ps.mapgrass - Online in the Cloud

PROGRAM:

NAME

ps.map - Produces hardcopy PostScript map output.

KEYWORDS

postscript, printing

SYNOPSIS

ps.map
ps.map --help
ps.map [-rpeb] input=name output=name [copies=integer] [--overwrite] [--help]
[--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

Flags:
-r
Rotate plot 90 degrees

-p
List paper formats (name width height left right top bottom(margin))

-e
Create EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) instead of PostScript file

-b
Describe map-box’s position on the page and exit (inches from top-left of paper)

--overwrite
Allow output files to overwrite existing files

--help
Print usage summary

--verbose
Verbose module output

--quiet
Quiet module output

--ui
Force launching GUI dialog

Parameters:
input=name [required]
File containing mapping instructions
Use ’-’ to enter instructions from keyboard)

output=name [required]
Name for PostScript output file

copies=integer
Number of copies to print
Options: 1-20

DESCRIPTION

ps.map is a cartographic mapping program for producing high quality hardcopy maps in
PostScript format. Output can include a raster map, any number of vector overlays, text
labels, decorations, and other spatial data.

A file of mapping instructions that describes the various spatial and textual information
to be printed must be prepared prior to running ps.map.

NOTES

The order of commands is generally unimportant but may affect how some layers are drawn.
For example to plot vpoints above vareas list the vpoints entry first. Raster maps are
always drawn first, and only a single raster map (or 3 if part of a RGB group) may be
used.

The hash character (’#’) may be used at the beginning of a line to indicate that the line
is a comment. Blank lines will also be ignored.

Be aware that some mapping instructions require the end command and some do not. Any
instruction that allows subcommands will require it, any instruction that does not allow
subcommands will not.

The resolution and extent of raster maps plotted with ps.map are controlled by the current
region settings via the g.region module. The output filesize is largely a function of the
region resolution, so special care should be taken if working with large raster datasets.
For example if the desired output is US-Letter sized paper at 300dpi, with 1" margins and
the raster filling the entire page, the usable area on the page will be 6.5" x 9", which
at 300 dots/inch is equivalent to a region of 1950 columns x 2700 rows (see "g.region
-p"). Any higher resolution settings will make the output file larger, but with a consumer
printer you probably won’t be able to resolve any better detail in the hardcopy.

The user can specify negative or greater than 100 percentage values for positioning
several map decorations and embedded EPS-files, to move them outside the current map box
region (for example to position a caption, barscale, or legend above or below the map
box).

One point ("pixel") is 1/72 of an inch.

For users wanting to use special characters (such as accented characters) it is important
to note that ps.map uses ISO-8859-1 encoding. This means that your instructions file will
have to be encoded in this encoding. If you normally work in a different encoding
environment (such as UTF-8), you have to transform your file to the ISO-8859-1 encoding,
for example by using the iconv utility:
iconv -f UTF-8 -t ISO_8859-1 utf_file > iso_file

MAPPING INSTRUCTIONS

The mapping instructions allow the user to specify various spatial data to be plotted.
These instructions are normally prepared in a regular text file using a system editor.
Some instructions are single line instructions while others are multiple line. Multiple
line instructions consist of the main instruction followed by a subsection of one or more
additional instructions and are terminated with an end instruction.

Instruction keywords:
[ border | colortable | comments | copies | eps | geogrid | greyrast | grid | group |
header | labels | line | mapinfo | maploc | maskcolor | outline | paper | point | psfile |
raster | read | rectangle | region | rgb | scale | scalebar | setcolor | text | vareas |
vlines | vpoints | vlegend | end ]

Common instructions
Instructions that may be included in the subsection under several different main
instructions are:

where x y
The top left corner of the bounding box of the item to be plotted is located x inches
from the left edge of the paper and y inches from the top edge of the paper. If x is
less than or equal to zero, the default horizontal location is used. If y is less
than or equal to zero, the default vertical location is used.

