What this book covers

Chapter 1, Automating QGIS, provides a brief overview of the different ways in which you can use Python with QGIS, including the QGIS Python console, standalone applications, plugins, and the Script Runner plugin. This chapter also covers how to set and retrieve application settings and a few other Python-specific features.

Chapter 2, Querying Vector Data, covers how to extract information from vector data without changing the data using Python. The topics covered include measuring, loading data from a database, filtering data, and other related processes.

Chapter 3, Editing Vector Data, introduces the topic of creating and updating data to add new information. It also teaches you how to break datasets apart based on spatial or database attributes as well as how to combine datasets. This chapter will also teach you how to convert data into different formats, change projections, simplify data, and more.

Chapter 4, Using Raster Data, demonstrates 25 recipes to use and transform raster data in order to create derivative products. This chapter highlights the capability of QGIS as a raster processing engine and not just a vector GIS.

Chapter 5, Creating Dynamic Maps, transitions into recipes to control QGIS as a whole in order to control map, project, and application-level settings. It includes recipes to access external web services and build custom map tools.

Chapter 6, Composing Static Maps, shows you how to create printed maps using the QGIS Map Composer. You will learn how to place reference elements on a map as well as design elements such as logos.

Chapter 7, Interacting with the User, teaches you how to control QGIS GUI elements created by the underlying Qt framework in order to create interactive input widgets for scripts, plugins, or standalone applications.

Chapter 8, QGIS Workflows, contains more advanced recipes, which result in a finished product or an extended capability. These recipes target actual tasks that geospatial analysts or programmers encounter on the job.

Chapter 9, Other Tips and Tricks, contains interesting recipes that fall outside the scope of the previous chapters. Many of these recipes demonstrate multiple concepts within a single recipe, which you may find useful for a variety of tasks.