim
map[@mapset] layer table [key [database [driver]]]
\endverbatim

If key, database or driver are omitted (on second and higher row only)
the last definition is used. When reading a vector map from another
mapset (if mapset is specified along with map name), definitions in
the related "dbln" file may overwrite the DBMI definition in the
current mapset. This means that the map-wise definition is always
"stronger".

<P>
Wild cards <B>*</B> and <B>?</B> may be used in map and mapset names.

<P>
Variables <B>$GISDBASE, $LOCATION_NAME, $MAPSET, $MAP</B> may be used
in table, key, database and driver names (function
Vect_subst_var()). Note that $MAPSET is not the current mapset but
mapset of the map the rule is defined for.

<P>
Note that vector features in GRASS vector maps may have attributes
in different tables or may be without attributes. Boundaries
form areas but it may happen that some boundaries are not closed
(such boundaries would not appear in polygon layer).
Boundaries may have attributes. All types may be mixed in one vector map.

<P>
The link to the table is permanent and it is stored in 'dbln' file
in vector directory. Tables are considered to be a part of the vector
and the command g.remove, for example, deletes linked tables of the vector.
Attributes must be joined with geometry.

<P>
<B>Examples:</B>
Examples are written mostly for the dbf driver, where database is full path to
the directory with dbf files and table name is the name of dbf file without
.dbf extension:

<P>
\verbatim
* 1 mytable id $GISDBASE/$LOCATION_NAME/$MAPSET/vector/$MAP dbf
\endverbatim

This definition says that entities with category of layer 1 are linked
to dbf tables with names "mytable.dbf" saved in vector directories of
each map. The attribute column containing the category numbers is
called "id".

\verbatim
* 1 $MAP id $GISDBASE/$LOCATION_NAME/$MAPSET/dbf dbf
\endverbatim 

Similar as above but all dbf files are in one directory dbf/ in mapset
and names of dbf files are $MAP.dbf

\verbatim
water* 1 rivers id /home/grass/dbf dbf
water* 2 lakes lakeid /home/guser/mydb
trans* 1 roads key basedb odbc
trans* 5 rails
\endverbatim

These definitions define more layers (called "field" in the API) for one map 
i.e. in one map may be more features linked to more tables. Definitions on
first 2 rows are applied for example on maps water1, water2, ... so that more
maps may share one table.<BR><BR>

\verbatim
water@PERMANENT 1 myrivers id /home/guser/mydbf dbf
\endverbatim

This definion overwrites the definition saved in PERMANENT/VAR and 
links the water map from PERMANENT mapset to the user's table.

<P>
Modules should be written so that connections to databases for each
vector layer are independent. It should be possible to read attributes
of an input map from one database and write to some other and even with
some other driver (should not be a problem). 

<P>
There are open questions, however. For one, how does one distinguish when
new tables should be written and when not? For example, definitions:<BR>
\verbatim
river 1 river id water odbc
river.backup* 1 NONE
\endverbatim

could be used to say that tables should not be copied for backups of
map river because table is stored in a reliable RDBMS. 


\section grassdglib DGLib (Directed Graph Library)

The Directed Graph Library or DGLib (Micarelli 2002, \ref dglib ,
http://grass.osgeo.org/dglib/) provides functionality for vector network
analysis. This library released under GPL is hosted by the GRASS
project (within the GRASS source code). As a stand-alone library it
may also be used by other software projects.

The Directed Graph Library library provides functionality to assign costs to
lines and/or nodes. That means that costs can be accumulated while traveling
along polylines. The user can assign individual costs to all lines and/or
nodes of a vector map and later calculate shortest path connections based on
the accumulated costs. Applications are transport analysis, connectivity and
more. Implemented applications cover Shortest path, Traveling salesman (round trip),
Allocation of sources (creation of subnetworks), Minimum Steiner trees 
(star-like connections), and iso-distances (from centers).

For details, please read Blazek et al. 2002 (see below).

Related vector functions are:
 Vect_graph_add_edge(),
 Vect_graph_init(),
 Vect_graph_set_node_costs(),
 Vect_graph_shortest_path(),
 Vect_net_build_graph(),
 Vect_net_nearest_nodes(),
 Vect_net_shortest_path(), and
 Vect_net_shortest_path_coor().