font font name
The name of the PostScript font. Fonts present in all PostScript implementations are:
Times-Roman, Times-Italic, Times-Bold, Times-BoldItalic, Helvetica, Helvetica-Oblique,
Helvetica-Bold, Helvetica-BoldOblique, Courier, Courier-Oblique, Courier-Bold, and
Courier-BoldOblique.
The default is Helvetica.

fontsize font size
The size of the PostScript font (in 1/72nds of an inch). The default is 10 point.

color name
The following colors names are accepted by ps.map: aqua, black, blue, brown, cyan,
gray, grey, green, indigo, magenta, orange, purple, red, violet, white, yellow .
For vectors and some plotting commands you can also specify ’none’ or ’R:G:B’ (e.g
’255:0:0’).

yes|no
For options that take a yes or no answer, you can simply use the letters "y" or "n",
or type out the full words "Yes" or "No" if you prefer. It is not case-sensitive.
Typically the option with have a default answer and you only need to specify one if
you wish to override it.

Command usage

border

Controls the border which is drawn around the map area.
USAGE: border [y|n]
color color
width #
end
The color may be either a standard GRASS color, a R:G:B triplet, or "none". The width is
specified in points, unless followed by an "i" in which case it is measured in inches.
The default is a black border box of width 1 point.

The border can be turned off completely with the "border n" instruction. In this case the
end command should not be given as the main command will be treated as a single line
instruction.

This example would create a grey border 0.1" wide.
EXAMPLE:
border
color grey
width 0.1i
end

colortable

Prints the color table legend for the raster map layer anywhere on the page.
USAGE: colortable [y|n]
where x y
raster raster map
range minimum maximum
width table width
height table height (FP legend only)
cols table columns
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
nodata [Y|n]
tickbar [y|N]
discrete [y|n]
end
For a categorical (CELL) map the color table will create a legend displaying the colors
for each of a raster map’s category values along with its associated category label. For a
floating point (FCELL or DCELL) map a continuous gradient legend will be created.

If raster is omitted, the colortable defaults to the previously registered raster layer.

The default location for the colortable is immediately below any other map legend
information, starting at the left margin. The default text color is black.

Omitting the colortable instruction would result in no color table. If the colortable is
turned off with a "colortable N" instruction the end command should not be given as the
main command will be treated as a single line instruction.

See also the vlegend command for creating vector map legends.

Categorical (CELL) Maps
Adding the nodata N instruction will prevent the "no data" box from being drawn (category
based legends only). If you have manually added a "no data" label to the cats/ file it
will be shown regardless.

Note: Be careful about asking for color tables for integer raster map layers which have
many categories, such as elevation. This could result in the printing of an extremely
long color table! In this situation it is useful to use the discrete N instruction to
force a continuous color gradient legend.

Be aware that the color table only includes categories which have a label. You can use the
r.category module to add labels.

Floating point (FCELL and DCELL) Maps
The legend’s range can be adjusted for floating point rasters, but if set beyond the
extent of the map’s range be sure that you have set up color rules with r.colors which
cover this range. If the map has been given a data-units label with r.support then this
label will be displayed. For floating point legends width is width of color band only.
height is used only for floating point legend. A horizontal gradient legend can be
achieved by setting the legend width greater than its height. Adding the tickbar Y
instruction will change the tick mark style so that ticks are drawn across the color table
instead of protruding out to the right (floating point legends only). Adding the discrete
Y instruction will command the program to treat the map as a categorical map. In this way
the legend can be created with discrete range bands instead of a continuous gradient. You
must use the r.category or r.support module to set up the range labels first.

This example would print a color table immediately below any other map legend information,
starting at the left margin, with 4 columns:
EXAMPLE:
colortable y
cols 4
width 4
end

comments

Prints comments anywhere on the page.
USAGE: comments commentfile
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
end
The default location is immediately below the last item item printed, starting at the left
margin. The default text color is black.

If you wish to use parentheses spanning multiple lines you will need to quote them with a
backslash to prevent the PostScript interpreter from getting confused. e.g. ’\(’ and ’\)’

This example prints in blue whatever is in the file veg.comments starting at 1.5 inches
from the left edge of the page and 7.25 inches from the top of the page, using a 15/72
inch Helvetica Bold font.
EXAMPLE:
raster vegetation
comments veg.comments
where 1.5 7.25
font Helvetica Bold
fontsize 15
color blue
end
Presumably, the file veg.comments contain comments pertaining to the raster map layer
vegetation, such as "This map was created by classifying a LANDSAT TM image".

copies

Specifies the number of copies to be printed.
USAGE: copies n
Each page will be printed n times.

This instruction is identical to the copies command line parameter.

eps

Places EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) pictures on the output map.
USAGE: eps east north
eps x% y%
epsfile EPS file
scale #
rotate #
masked [y|n]
end
The EPS picture location is entered in the main instruction line by giving either the map
coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic region. The EPS picture will be
centered at the given position. The user must specify full EPS file path epsfile. The
user may also specify the scale of the icon (default is 1.0), the rotate i.e. rotation in
degrees (default is 0) and whether the point is to be masked by the current mask. (See
manual entry for r.mask for more information on the mask.)

This example would place a EPS file ./epsf/logo.eps at the point (E456000 N7890000). This
picture would be rotated 20 degrees clockwise, 3 times bigger than in original file and
would not be masked by the current mask.
EXAMPLE:
eps 456000 7890000
epsfile ./epsf/logo.eps
scale 3
rotate 20
masked n
end
Of course, multiple EPS pictures may be drawn with multiple eps instructions.

geogrid

Overlays a geographic grid onto the output map.
USAGE: geogrid spacing unit
color color
numbers # [color]
font font name
fontsize font size
width #
end
The spacing and spacing unit of the geographic grid is given on the main instruction line.
The spacing unit is given as one of d for degrees, m for minutes, and s for seconds. The
subsection instructions allow the user to specify the color of the geographic grid lines,
whether coordinate numbers should appear on the geographic grid lines, the width of the
lines (accepts decimal points [floating points] as well as integers), and if they should
appear every grid line (1), every other grid line (2), etc., and what color the numbers
should be. The defaults are black grid lines, unnumbered.

NOTE: The geogrid draws grid numbers on the east and south borders of the map.

This example would overlay a blue geographic grid with a spacing of 30 minutes onto the
output map. Alternate grid lines would be numbered with yellow numbers.
EXAMPLE:
geogrid 30 m
color blue
numbers 2 yellow
end

greyrast

Selects a raster map layer for output in shades of grey.
USAGE: greyrast mapname
For each ps.map run, only one raster map layer can be requested (using either the greyrast
or the raster instruction).

grid

Overlays a coordinate grid onto the output map.
USAGE: grid spacing
color color
numbers # [color]
cross cross size
font font name
fontsize font size
width #
end
The spacing of the grid is given (in the geographic coordinate system units) on the main
instruction line. The subsection instructions allow the user to specify the color of the
grid lines, whether coordinate numbers should appear on the grid lines, and if they should
appear every grid line (1), every other grid line (2), etc., and what color the numbers
should be. The cross argument draws grid intersection crosses instead of grid lines, with
cross size given in geographic coordinate system units. The defaults are black grid
lines, unnumbered.

This example would overlay a green grid with a spacing of 10000 meters (for a metered
database, like UTM) onto the output map. Alternate grid lines would be numbered with red
numbers.
EXAMPLE:
grid 10000
color green
numbers 2 red
end

group

Selects an RGB imagery group for output.
USAGE: group groupname
This is similar to raster, except that it uses an imagery group instead of a raster map
layer. The group must contain three raster map layers, comprising the red, green and blue
bands of the image.

header

Prints the map header above the map.
USAGE: header
file header file
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
end
If the file sub-instruction is absent the header will consist of the map’s title and the
location’s description. The text will be centered on the page above the map. The default
text color is black.

