[Qgis-user] Newbie to GIS and QGIS

[Mick]

On Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:11:14 -0400
Jel Coward <jel at wildmedic.org> wrote:

> Hi all
> 
> Briefly - I am new to GIS and to QGIS.  Running on ubuntu 10.04 LTS.
> 
> Motivation - to be able to generate and manipulate maps (I work with
> Search and Rescue in BC (by work, I mean, I do it for free :)   - and
> a desire to understand mapping better.
> 
> 
> I thought I would start with trying to get QGIS to open/display a map
> of our local area.
> 
> I went here
> 
> http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/geogratis/en/option/select.do?id=5460AA9D-54CD-8349-C95E-1A4D03172FDF&datasets=092j07 
> <http://geogratis.cgdi.gc.ca/geogratis/en/option/select.do?id=5460AA9D-54CD-8349-C95E-1A4D03172FDF&datasets=092j07>
> 
> and downloaded the ESRI shape file - which turns out to be a zip file
> of a bunch of files.
> 
> I opened QGIS to a blank project and tried opening all the files via
> 'add vector layer'
> 
> I got a list of layers, all checked, on the left and something that
> might be a map on the right :-)   Indeed I think I recognise some 
> shapes/patterns, but there are no labels for places, and nothing
> really resembling a usable map.
> 
> 
> ........now I know that this is my lack of understanding and not a
> qgis failing.    Can anyone help get me kick-started a little here
> please?   (or just get me kicked if that fees better :)
> 
> 
> Many thanks all - and many thanks to the devels and community for
> producing this great open-source product.
> 
> Cheers
> 
> Jel Coward
> 
In the left column, Right click a layer name, select properties, choose
Labels on the 'page' bar then Display labels and OK

Also in the map pane rotate the mouse wheel to zoom in/out.

now explore all the menus/toolbars

mick (another newbie to QGIS)