[GRASS-user] Linux Journal features GRASS GIS

[Nikos Alexandris]

On Wednesday 05 of June 2013 09:08:24 Benjamin Ducke wrote:
> Dear All,
> 
> This month's edition of the Amerian Linux Journal
> (www.linuxjournal.com) features an article on GRASS.

That's great!

> Overall, I would say the article does a good job
> of introducing potential new users to GRASS.
> 
> However, while reading it, I realised that two
> conceptual problems remain that new users might
> struggle with:
> 
> 1. The role of the PERMAMENT mapset remains
> hard to grasp (the article wrongly suggests that
> this should be the default mapset to log into).

At some extent it's unavoidable I think without engaging in some process of 
understanding GRASS' basic concepts.
 
> 2. The GUI does not speak the same language as
> the CLI when it comes to the use of the terms
> "map", "layer" and "monitor".

> The first issue could be addressed by displaying
> a warning of the kind "Do you really want to work
> in the PERMANENT mapset" when a first-time login
> attempt is made.

Why not even more extended/interfering something among the lines:

Do you really want to work in the PERMANENT mapset? Consider the PERMANENT 
Mapset as an import container from which to draw raw material. Unless you know 
what you are doing, you are better off using another mapset for real 
processing.

 
> The second issue requires some consideration of
> how "map" and "layer" are used in different ways
> at the moment. Traditionally, a "map" is a GRASS
> raster or vector dataset. In the GUI, what used to
> be a "monitor" is now called "Map Display", whereas
> what used to be "maps" is now called "Map layers"
> (and the associated window title is "Layer Manager").
> Novice users might stumble over this when they
> discover the vector modules' "layer=" option and/or
> any single-input module's "map=" option.
 
> Also:
> - The window title "Layer Manager" is somewhat
> of a misnomer, since this is really the main window
> and does a lot more than just managing a layer list.

Good point!  What about "Map Manager?"

> - Using the location name as right-hand part of the
> "Map Display" window title suggests that there could be
> multiple locations per GRASS session (as there can be
> multiple "Map Display" windows), which is misleading
> (at least for languages that use left-to-right writing).

> To bring back consistency, some review of terminology
> across CLI and GUI seems in order. Since it seems to
> me that it is easiest to change some strings in the
> GUI, I would suggest something like this:
> 
> "Layer Manager" = "GRASS GIS - location (filename.gxw)"

"Map Manager"?
 
> "Map Display x" = "GRASS GIS - location (Monitor x)"
> 
> "Map layers" = "Maps"

+1

> "Display x" = "Monitor x"
> 
> Best,
> 
> Ben

Cheers, Nikos