If the file sub-instruction is given the header will consist of the text in the text file
specified, with some special formatting keys:

· %% - a literal %

· %n - ? newline ?

· %_ - horizontal bar

· %c - "<raster name> in mapset <mapset name>"

· %d - today’s date

· %l - location name

· %L - Location’s text description

· %m - mapset name

· %u - user name

· %x - mask info

· %- - advance to this character column number (see example below)
Example header file:
%_
LOCATION: %-27l DATE: %d
MAPSET: %-27m USER: %u
RASTER MAP: %c
MASK: %x
%_
Produced by: US Army CERL, Champaign Illinois
Software: GRASS
%_

This example prints (in red) whatever is in the file soils.hdr above the map, using a
20/72 inch Courier font.
EXAMPLE:
header
file soils.hdr
font Courier
fontsize 20
color red
end

labels

Selects a labels file for output (see manual entry for v.label ).
USAGE: labels labelfile
font font name
end

NOTE: ps.map can read new option ’ROTATE:’ from labels file, which specifies counter
clockwise rotation in degrees.

This example would paint labels from the labels file called town.names. Presumably, these
labels would indicate the names of towns on the map.
EXAMPLE:
labels town.names
end

line

Draws lines on the output map.
USAGE: line east north east north
line x% y% x% y%
color color
width #
masked [y|n]
end
The beginning and ending points of the line are entered on the main instruction. These
points can be defined either by map coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic
region. The user may also specify line color, width in points (1/72"; accepts decimal
values as well as integers), and if the line is to be masked by the current mask. (See
manual entry for r.mask
for more information on the mask.) The line width (if given) is measured in points; an i
directly following the number indicates that the width is given in inches instead.

This example would draw a yellow line from the point x=10% y=80% to the point x=30% y=70%.
This line would be 2 points wide (2/72") and would appear even if there is a mask.
EXAMPLE:
line 10% 80% 30% 70%
color yellow
width 2
masked n
end
Of course, multiple lines may be drawn with multiple line instructions.

mapinfo

Prints the portion of the map legend containing the scale, grid and region information, on
or below the map.
USAGE: mapinfo
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
color text color
background box color|none
border color|none
end
The default location is immediately below the map, starting at the left edge of the map.
The default text color is black. The default background box color is white.

border will draw a border around the legend using the specified color. (see NAMED COLORS)

This example prints (in brown) the scale, grid and region information immediately below
the map and starting 1.5 inches from the left edge of the page, using a 12/72 inch Courier
font.
EXAMPLE:
mapinfo
where 1.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 12
color brown
end

maploc

Positions the map on the page.
USAGE: maploc x y [width height]
The upper left corner of the map will be positioned x inches from the left edge of the
page and y inches from the top of the page. If width and height (in inches) are present,
the map will be rescaled, if necessary, to fit.

This example positions the upper left corner of the map 2.0 inches from the left edge and
3.5 inches from the top edge of the map.
EXAMPLE:
maploc 2.0 3.5

maskcolor

Color to be used for mask.
USAGE: maskcolor color

outline

Outlines the areas of a raster map layer with a specified color.
USAGE: outline
color color
width width of line in points
end
Distinct areas of the raster map will be separated from each other visually by drawing a
border (or outline) in the specified color (default: black). For width the program accepts
decimal points [floating points] as well as integers. Note: it is important the user
enter the instruction end even if a color is not chosen. (It is hoped that in the future
the outline of a different raster map layer other than the one currently being painted may
be placed on the map.)

