Now that we have set up QGIS, let's get accustomed to the interface! The biggest area is reserved for the map. To the left of the map, there are the Layers and the Browser panels. Below the map, we find important information such as (from left to right), current map coordinates, map scale, and the (currently inactive) project coordinate reference system (CRS).
Next, there are multiple toolbars to explore. If you arranged them as shown in the previous section, you'll find the following toolbars in the top row:
File: This toolbar contains tools to create, open, save, and print projects
Manage Layers: This toolbar contains tools to add layers from vector or raster files, databases, web services, text files, or create new layers
Database: Currently, this toolbar only contains DB Manager, but other database-related tools will appear here when they are installed
The following screenshot shows what the preceding toolbars look like:
The second row of toolbars contains the following:
Attributes: These tools are used to identify, select, open attribute tables, measure, and so on
Label: These tools are used to add, configure, and modify labels
Vector: This is currently empty, but will be filled by additional Python plugins
Web: This is currently empty, but will be filled by additional Python plugins
The following screenshot shows what the preceding toolbars look like:
On the left screen border, we put the following:
The following screenshot shows what the preceding toolbars look like:
Finally, on the right screen border, we find the following:
The following screenshot shows what the preceding toolbars look like:
Tip
All digitizing tools are currently inactive. They will only turn active once we start editing a vector layer.
Toolbars and panels can be activated and deactivated via the View menu's Panels and Toolbars entries as well as by right-clicking on a menu or toolbar, which opens a context menu with all available toolbars and panels. All toolbar tools can also be accessed via the menu. If you deactivate the Manage Layers toolbar, for example, you will still be able to add layers using the Layer menu.
QGIS is highly customizable. You can increase your productivity by assigning shortcuts to the tools you use regularly by navigating to Settings | Configure shortcuts. Similarly, if you find that you never use a certain toolbar button or menu entry, you can hide it by navigating to Settings | Customization. For example, if you don't have access to an Oracle Spatial database, you might want to hide the associated buttons to remove clutter and save screen estate as shown in the following screenshot:
