QGIS Interface

QGIS Interface #

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Overview of QGIS Interface #

  1. Layers List / Browser Panel: The layers list shows all layers/files that are loaded in the project. You can show/hide layers and set other properties.

  2. Toolbars: Toolbars are shortcuts to execute frequently used commands. For example, there are special toolbars for vector and raster files, but also general ones for saving your project, etc. The toolbar contains, among other things, a list of all the commands you can use. The toolbar also contains the toolbox, which is used later in many of the wiki videos.

  1. Map View: The map view is the central component of every GIS programme. This is where the geodata is displayed. The map view has a projection which does not always have to correspond to the projection of the layers.

  2. Status bar: In the status bar you will find central information about the current map view. Here you can set the projection of the map view and the scale. You can read the coordinates of the mouse pointer and thus quickly find out the coordinates of points on the map. You can rotate your map view, e.g. if you want to create a map facing south.

  3. Side Toolbar. You may see a side toolbar. This is another way to easily open vector and raster files in QGIS.

  4. Locator bar. Here you can search for tools and layers. If you don’t know where to find a tool, you can try here.

Official QGIS Documentation: An Overview of the Interface

Buttons and Shortcuts #

Project management #

Name

Menu option

Shortcut

Description

New project

Ctrl + N

Create a new project

Open project

Ctrl + O

Open an existing project

Save

Ctrl + S

Save the project

Save as…

Ctrl + Shift + S

Save the project as…

Properties

Ctrl + Shift + P

Open the project properties

New print layout

Ctrl + P

Opens the Dialog to create a new print layout

Search

Ctrl + K

Opens the search bar

Layer management #

Name

Menu option

Shortcut

Description

Data source manager

Ctrl + L

Add a new layer

New GeoPackage layer

Ctrl + Shift + N

Add a new GeoPackage Layer

Add vector layer

Ctrl + Shift + V

Add a new vector layer

Add raster layer

Ctrl + Shift + R

Add a new raster layer

Remove selected layer

Ctrl + D

Remove the selected layer

Toggle layers view

Ctrl + 1

Toggle the layers view

Toggle browser view

Ctrl + 2

Toggle the browser view

Analysis Tools #

Name

Menu option

Shortcut

Description

Identify features

Ctrl + Shift + I

Identify features on the map view by clicking on them

Select feature

Select a feature by area or single click

Select feature by value

F3

Select features by value

Open attribute table

F6

Open the attribute table

Open attribute table with selected features only

Shift + F6

Open the attribute table with selected features only

Open attribute table with visible features only

Ctrl + F6

Open the attribute table with visible features only

Advanced Tools #

Name

Menu option

Shortcut

Description

Processing toolbox

Ctrl + Alt + T

Opens the processing toolbox

Python console

Ctrl + Alt + P

Opens the Python console

Moving and orientating on the Map Canvas #

Moving the map view #

To move on the map canvas with your mouse cursor you need to toggle the hand button.

You can also move on the map canvas with arrow keys on your keyboard.

Zooming in the map view #

The easiest way to zoom on Map Canvas is by scrolling.

Or with the hotkeys Ctrl+ + and Ctrl + -.

Another way is to use the zoom buttons in the toolbox panel.

The Processing Toolbox #

All the functionality, tools and applications of QGIS are organised in the Processing toolbox. If you ever need to find a tool, or an algorithm, you can open the toolbox and use the search function to find it.

Open Toolbox #

To open the Toolbox in QGIS click on the gearwheel button. Or click on Processing → Toolbox.

You can use the search bar to find specific tools.

Toolbars #

Some Tools have their own toolbars which you can add to your QGIS interface. They appear above the map canvas as icons which let you quickly access specific functionalities. To avoid an overcrowded interface it is smart to only activate specific toolbars or panels only when you really need them.

Show and hide displays and toolbars #

To add or remove toolbars from your interface click on View → Toolbars → Check or uncheck the toolboxes you want to add or remove.

To add or remove panels from your interface click on View → Panels → Check or uncheck the panels you want to add or remove.

Move and arrange toolbars #

At each toolbar there is a field of two dotted lines. If you move the mouse pointer over it until an arrow cross appears and then hold down the left mouse button, you can move the toolbar. This allows an individualised arrangement of your own tools. By compressing all toolbars into a few lines, the map view window can also be enlarged.

Save & Open QGIS Projects #

To save progress or to open an existing project in QGIS is very similar to programs like MS Word. However, there is one BIG difference. In QGIS the geodata you work with is not saved in your QGIS project file. Instead, the project file only contains the file paths where the geodata were located at the time the project was last saved on the PC. If the location of this geodata is subsequently changed, the error message “handle unavailable layers” will appear when the project is opened again.

Open Projects #

To open an existing QGIS project click on Project → Open… → Navigate to your project and open it.

Save Projects #

  • When you save the first time: To save the QGIS project you are working on click on Project → Save as… → Navigate to the folder where you want to save the project → Give the project a name → Save.

  • When you save progress: To save progress in a project that was already saved somewhere on your computer there are two good options:

    • Use the hotkey Ctrl + S on your keyboard.

    • Click on Project → Save.