This example would outline the category areas of the soils raster map layer in grey.
EXAMPLE:
raster soils
outline
color grey
width 2
end

paper

Specifies paper size and margins.
USAGE: paper paper name
height #
width #
left #
right #
bottom #
top #
end
paper may select predefined paper name (a4,a3,a2,a1,a0,us-legal,us-letter,us-tabloid).
Default paper size is a4. The measures are defined in inches. left, right, bottom and top
are paper margins. If the plot is rotated with the -r command line flag, measures are
applied to the rotated page.

EXAMPLE:
paper a3
end

EXAMPLE:
paper
width 10
height 10
left 2
right 2
bottom 2
top 2
end

point

Places additional points or icons on the output map.
USAGE: point east north
point x% y%
color color
fcolor color
symbol symbol group/name
size #
width #
rotate #
masked [y|n]
end
The point location is entered in the main instruction line by giving either the map
coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic region. The user may also specify
the point color, the size of symbol in points, the rotation angle (in degrees CCW), and
whether the point is to be masked by the current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask
for more information on the mask.) The symbol line width (if given) is measured in
points; an i directly following the number indicates that the width is given in inches
instead. If a width is not given it will be set proportional to the symbol size.

This example would place a purple diamond (from icon file diamond) at the point (E456000
N7890000). This diamond would be the the size of a 15 points and would not be masked by
the current mask.
EXAMPLE:
point 456000 7890000
fcolor purple
color black
symbol basic/diamond
size 15
masked n
end
Of course, multiple points may be drawn with multiple point instructions.

psfile

Copies a file containing PostScript commands into the output file.

Note: ps.map will not search for this file. The user must be in the correct directory or
specify the full path on the psfile instruction. (Note to /bin/csh users: ~ won’t work
with this instruction).
USAGE: psfile filename
This example copies the file "logo.ps" into the output file.
EXAMPLE:
psfile logo.ps

raster

Selects a raster map layer for output.
USAGE: raster mapname
For each ps.map run, only one raster map layer (or set of layers or imagery group; see
below) can be requested. If no raster map layer is requested, a completely white map will
be produced. It can be useful to select no raster map layer in order to provide a white
background for vector maps.

Note that an imagery group selected with the group option, or a set of three raster layers
selected with the rgb option, count as a raster map layer for the purposes of the
preceding paragraph.

The PostScript file’s internal title will be set to the raster map’s title, which in turn
may be set with the r.suppport module.

This example would paint a map of the raster map layer soils.
EXAMPLE:
raster soils

read

Provides ps.map with a previously prepared input stream.
USAGE: read previously prepared UNIX file
Mapping instructions can be placed into a file and read into ps.map.

Note: ps.map will not search for this file. The user must be in the correct directory or
specify the full path on the read instruction. (Note to /bin/csh users: ~ won’t work with
this instruction).

This example reads the UNIX file pmap.roads into ps.map. This file may contain all the
ps.map instructions for placing the vector map layer roads onto the output map.
EXAMPLE:
read pmap.roads
The user may have created this file because this vector map layer is particularly useful
for many ps.map outputs. By using the read option, the user need not enter all the input
for the vector instruction, but simply read the previously prepared file with the correct
instructions.

rectangle

Draws rectangle on the output map.
USAGE: rectangle east north east north
rectangle x% y% x% y%
color color
fcolor fill color
width #
masked [y|n]
end
The two corners of the rectangle are entered on the main instruction. These points can be
defined either by map coordinates or by using percentages of the geographic region. The
user may also specify line color, fill color fcolor, width in points (accepts decimal
points [floating points] as well as integers), and if the rectangle is to be masked by the
current mask. (See manual entry for r.mask for more information on the mask.) The border
line width (if given) is measured in points; an i directly following the number indicates
that the width is given in inches instead.
Multiple rectangles may be drawn by using multiple rectangle instructions.

This example would draw a yellow rectangle filled by green from the point x=10% y=80% to
the point x=30% y=70%. The border line would be 1/16" wide and would appear even if there
is a mask.
EXAMPLE:
rectangle 10% 80% 30% 70%
color yellow
fcolor green
width 0.0625i
masked n
end

region

Places the outline of a smaller geographic region on the output.
USAGE: region regionfile
color color
width #
end
Geographic region settings are created and saved using the g.region module. The ps.map
region option can be used to show an outline of a smaller region which was printed on a
separate run of ps.map on other user-created maps.

The user can specify the color and the width in point units (accepts decimal points
[floating points] as well as integers) of the outline. The default is a black border of
one point width (1/72").

This example would place a white outline, 2 points wide, of the geographic region called
fire.zones onto the output map. This geographic region would have been created and saved
using g.region.
EXAMPLE:
region fire.zones
color white
width 2
end

rgb

Selects three raster map layers for output as an RGB color image.
USAGE: rgb red green blue
This is similar to raster, except that it uses three raster map layers instead of a single
layer. The three layers are composed to form a color image, similar to d.rgb.

For each layer, only one of the components of the layer’s color table is used: the red
component for the red layer, and so on. This will give the desired result if all of the
layers have a grey-scale color table, or if each layer’s color table uses the hue
appropriate to the layer.

scale

Selects a scale for the output map.
USAGE: scale scale
The scale can be selected either as:

a relative ratio, e.g. 1:25000;

an absolute width of the printed map, e.g. 10 inches;

the number of printed paper panels, e.g. 3 panels .I (at the present time, only 1
panel is supported);

the number of miles per inch, e.g. 1 inch equals 4 miles.

This example would set the scale of the map to 1 unit = 25000 units.
EXAMPLE:
scale 1:25000

scalebar

Draws a scalebar on the map.
USAGE: scalebar [f|s]
where x y
length overall distance in map units
units [auto|meters|kilometers|feet|miles|nautmiles]
height scale height in inches
segment number of segments
numbers #
fontsize font size
background [Y|n]
end
Draw one of two types of scale bar. Fancy (f) draws alternating black and white scale
boxes. Simple (s) draws a plain line scale. The default type is fancy. The subsection
instructions allow the user to set where the scalebar is placed, the length of the
scalebar (in geographic coordinate system units, or those given by units), the height of
the scalebar in inches, and the number of segments (or tics for simple). The number of
annotations numbers every n-th segment. The background command can turn off the
background box for the text.

The scalebar length is the only required argument. The defaults are a fancy scalebar with
4 segments, each segment labeled, and a height of 0.1 inches. The default location is 2
inches from the top of the page and halfway across.

NOTE: The scalebar is centered on the location given.

This example draws a simple scalebar 1000 meters (for a metered database, like UTM) long,
with tics every 200 meters, labeled every second tic. The scalebar is drawn 5 inches from
the top and 4 inches from the left and is 0.25 inches high.
EXAMPLE:
scalebar s
where 4 5
length 1000
height 0.25
segment 5
numbers 2
end

setcolor

Overrides the color assigned to one or more categories of the raster map layer.
USAGE: setcolor cat(s) color
This example would set the color for categories 2,5 and 8 of the raster map layer
watersheds to white and category 10 to green. (NOTE: no spaces are inserted between the
category values.)
EXAMPLE:
raster watersheds
setcolor 2,5,8 white
setcolor 10 green
Of course, setcolor can be requested more than once to override the default color for
additional categories. More than one category can be changed for each request by listing
all the category values separated by commas (but with no spaces). Also ranges can be
included, for example "1,2,6-10,12". Colors for "null" and the "default" (i.e.
out-of-range) color may also be reassigned.

text

Places text on the map.
USAGE: text east north text
text x% y% text
font fontname
color color|none
width #
hcolor color|none
hwidth #
background color|none
border color|none
fontsize font size
size #
ref reference point
rotate degrees CCW
xoffset #
yoffset #
opaque [y|n]
end
The user specifies where the text will be placed by providing map coordinates or
percentages of the geographic region. The text follows these coordinates on the same
instruction line. More than one line of text can be specified by notating the end of a
line with \n (e.g. USA\nCERL).

