Geografic-Information-System/gui/wxpython/docs/wxGUI.html

<!-- meta page description: wxGUI -->
<h2>DESCRIPTION</h2>

<b>wxGUI</b> is a native <em>Graphical User Interface</em> (GUI) for
GRASS GIS. Its main features include displaying geographical data
in 2D and 3D, calling GRASS GIS modules, and interacting with data.

<h3>Overview</h3>
The GUI is composed of <em>three</em> main components:

<ul>
  <li>The <b>Layer Manager</b> includes map layer management, integrated
  command-line prompt, and command output window tab.</li>
  <li>The <b>Map Display Window</b> 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.</li>
  <li><a href="wxGUI.modules.html">Module dialogs</a> enable running GRASS modules
  that can be searched and launched via Tools tab.
  </li>
</ul>

<h3>Layer Manager</h3>

The <em>Layer Manager</em> 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.

<center>
<br>
<img src="wxGUI_layer_manager.png" border="1" alt="screenshot"><br><br>
Figure: Layer Manager screenshot on Ubuntu
</center>

<p>
The top left button of the toolbar opens a new <em>Map Display
Window</em>. 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.

<p>
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.

<p>
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.

<p>
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.
<p>
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).

<h4>Layer Manager Toolbar</h4>

<dl>

  <dt><img src="icons/monitor-create.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Start new map display</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a new map display and creates empty layer tree tab in Layer Manager.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/create.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Create new workspace</em></dt>
  <dd>Removes all layers from the layer tree and creates a new, empty tree
    where new layers can be added.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/open.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Open existing workspace file</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens an previously saved workspace file, containing a set of display
    layers and their option settings.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/save.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Save current workspace to file</em></dt>
  <dd>Saves current set of layers and their options to a workspace
    file.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-open.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Load map layers into workspace</em></dt>
  <dd>Loads selected raster or vector maps into current layer tree.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add raster map layer</em></dt>
  <dd>Adds raster map to layer tree, see <em><a href="d.rast.html">d.rast</a></em>.
  </dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-more.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add various raster map layers (RGB, HIS, shaded relief...)</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
    
    <dl>
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster3d-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add 3D raster map layer</em></dt>
      <dd>Adds 3D raster map to layer tree.</dd>
  
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-rgb-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add RGB raster layer</em></dt>
      <dd>Combines and displays three raster maps defined as red, green, 
	and blue channels to create an RGB color map, 
	see <em><a href="d.rgb.html">d.rgb</a></em>.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-his-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add HIS raster layer</em></dt>
      <dd>Combines and displays two or three raster maps defined as hue,
	intensity, and (optionally) saturation channels to create a color map,
	see <em><a href="d.his.html">d.his</a></em>.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-shaded-relief-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add shaded relief raster map layer </em></dt>
      <dd>Adds shaded relief raster map layer,
      see <em><a href="r.relief.html">r.relief</a></em> and
      <em><a href="d.shade.html">d.shade</a></em>.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-aspect-arrow-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add raster arrows layer</em></dt>
      <dd>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 <em><a href="d.rast.arrow.html">d.rast.arrow</a></em>.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-cell-cats-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add raster numbers layer</em></dt>
      <dd>Adds map of raster cells with numbers representing the cell values, 
	see <em><a href="d.rast.num.html">d.rast.num</a></em>.</dd>
    </dl>
  </dd>
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-vector-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add vector map layer</em></dt>
  <dd>Adds a vector map layer,
  see <em><a href="d.vect.html">d.vect</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-vector-more.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add various vector map layers (thematic, chart...)</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
    
    <dl>
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-vector-thematic-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add thematic area (choropleth) map layer
	  (for all vector types)</em></dt>
      <dd>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 <em><a href="d.vect.thematic.html">d.vect.thematic</a></em>.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-vector-chart-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add thematic chart layer (for vector points)</em></dt>
      <dd>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 <em><a href="d.vect.chart.html">d.vect.chart</a></em>.</dd>
    </dl>
  </dd>
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-group-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add group</em></dt>
  <dd>Adds an empty group. Layers can then be added to the group.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-more.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add grid or vector labels overlay</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to select to:
    <dl>
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-grid-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add overlay grids and lines</em></dt>
      <dd>Adds layer to display regular grid (for all locations)
	see <em><a href="d.grid.html">d.grid</a></em></dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-label-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add labels layer for vector objects (from existing labels file)</em></dt>
      <dd>Add a layer of text from a labels file for vector objects
	created with the <em><a href="v.label.html">v.label</a></em> module. 
	A labels file can also be created with a text editor, 
	see <em><a href="d.labels.html">d.labels</a></em>.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/shortest-distance.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add geodesic line layer</em></dt>
      <dd>Add layer to display geodesic line for latitude/longitude locations only,
	see <em><a href="d.geodesic.html">d.geodesic</a></em></dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/shortest-distance.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add rhumbline layer</em>
	<dd>Add layer to display rhumblines (for latitude/longitude locations only),
          see <em><a href="d.rhumbline.html">d.rhumbline</a></em>.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-command-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Add command layer</em></dt>
      <dd>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:
	
<div class="code"><pre>
d.rast soils;d.rast -o roads;d.vect streams col=blue
</pre></div>

Note that when an option of the command contains spaces, you need to
"escape" them with the backslash ('\') character, for example:
<div class="code"><pre>
d.text text=Population\ density
</pre></div>
    </dl>
  </dd>
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-remove.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Delete selected layer</em></dt>
  <dd>Removes selected map layer or map layer group from layer tree.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/edit.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Edit vector maps</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens <em><a href="wxGUI.vdigit.html">vector digitizer</a></em> to allow editing selected vector map.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/table.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Show attribute table</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens <em><a href="wxGUI.dbmgr.html">attribute table manager</a></em> for selected vector map.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-open.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Import raster or vector data</em></dt>
  <dd>
    <dl>
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-import.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Import raster data</em></dt>
      <dd>Import selected raster data into GRASS
      using <em><a href="r.in.gdal.html">r.in.gdal</a></em> and load
      them into current layer tree.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-import.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Link external raster data</em></dt>
      <dd>Link selected external raster data as GRASS raster maps
      (using <em><a href="r.external.html">r.external</a></em>) and
      load them into current layer tree.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-export.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Set raster output format</em></dt>
      <dd>Define external format for newly created raster maps
      (see <em><a href="r.external.out.html">r.external.out</a></em>
      for details)</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/layer-import.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Import vector data</em></dt>
      <dd>Import selected vector data into GRASS
      using <em><a href="v.in.ogr.html">v.in.ogr</a></em> and load
      them into current layer tree.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-import.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Link external vector data</em></dt>
      <dd>Link selected external vector data as GRASS vector maps
      (using <em><a href="v.external.html">v.external</a></em>) and
      load them into current layer tree.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-export.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
	<em>Set vector output format</em></dt>
      <dd>Define external format for newly created vector maps
      (see <em><a href="v.external.out.html">v.external.out</a></em>
      for details)</dd>
    </dl>
</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/raster-calculator.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Raster Map Calculator</em></dt>
  <dd>Launches Raster Calculator GUI front-end
  for <em><a href="r.mapcalc.html">r.mapcalc</a></em>.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/modeler-main.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Graphical Modeler</em></dt>
  <dd>Launches <em><a href="wxGUI.gmodeler.html">graphical
  modeler</a></em> to create models and run them.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/georectify.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Georectifier Tool</em></dt>
  <dd>Launches <em><a href="wxGUI.gcp.html">GCP
    Manager</a></em> to create, edit, and manage Ground Control
    Points.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/print-compose.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Cartographic Composer</em></dt>
  <dd>Launches <em><a href="wxGUI.psmap.html">Cartographic
    Composer</a></em> to create interactively hardcopy map
    outputs.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/settings.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Show GUI settings</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens dialog to change GUI settings.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/help.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Show help</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens GRASS manual.</dd>

</dl>

<h3>Map Display Window</h3>

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.

<center>
  <br><img src="wxGUI_map_display.jpg" alt="Map Display Window"><br><br>
Figure: Map Display screenshot on Ubuntu
</center>

<p>
Each Map Display Window has a unique layer tree (in the layer manager) 
and geographic <em>region</em> 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.

<p>
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 
<em>render</em> 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.

<p>
It is important to note that zooming in any display will
have <em>no</em> effect on the 'computational region' setting (set
with <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>). 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.