\section vlibascii Vector ASCII Format Specifications

The ASCII format is (currently) explained in the
manual page of v.in.ascii, which is defined in the file:

vector/v.in.ascii/description.html

\section vectmodules Vector modules and their parameters/flags

See also grass5/documents/parameter_proposal.txt

<P>
<I>A module is a GRASS command invoked by the user.</I>
</P>

\subsection vectmodulesoper Modules operation

Each module which modifies and writes data must read from input= and
write to output= so that data may not be lost. For example v.spag
works on map= at in grass5.0 but if program (system) crashes or threshold was 
specified incorrectly and vector was not backuped, data were lost. 
In this case map= option should be replaced by input= and output=
<P>
Topology is always built by default if the coor file was modified.
<P>
Dimensionality is generally kept. Input 2D vector is written as 2D, 3D as 3D.
There are a few modules which change the dimension on purpose.

\subsection vectmodulesopt Modules parameters/flags

<B>-b</B> do not build topo file; by default topo file is written <BR>
<B>-t</B> create new table, default<BR>
<B>-u</B> don't create new table<BR>
<B>-z</B> write 3D vector map (if input was 2D) <BR>
<BR>
<B>map=</B> input vector map for modules without output <BR>
<B>input=</B> input vector map <BR>
<B>output=</B> output vector map <BR>
<B>type=</B>  type of elements:  point,line,boundary,centroid,area <BR>
<B>cat=</B> category or category list (example: 1,5,9-13,35) <BR>
<B>layer=</B> layer number <BR>
<B>where=</B> condition of SQL statement for selection of records <BR>
<B>column=</B> column name (in external table)


\section vlibfunc List of vector library functions

The Vect_*() functions are the programmer's API for GRASS vector
programming.


\section area Vector area functions

 - Vect_get_area_area()

 - Vect_get_area_boundaries()

 - Vect_get_area_centroid()

 - Vect_get_area_isle()

 - Vect_get_area_num_isles()

 - Vect_area_perimeter()

 - Vect_get_area_points()

 - Vect_get_isle_area()

 - Vect_get_isle_boundaries()

 - Vect_get_isle_points()

 - Vect_point_in_area()


\section array Vector array functions

 - Vect_new_varray()

 - Vect_set_varray_from_cat_list()

 - Vect_set_varray_from_cat_string()

 - Vect_set_varray_from_db()


\section box Vector bounding box functions

 - Vect_box_copy()

 - Vect_box_clip()

 - Vect_box_extend()

 - Vect_box_overlap()

 - Vect_get_area_box()

 - Vect_get_isle_box()

 - Vect_get_line_box()

 - Vect_get_map_box()

 - Vect_point_in_box()

 - Vect_region_box()


\section break_lines Vector break lines functions

 - Vect_break_lines()

 - Vect_break_lines_list()


\section break_polygons Vector break polygons functions

 - Vect_break_polygons()


\section bridges Vector bridges functions

 - Vect_chtype_bridges()

 - Vect_remove_bridges()


\section buffer Vector buffer functions

 - Vect_line_buffer()

 - Vect_line_parallel()


\section build Vector build functions

 - Vect_build()

 - Vect_build_partial()

 - Vect_get_built()

 - Vect_save_spatial_index()

 - Vect_save_topo()

 - Vect_spatial_index_dump()

 - Vect_topo_dump()


\subsection build_nat Vector build (native) functions

 - Vect_attach_centroids()

 - Vect_attach_isle()

 - Vect_attach_isles()

 - Vect_build_line_area()

 - Vect_build_nat()

 - Vect_isle_find_area()


\subsection build_ogr Vector build (OGR) functions

 - Vect_build_ogr()


\section cats Vector categories functions

 - Vect_array_to_cat_list()

 - Vect_cat_del()

 - Vect_cat_get()

 - Vect_cat_in_array()

 - Vect_cat_in_cat_list()

 - Vect_cat_set()

 - Vect_destroy_cat_list()

 - Vect_destroy_cats_struct()

 - Vect_field_cat_del()

 - Vect_get_area_cats()

 - Vect_get_area_cat()

 - Vect_get_line_cat()

 - Vect_new_cat_list()

 - Vect_new_cats_struct()

 - Vect_reset_cats()

 - Vect_str_to_cat_list()


\section cindex Vector category index functions

(note: vector layer is historically called "field")

 - Vect_cidx_dump()

 - Vect_cidx_find_next()

 - Vect_cidx_find_all()

 - Vect_cidx_get_cat_by_index()

 - Vect_cidx_get_field_index()

 - Vect_cidx_get_field_number()

 - Vect_cidx_get_num_cats_by_index()

 - Vect_cidx_get_num_fields()

