<!DOCTYPE html><html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style>
<style type="text/css">body { font-family:'DejaVu Sans Mono'; font-size:12px}</style>
</head>
<body lang="EN-US"><div>Hi,</div><div><br></div><div>Am 27.10.2017, 19:29 Uhr, schrieb Louise Duffy <louise.d.duffy@gmail.com>:<br></div><br><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">I don't know if this is the correct format for asking these questions, so please re-direct me as needed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">I am used ArcMap for many years to perform pretty basic stuff, but I am not finding QGIS to be as easy of a transition as I had hoped. I am now self-employed, doing some part time consulting for a few clients and I do not have the budget to buy ESRI products, especially when QGIS has such promise. </span></p></div></blockquote><div>QGIS is for free, but it will cost you sth neverthelless: Time (while ArcMap costs you money AND time)</div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">In the past, my normal use of GIS was to pretty focused on being able to connect dots from GPS data, digitize features using aerial photography and other basemaps. Producing a variety of maps for projects that included exported tables of that data to show coordinates, lengths, area or other characteristics.</span></p></div></blockquote><div>I think this is what the majority of QGIS users do as well.</div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">I downloaded QGIS version 2.14.19-Essen. I am not familiar with programming languages, scripts or other behind the scenes stuff. When I have looked at tutorials QGIS has, the screens do not match what I see or the process does not work as expected. I don't know if I am missing something with the install or just need a friendly guide to point the way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><div>QGIS has a very fast development, so resources often can't keep the pace and get outdated. But as Patrick mentioned, https://gis.stackexchange.com is good resource to find answers and learn, or even ask own questions (after proving that you could not find a suitable answer there).</div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Right now, I specifically need help with four things: </span></p></div></blockquote><div>In some parts, QGIS workflows still require the use of plugins. </div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">add basemaps from external sources (aerial, street, usgs quad), </span></p></div></blockquote><div>For adding basemaps, install QuickkMapServices (which by default only ships a few basmaps, so you can extend it through the plugins settings: Settings/More services -> Get contributed pack)</div><div><br></div><div>ArcMap folks tend to think that the ESRI-way is the only valid way to do things. QGIS does not "pollute" your attribute table with the informations you are used to have and now ask for, but you can add them quickly.</div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">calculate/display </span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">area of polygons in attribute table; </span></p></div></blockquote><div>Open attribute table, open field calculator, create new field "area", pick format/field length/precision.</div><div>In the search field to the right, enter "area". The search shows you e.g. "$area" under "Geometry". Just double-click on $area", it shows up in the expression field -> OK</div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">add X,Y coordinates of existing points to attribute table; </span></p></div></blockquote><div>Do similar with a new x and y field: search for x, double-click $x (and have a look at all the other functions available) etc etc.</div><div><br></div><div>Or even easier:</div><div>Click Processing in the Menu bar, Activate the Toolbox, Search for "Add": Under QGIS geoalgorithms -> Vector table tools, you will find Export/Add geometry columns.</div><div>This will not change your original dataset, but creates a new temporary copy (which you will have to make permanent later by "Save as...)</div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">search for and add points based on X,Y coordinates. </span></p></div></blockquote><div>Right-click somewhere in the Menu bar and activate the "Advanced digitizing panel"</div><div>Make your point layer editable</div><div>enable advanced digitizing tools (look at the popup-hints that show when hovering the symbols. The x and y fields get active.</div><div>Enter your coordinates and lock them (with the lock symbol). You get a cross-hair showing the position.</div><div>Digitizing toolbar: add feature. Click somewhere in the canvas, the new point will be created at the cross-hair position.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><blockquote style="margin: 0 0 0.80ex; border-left: #0000FF 2px solid; padding-left: 1ex"><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Thanks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background:white;vertical-align:middle"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#222222">Louise </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div></blockquote><div>Learn to search and use: Plugins Repository, Field calculator functions, Processing Toolbox functions!</div><div>Did I miss sth?</div><div><br></div><div>Cheers</div><div>Bernd</div><br><br><div id="M2Signature"><div>-- </div><div>Bernd Vogelgesang<br>Siedlerstraße 2<br>91083 Baiersdorf/Igelsdorf<br>Tel: 09133-825374</div></div></body></html>