[Qgis-user] qgis vs grass

[Alister Hood]

> Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:59:07 +1100
> From: Noli Sicad <nsicad at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Qgis-user] qgis vs grass
> To: Jake Maier <j.m at jmforestry.com>
> Cc: qgis-user at lists.osgeo.org
> Message-ID:
> 	<CADs9uc-3DKdLUaUeZc2dfkqFzeR=My+6bS1_dCBX1fSVuA71Mg at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> 
> To calculate area - (shapeflie file) in QGIS,
> 
> Have a look on the Vector (menu)->Geometry Tools -> Export / Add geometry
> columns.
> 
> You will get a new shapefile with area and perimetre columns
> 
> Simple hack for acres;
> 
> Open dbf file of that shapefiles in LibreOffice / OpenOffice add a new
> columns for arces and just just conversion from units to acres.
> 
> I think you can add column as well in the attributes table and add the
> formula for conversion tor default unit to acres.

Yes, it is best to use the attribute table instead of messing around with Openoffice.
And at least in QGIS master you can skip the "Export / Add geometry" step - just open the attribute table and you can use the field calculator to calculate the area and convert it into acres in one step.