The user can then specify various text features:

font: the PostScript font. Common possibilities are listed at the start of this help page.
The default is Helvetica.

color (see NAMED COLORS);

width of the lines used to draw the text to make thicker letters (accepts decimal points
[floating points] as well as integers);

size and fontsize. size gives the vertical height of the letters in meters on the ground
(text size will grow or shrink depending on the scale at which the map is painted).
Alternatively fontsize can set the font size directly. If neither size or fontsize is
given, a default font size of 10 will be used;

the highlight color (hcolor) and the width of the highlight color (hwidth);

the text-enclosing-box background color; the text box border color;

ref. This reference point specifies the text handle - what part of the text should be
placed on the location specified by the map coordinates. Reference points can refer to:
[lower|upper|center] [left|right|center] of the text to be printed; The default is center
center, i.e. the text is centered on the reference point.

rotate sets the text rotation angle, measured in degrees counter-clockwise.

yoffset, which provides finer placement of text by shifting the text a vertical distance
in points (1/72") from the specified north. The vertical offset will shift the location
to the south if positive, north if negative;

xoffset, which shifts the text a horizontal distance in points from the specified east The
horizontal offset will shift the location east if positive, west if negative;

opaque, whether or not the text should be opaque to vectors. Entering no to the opaque
option will allow the user to see any vectors which go through the text’s background box.
Otherwise, they will end at the box’s edge.

The following example would place the text SPEARFISH LAND COVER at the coordinates E650000
N7365000. The text would be a total of 3 points wide (2 pixels of red text and 1 pixel
black highlight), have a white background enclosed in a red box, and be 500 meters in
size. The lower right corner of the text would be centered over the coordinates provided.
All vectors on the map would stop at the border of this text.
EXAMPLE:
text 650000 7365000 SPEARFISH LAND COVER
font romand
color red
width 2
hcolor black
hwidth 1
background white
border red
size 500
ref lower left
opaque y
end

vareas

Selects a vector map layer for output and plots areas.
USAGE: vareas vectormap
layer # (layer number used with cats/where option)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement
masked [y|n]
color color
fcolor color
rgbcolumn column
width #
label label to use in legend
lpos position in legend
pat pattern file
pwidth #
scale #
end
The user can specify:

color - color of the vector lines or area boundaries;

fcolor - the area fill color;

rgbcolumn - name of color definition column used for the area fill color;

width - width of the vectors lines or area boundaries in points (accepts decimal points
[floating points] as well as integers);

masked - whether or not the raster map layer is to be masked by the current mask; (see
manual entry r.mask for more information on the mask)

cats - which categories should be plotted (default is all);

where - select features using a SQL where statement. For example: vlastnik = ’Cimrman’;

label - for description in vlegend. Default is: map(mapset);

lpos - position vector is plotted in legend. If lpos is 0 then this vector is omitted in
legend. If more vectors used the same lpos then their symbols in legend are merged and
label for first vector is used.

pat - full path to pattern file. The pattern file contains header and simple PostScript
commands. It is similar to EPS but more limited, meaning that while each pattern file is a
true EPS file, most EPS files are not useful as pattern files because they contain
restricted commands. Color of patterns are set by fcolor (red, green, ..., none, R:G:B).
Color of the boundaries remain set by the color instruction. Pattern may be scaled with
the scale command. Several standard hatching patterns are provided in
$GISBASE/etc/paint/patterns/. Demonstrative images can be found on the GRASS Wiki site.
You can also create your own custom pattern files in a text editor. Example of pattern
file:
%!PS-Adobe-2.0 EPSF-1.2
%%BoundingBox: 0 0 10 10
newpath
5 0 moveto
5 10 lineto
stroke

scale - pattern scale

pwidth - pattern line width, width is used by pattern until the width is overwritten in
pattern file.