<h4>Map Display Toolbar</h4>

<dl>

  <dt><img src="icons/layer-redraw.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Re-render display</em></dt>
  <dd>Re-renders all active map layers regardless of whether they have changed
    or not, see <em><a href="d.redraw.html">d.redraw</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/erase.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Erase display</em></dt>
  <dd>Erases the currently selected map display to a white background,
    see <em><a href="d.erase.html">d.erase</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/pointer.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Pointer</em></dt>
  <dd>Select arrow cursor for map display.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/select.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Select features from vector map</em></dt>
  <dd>Interactively select features from given vector map. Selection
  can be stored to a new vector map,
  see <em><a href="v.what.html">v.what</a></em>
  and <em><a href="v.extract.html">v.extract</a></em>.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/info.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Query raster/vector maps</em></dt>
    <dd>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 <em><a href="r.what.html">r.what</a>, <a href="v.what.html">v.what</a></em>.
  </dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/pan.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Pan</em></dt>
  <dd>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 <em>not</em> affect the computational region for other GIS
    processes, see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-in.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Zoom in</em></dt>
  <dd>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 <em>not</em> affect the computational region for other GIS
    processes, see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-out.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Zoom out</em></dt>
  <dd>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 <em>not</em> affect the computational region for
    other GIS processes,
    see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-extent.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Zoom to selected map(s)</em></dt>
  <dd>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 <em>not</em> affect the computational region
    for other GIS processes,
    see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-region.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Zoom to computational region extent</em></dt>
  <dd>Set zoom extent based on the current computational region extent,
    see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-last.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Return to previous zoom</em></dt>
  <dd>Returns to the previous zoom extent. Up to 10 levels of zoom back are
    maintained, see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/zoom-more.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Various zoom options</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu that allows user to:
    <ul>
      <li><em>Zoom to default region</em></li>
      <li><em>Zoom to saved region</em>. Zooms to previously
      saved named region.</li>
      <li><em>Set computational region extent from display.</em>
      The computational region (the mapset's <tt>WIND</tt> file)
      is set to match the current display extent (does not change
      the resolution), see <em><a href="g.region.html">g.region</a></em>.</li>
      <li><em>Set computational region extent interactively.</em>
      The computational region is set simply by drawing a box with
      the left mouse button on Map Display.</li>
      <li><em>Set computational region from named region</em>.
      This option doesn't affect display zoom.</li>
      <li><em>Save display geometry to named region</em></li>
      <li><em>Save computational region to named region</em></li>
    </ul>
  </dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-analyze.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Analyze menu</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu with:
    <dl>
      <dt><img src="icons/measure-length.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Measure distance</em></dt>
      <dd>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.</dd>
      
      <dt><img src="icons/area-measure.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Measure area</em></dt>
      <dd>Interactive measurement of area defined with the mouse. Area is
        measured in the current measurement unit. Double-click to switch off measuring.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-profile.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Profile surface map</em></dt>
      <dd>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.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-profile.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Create bivariate scatterplot of raster maps</em></dt>
      <dd>Interactively create bivariate scatterplot of raster
      maps.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-histogram.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Create histogram of raster map</em></dt>
      <dd>Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new
      window.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/layer-raster-histogram.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Create histogram with d.histogram</em></dt>
      <dd>Displays histogram of selected raster map or image in new
        window,
        see <em><a href="d.histogram.html">d.histogram</a></em>.</dd>

      <dt><img src="icons/vector-tools.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
        <em>Vector network analysis tool</em></dt>
      <dd>See tool's <a href="wxGUI.vnet.html">manual page</a>.</dd>
    </dl>
  </dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/overlay-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Add overlay</em></dt>
  <dd>opens a dropdown menu that allows user to
    
    <dl>
    <dt><img src="icons/legend-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
      <em>Add raster map legend</em></dt>
    <dd>Adds layer to display with legend of selected raster map,
      see <em><a href="d.legend.html">d.legend</a></em>.</dd>

    <dt><img src="icons/scalebar-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
      <em>Add scalebar</em></dt>
    <dd>Adds layer to display a scalebar. Options
      include scalebar placement (using screen coordinates or a mouse),
      scalebar format, and scalebar colors,
      see <em><a href="d.barscale.html">d.barscale</a></em>.</dd>

    <dt><img src="icons/north-arrow-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
      <em>Add north arrow</em></dt>
    <dd>Adds layer to display a north arrow. Options
      include north arrow placement (using screen coordinates or a mouse),
      north arrow style and color,
      see <em><a href="d.northarrow.html">d.northarrow</a></em>.</dd>
    
    <dt><img src="icons/text-add.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
      <em>Add text layer</em></dt>
    <dd>Adds layer to display a line of text using default GRASS font
      (selected with <em><a href="d.font.html">d.font</a></em>).  Options
      include: text placement (screen coordinates); and text size, bolding,
      and color, see <em><a href="d.text.html">d.text</a></em>.</dd>
    </dl>
  </dd>

  <dt><img src="icons/map-export.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Save display to graphic file</em></dt>
  <dd>Save the visible image in map display to different raster graphic formats.</dd>
  
  <dt><img src="icons/print.png" alt="icon">&nbsp;
    <em>Print map</em></dt>
  <dd>Prints map on system native printer or PostScript device;
    saves visible map display (including PostScript text and labels) to PDF
    or EPS file.</dd>
  <dt><em>Map display mode</em></dt>
  <dd>Opens a dropdown menu for selecting different display mode
    <dl>
      <dt><em>2D view</em></dt>
      <dd>Normal GIS display. All active layers are composited and displayed
	in 2D mode.</dd>
      
      <dt><em>3D view</em></dt>
      <dd>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</dd>
      
      <dt><em>Vector digitizer</em></dt>
      <dd>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.</dd>
      
      <dt><em>Raster digitizer</em></dt>
      <dd>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.</dd>
    </dl>
  </dd>

</dl>

<h3>Keyboard short-cuts</h3>

<h4>Layer Manager</h4>

<dl>
  <dt>Ctrl+Tab</dt>
  <dd>Switch 'Layers' and 'Console' tab</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+Q</dt>
  <dd>Quit</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+R</dt>
  <dd>Render map in all map displays</dd>
</dl>

<b>Workspace</b>
<dl>
  <dt>Ctrl+N</dt>
  <dd>Create new workspace</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+O</dt>
  <dd>Load workspace from file</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+S</dt>
  <dd>Close workspace</dd>
</dl>

<b>Layers</b>
<dl>
  <dt>Ctrl+Shift+L</dt>
  <dd>Add multiple raster or vector map layers to current map display</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+Shift+R</dt>
  <dd>Add raster map layer to current map display</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+Shift+V</dt>
  <dd>Add vector map layer to current map display</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+W</dt>
  <dd>Close current map display</dd>
</dl>

<b>Console</b>
<dl>
  <dt>Tab</dt>
  <dd>Show command tooltips</dd>
  <dt>Esc</dt>
  <dd>Hide command tooltips</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+Space</dt>
  <dd>Show auto-complete suggestions</dd>
  <dt>Up/Down</dt>
  <dd>List command history</dd>
  <dt>Enter</dt>
  <dd>Run command</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl++</dt>
  <dd>Increase font size (numerical keyboard plus key)</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+-</dt>
  <dd>Decrease font size (numerical keyboard minus key)</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+mouse wheel</dt>
  <dd>Increase or decrease font size</dd>
</dl>

<h4>Map Display</h4>

<dl>
  <dt>F11</dt>
  <dd>Fullscreen mode (toggle on/off)</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+W</dt>
  <dd>Close map display</dd>
  <dt>Ctrl+R</dt>
  <dd>Render map (re-renders map)</dd>
  <dt>F5</dt>
  <dd>Render map (re-renders map)</dd>
</dl>

<h3>Starting the GUI from command line</h3>

By default, the GUI is always started, but if only the command line (shell) is
running, the GUI can be also started manually using:

<div class="code"><pre>
g.gui
</pre></div>

If the wxGUI is not the default user interface, it can defined as default by
typing at the GRASS GIS command line:

<div class="code"><pre>
g.gui -d wxpython
</pre></div>

Alternatively, it may be defined in the main configuration file
(<tt>$HOME/.grass8/rc</tt> on GNU/Linux and macOS, <tt>%APPDATA%\Roaming\GRASS8\rc</tt>
on MS Windows) using the <tt>GUI</tt> variable set to <tt>wxpython</tt>
(<tt>GUI: wxpython</tt>) or by the environmental variable <tt>GRASS_GUI</tt>.


To start with a previously saved workspace file:

<div class="code"><pre>
g.gui workspace=file.gxw
</pre></div>

<p>
The user can also start GRASS from the shell command line with the wxGUI
specifying the <tt>--gui</tt> switch:

<div class="code"><pre>
grass --gui
</pre></div>

<p>
The GUI can be quit by selecting the 'File &gt; 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 <tt>exit</tt> command) ends the GRASS session
including any running GUIs.

<h3>Background information</h3>

<b>wxGUI</b> is a native <em>Graphical User Interface</em> (GUI) for
GRASS GIS written in <a href="http://www.python.org">Python</a>
using <a href="http://www.wxpython.org">wxPython</a> library.

<h2>SEE ALSO</h2>

<em>
  <a href="wxGUI.components.html">wxGUI components</a><br>
  <a href="wxGUI.modules.html">wxGUI module dialogs</a>
  <a href="wxGUI.toolboxes.html">wxGUI toolboxes (menu customization)</a>
</em>

<p>
See also wxGUI <a href="https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/WxGUI">wiki</a>
page
(especially various <a href="https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/WxGUI#Video_tutorials">video
tutorials</a>),
and <a href="https://grasswiki.osgeo.org/wiki/Quick_wxGUI_tutorial">Quick
wxGUI Tutorial</a>.

<h2>AUTHORS</h2>

Martin Landa, FBK-irst (2007-2008), Trento, Italy, and Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br>
Michael Barton, Arizona State University, USA<br>
Daniel Calvelo Aros<br>
Jachym Cepicky<br>
Markus Metz, Germany<br>
Anna Kratochvilova, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br>
Vaclav Petras, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br>
Stepan Turek, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br>
Tereza Fiedlerova, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br>
Matej Krejci, OSGeoREL, Czech Technical University in Prague, Czech Republic<br><br>

Icons created by <a href="http://robert.szczepanek.pl">Robert Szczepanek</a>, Poland (<a href="https://github.com/Cracert/GIS-icons">Git repository</a>)