 - Vect_cidx_get_num_types_by_index()

 - Vect_cidx_get_num_unique_cats_by_index()

 - Vect_cidx_get_type_count()

 - Vect_cidx_get_type_count_by_index()

 - Vect_cidx_open()

 - Vect_cidx_save()

 - Vect_set_category_index_update()


\section clean_nodes Vector clean nodes functions

 - Vect_clean_small_angles_at_nodes()


\section close Vector close functions

 - Vect_close()


\section constraint Vector constraint functions

 - Vect_get_constraint_box()

 - Vect_remove_constraints()

 - Vect_set_constraint_region()

 - Vect_set_constraint_type()


\section dangles Vector dangles functions

 - Vect_chtype_dangles()

 - Vect_remove_dangles()

 - Vect_select_dangles()


\section dbcolumns Vector dbcolumns functions

 - Vect_get_column_names()

 - Vect_get_column_names_types()

 - Vect_get_column_types()


\section error Vector error functions

 - Vect_get_fatal_error()

 - Vect_set_fatal_error()


\section field Vector field functions

(note: vector layer is historically called "field")

 - Vect_add_dblink()

 - Vect_check_dblink()

 - Vect_default_field_info()

 - Vect_get_dblink()

 - Vect_get_field()

 - Vect_map_add_dblink()

 - Vect_map_check_dblink()

 - Vect_map_del_dblink()

 - Vect_new_dblinks_struct()

 - Vect_read_dblinks()

 - Vect_reset_dblinks()

 - Vect_set_db_updated()

 - Vect_subst_var()

 - Vect_write_dblinks()


\section find Vector find functions

 - Vect_find_area()

 - Vect_find_island()

 - Vect_find_line()

 - Vect_find_line_list()

 - Vect_find_node()


\section graph Vector graph functions

 - Vect_graph_add_edge()

 - Vect_graph_build()

 - Vect_graph_init()

 - Vect_graph_set_node_costs()

 - Vect_graph_shortest_path()


\section header Vector header functions

 - Vect_get_comment()

 - Vect_get_constraint_box()

 - Vect_get_date()

 - Vect_get_full_name()

 - Vect_get_map_date()

 - Vect_get_map_name()

 - Vect_get_mapset()

 - Vect_get_name()

 - Vect_get_organization()

 - Vect_get_person()

 - Vect_get_proj()

 - Vect_get_proj_name()

 - Vect_get_scale()

 - Vect_get_thresh()

 - Vect_get_zone()

 - Vect_is_3d()

 - Vect_print_header()

 - Vect_read_header()

 - Vect_set_comment()

 - Vect_set_date()

 - Vect_set_map_date()

 - Vect_set_map_name()

 - Vect_set_organization()

 - Vect_set_person()

 - Vect_set_scale()

 - Vect_set_thresh()

 - Vect_set_zone()

 - Vect_write_header()


\section hist Vector history functions

 - Vect_hist_command()

 - Vect_hist_copy()

 - Vect_hist_read()

 - Vect_hist_rewind()

 - Vect_hist_write()


\section init_head Vector header functions

 - Vect_copy_head_data()


\section intersect Vector intersection functions

 - Vect_line_check_intersection()

 - Vect_line_intersection()

 - Vect_segment_intersection()


\section legal_vname Vector valid map name functions

 - Vect_check_input_output_name()

 - Vect_legal_filename()


\section level Vector level functions

 - Vect_level()


\section level_two Vector topological (level 2) functions

 - Vect_get_centroid_area()

 - Vect_get_line_areas()

 - Vect_get_line_nodes()

 - Vect_get_node_coor()

 - Vect_get_node_line()

 - Vect_get_node_line_angle()

 - Vect_get_node_n_lines()

 - Vect_get_num_areas()

 - Vect_get_num_dblinks()

 - Vect_get_num_faces()

 - Vect_get_num_islands()

 - Vect_get_num_lines()

 - Vect_get_num_nodes()

 - Vect_get_num_primitives()

 - Vect_get_num_updated_lines()

 - Vect_get_num_updated_nodes()

 - Vect_get_updated_line()

 - Vect_get_updated_node()

 - Vect_set_release_support()


\section line Vector feature functions

 - Vect_append_point()

 - Vect_append_points()

 - Vect_copy_pnts_to_xyz()

 - Vect_copy_xyz_to_pnts()

 - Vect_destroy_line_struct()

 - Vect_line_box()

 - Vect_line_delete_point()

 - Vect_line_distance()

