North River Geographic Systems Inc

Geospatial Problem Solving

QGIS

Add Geoprocessing Tools to the QGIS Toolbar

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I am going to attempt a post a week on something and I’m already behind.

All of my work is falling into one of two categories at the moment: PostGIS and QGIS. At the moment I’m loading data into PostGIS using QGIS. So I’m:

  • I’m looking at the data going “What the fork is this”
  • When I figure it out it’s then “I’m going to push this in and toss some permissions on it”.

It’s not like pushing data into PostGIS is a complicated process these days: OGR2OGR, QGIS, and I’m pretty sure GRASS can import – so it’s whatever makes my life easier which is QGIS at the moment. So generally I like the “Export to PostgreSQL” tool in the Processing Toolbox. Once you use it it floats to the top under the Recently Used Geoprocessing tools.

At that point in my existence it’s literally two clicks away. One could really “Type it out” using the locate toolbar so no clicking is involved – BUT – what if I wanted that geoprocessing tool on my toolbar.

While updating one of the two QGIS Classes – I stumbled into this “one really cool trick”. It all is hidden under the options menu. Go to Settings -> Options and navigate to the processing tab.

Scary Right? It’s not that bad. Here is the hardest part of this whole thing – Click on Menus and you’ll see a host of options. Click on QGIS (native c++) and look for Buffer. Click on Buffer and click on the checkbox to “Add Button in Toolbar”. You may need to dig around to find other tools. QGIS keeps them divided into 3 categories.

Close QGIS

Re-Open It.

Hey you have a brand new toolbar called Processing Algorithms and you’ve got a brand new button with a pic on it that looks like an Boomerang (or upside down ‘L’). Press that and you have the buffer geoprocessing tool ready for use.

So – entirely necessary? In my case not really – it is nice to have access to it in one click. It is nice from the standpoint that I can take an inexperienced user and customize the interface to where they don’t need to know where this tool is or how to get to it – just push a button. You can keep adding tools that you want up there – in this case I really only wanted two. When I’m done I’ll “turn them off” but for now I like my extra toolbar.

Exploring QGIS – Jan 25th-26th 2022

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First Class of 2022 – with a full schedule preparing to rollout in the next couple of weeks for the first half of 2022.

What will we do? Explore QGIS (which is the revamped Intro class) will walk you through an introduction to the software and it’s capabilities. With any luck you’re making a map at the end of the class.

Things we will cover:

  • Interface
  • Community
  • Data
  • Symbology
  • Processing
  • Layouts.

Part of the proceeds from the class funnel into the QGIS Software.

  • Dates: Jan 25th-26th 2022 from 12 to 4 EST. Just 4 hours a day for 2 days.
  • Cost: $175 US
  • Link: Eventbrite
  • Location: Zoom – so it’s everywhere and no where.
  • I’ll be sending out data/PDFS the closer we get to the class.
  • Seats: 10

Introduction to QGIS Dec 7-8 2021

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I should have titled this “Exploring QGIS” – but you may not have read the last blog post. Anyway – I will be rebranding the Intro class into Exploring QGIS for 2022.

So – the last class I will teach of 2021.

What will we do? Explore QGIS and run through all the core functionality. It will be a good introduction to see if this software will work for your organization (Spoiler alert – it will). We have lessons, Q&A, and generally try to be rowdy, and break stuff.

I will be offering a “health check” before we do this. I’d like to see how comfortable you are with everything and how I can make it better/easier/more fun for you as the student.

Things we will cover:

  • Interface
  • Community
  • Data
  • Symbology
  • Processing
  • Layouts.

Part of the proceeds from the class funnel into the QGIS Software.

  • Dates: December 7th and 8th from 12 to 4 EST. Just 4 hours a day for 2 days.
  • Cost: $175 US
  • Link: Eventbrite
  • Location: Zoom – so it’s everywhere and no where.
  • I’ll be sending out data/PDFS the closer we get to the class.
  • Seats: 10

Anyway – come join in for a rowdy final QGIS class that is a good overview for the new user.

QGIS Class Updates

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I’ve been sitting here thinking about the class offerings. So I have some updates, thoughts, and general “here is what is going to happen”. Last month I taught the Intro class and the processing and tools class back to back. That was pretty nice because it gave me a pretty quick look at what worked and what doesn’t and how the two classes line up.

The Good:

  • I have a Part 1 (intro) and a Part 2 (intermediate) done now on QGIS.
  • In general they matched up well and Part 2 built off Part 1 better than I hoped.
  • I didn’t make it too terribly complicated overall

The Bad:

  • Things I thought were brilliant didn’t work….i.e. Too Complicated.
  • Things I thought were lame went over extremely well.
  • SQL is too hard to throw at people the last hour of the last day for part 2.
  • Class Names are deceptive: “Intro” is more than intro and “tools and processing” is more than that. So I need to re-name the classes.
  • The second class needs to be tightened up.
  • There is always room to improve.

There is one more class coming to make three total classes. Think of it as an intro, intermediate, and final…and final may mean advanced or final may mean enterprise. Final may be final as I really don’t want to do any more classes beyond the three as a core offering. I need to start working on that and get a first draft by the end of the year.

Back when I started NRGS I was an ATP…..or CTP….whatever the name I was teaching ESRI classes. So having people not wanting to take an intro class because it’s “intro” isn’t anything new. All that made me really re-think the phrase ‘Introduction” and I will probably rebrand this as “Exploring QGIS”. That way it doesn’t say “intro”.

Anyway – it was nice to finally get 2 classes finished and have it be something I was happy with overall. I just finished up updating the “intro” class and I’m doing that with the second class. Next year will see one class getting taught each month. So all 3 get taught per quarter. That way I know the last week of the month is teaching and the other three I can work.

Intro to QGIS Class – August 24-25th 2021

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I’m holding a virtual Intro to QGIS Class (Over Zoom) On August 24th and 25th 2021.

The class is 8 hours spread over 2 days and covers:

  • Interface
  • Editing
  • Data and symbology
  • Layouts

If you’ve considered adding This open source GIS Desktop to your software stack or replacing existing software this is a good introduction. This is also the lead-in class to the QGIS: Tools and Processing class.

  • Class is limited to 10 total participants
  • Cost is $175
  • Registration is here!
  • Class will be using QGIS 3.16 or QGIS 3.20

This class also benefits the Community. When you take it you receive a certificate from the QGIS Community and approximately 25 dollars flows back to help improve the software.

Also – if you’re part of a non-profit and can’t swing the fee – give me a shout.