 - Vect_line_geodesic_length()

 - Vect_line_insert_point()

 - Vect_line_length()

 - Vect_line_prune()

 - Vect_line_prune_thresh()

 - Vect_line_reverse()

 - Vect_line_segment()

 - Vect_new_line_struct()

 - Vect_point_on_line()

 - Vect_points_distance()

 - Vect_reset_line()


\section list Vector list functions

 - Vect_destroy_list()

 - Vect_list_append()

 - Vect_list_append_list()

 - Vect_list_delete()

 - Vect_list_delete_list()

 - Vect_new_list()

 - Vect_reset_list()

 - Vect_val_in_list()


\section map Vector map functions

 - Vect_copy()

 - Vect_copy_map_lines()

 - Vect_copy_table()

 - Vect_copy_table_by_cats()

 - Vect_copy_tables()

 - Vect_delete()

 - Vect_rename()


\section net Vector network functions

 - Vect_net_build_graph()

 - Vect_net_get_line_cost()

 - Vect_net_get_node_cost()

 - Vect_net_nearest_nodes()

 - Vect_net_shortest_path()

 - Vect_net_shortest_path_coor()


\section open Vector open functions

 - Vect_coor_info()

 - Vect_maptype_info()

 - Vect_open_new()

 - Vect__open_old()

 - Vect_open_old()

 - Vect_open_old_head()

 - Vect_open_spatial_index()

 - Vect_open_topo()

 - Vect_open_update()

 - Vect_open_update_head()

 - Vect_set_open_level()



\section overlay Vector overlay functions

 - Vect_overlay()

 - Vect_overlay_str_to_operator()


\section vpoly Vector polygon functions

 - Vect_find_poly_centroid()

 - Vect_get_point_in_area()

 - Vect_point_in_area_outer_ring()

 - Vect_point_in_island()

 - Vect_get_point_in_poly()

 - Vect_get_point_in_poly_isl()


\section read Vector read functions

\subsection read1_2 Level 1 and 2

 - Vect_read_next_line()

\subsection read2 Level 2 only

 - Vect_area_alive()

 - Vect_isle_alive()

 - Vect_line_alive()

 - Vect_node_alive()

 - Vect_read_line()


\section remove_areas Vector remove areas functions

 - Vect_remove_small_areas()


\section remove_duplicates Vector remove duplicates functions

 - Vect_line_check_duplicate()

 - Vect_remove_duplicates()


\section rewind Vector rewind functions

 - Vect_rewind()


\section select Vector select functions

 - Vect_select_areas_by_box()

 - Vect_select_areas_by_polygon()

 - Vect_select_isles_by_box()

 - Vect_select_lines_by_box()

 - Vect_select_lines_by_polygon()

 - Vect_select_nodes_by_box()


\section sindex Vector spatial index functions

 - Vect_build_sidx_from_topo()

 - Vect_build_spatial_index()

 - Vect_spatial_index_add_item()

 - Vect_spatial_index_del_item()

 - Vect_spatial_index_destroy()

 - Vect_spatial_index_init()

 - Vect_spatial_index_select()


\section snap Vector snap functions

 - Vect_snap_lines()

 - Vect_snap_lines_list()


\section tin Vector TIN functions

 - Vect_tin_get_z()


\section type Vector type option functions

 - Vect_option_to_types()


\section delete Vector delete functions

\subsection delete2 Level 2 only

 - Vect_delete_line()

\section write Vector write functions

\subsection write1_2 Level 1 and 2

 - Vect_write_line()

\subsection write2 Level 2 only

 - Vect_rewrite_line()


\section contacts Contacts

 Radim Blazek (vector architecture) <radim.blazek@gmail.com>

 Roberto Micarelli (DGLib) <mi.ro@iol.it>


\section references References

Text based on: R. Blazek, M. Neteler, and R. Micarelli. The new GRASS 5.1
 vector architecture. In Open source GIS - GRASS users conference 2002,
 Trento, Italy, 11-13 September 2002. University of Trento, Italy, 2002.
 <a href="http://www.ing.unitn.it/~grass/conferences/GRASS2002/proceedings/proceedings/pdfs/Blazek_Radim.pdf">http://www.ing.unitn.it/~grass/conferences/GRASS2002/proceedings/proceedings/pdfs/Blazek_Radim.pdf</a>
 
\section seealso See Also

 - \ref dglib
 
 - \ref dbmilib
 
 - \ref Vedit_Library

Last change: $Date$
*/