EXAMPLE:
vareas forest
color blue
width 1
masked y
cats 2,5-7
end

vlines

Selects a vector map layer for output and plots lines.
USAGE: vlines vectormap
type line and/or boundary
layer # (layer number used with cats/where option)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement like: vlastnik = ’Cimrman’
masked [y|n]
color color
rgbcolumn column
width #
cwidth #
hcolor color
hwidth #
offset #
coffset #
ref left|right
style 00001111
linecap style
label label
lpos #
end
The user can specify:

type - the default is lines only;

color - color of the vector lines or area boundaries;

rgbcolumn - name of color definition column used for the vector lines or area boundaries;

width - width of the vectors lines or area boundaries in points (accepts decimal points
[floating points] as well as integers);

cwidth - width of the vectors lines. If cwidth is used then width of line is equal to
cwidth * category value and width is used in legend;

hcolor - the highlight color for the vector lines;

hwidth - the width of the highlight color in points;

offset (experimental) - offset for the vectors lines in points (1/72") for plotting
parallel lines in distance equal to offset (accepts positive or negative decimal points).
Useful to print streets with several parallel lanes;

coffset (experimental) - offset for the vectors lines. If coffset is used then offset of
line is equal to coffset * category value and offset is used in legend;

ref (experimental) - line justification.

masked - whether or not the raster map layer is to be masked by the current mask; (see
manual entry r.mask for more information on the mask);

style - the line style allows the vectors to be dashed in different patterns. This is
done by either typing "solid", "dashed", "dotted", or "dashdotted", or as a series of 0’s
and 1’s in a desired sequence or pattern. The first block of repeated zeros or ones
represents "draw", the second block represents "blank". An even number of blocks will
repeat the pattern, an odd number of blocks will alternate the pattern. The default is
"solid";

linecap - the linecap specifies the look of the ends of the line, or the end of the dashes
in a dashed line. The parameters are: ’butt’ for butt caps (default), ’round’ for round
caps and ’extended_butt’ for extended butt caps. The shape of the round and the extended
butt caps is related to the line thickness: for round butts the radius is half the
linewidth, while for extended butt the line will extend for half the linewidth.

cats - which categories should be plotted (default is all);

label - for description in vlegend. Default is: map(mapset);

lpos - position vector is plotted in legend. If lpos is 0 then this vector is omitted in
legend. If more vectors used the same lpos then their symbols in legend are merged and
label for first vector is used.

EXAMPLE:
vlines streams
color blue
width 2
hcolor white
hwidth 1
masked y
cats 2
label Streams - category 2
end

vpoints

Selects vector point data to be placed on the output map
USAGE: vpoints vectormap
type point and/or centroid
layer # (layer number used with cats/where/sizecol options)
cats list of categories (e.g. 1,3,5-7)
where SQL where statement like: vlastnik = ’Cimrman’
masked [y|n]
color color
fcolor color
rgbcolumn column
width #
eps epsfile
symbol symbol group/name
size #
sizecolumn attribute column used for symbol sizing
scale scaling factor for sizecolumn values
rotate #
rotatecolumn column
label legend label
lpos position in legend
end
The user may specify the the color of the sites (see section on NAMED COLORS); either the
GRASS symbol or the eps Encapsulated Postscript file to be used to represent the presence
of a site (if ’$’ is used in the EPS file path it will be replaced by category number);
and rotate (in degrees) for counter-clockwise rotation.
The size of the icon (number of times larger than the size it is in the icon file) is
typically given by the size option. Alternatively the size of the symbol or EPS graphic
can be taken from an attribute column by using the sizecolumn command. The value given by
sizecolumn may be scaled by using the scale factor setting (default scaling is 1.0). In a
similar manner symbol color can be read from rgbcolumn and the rotation angle read from
rotatecolumn.
EXAMPLE:
vpoints windmills
color blue
symbol mills/windmill
size 10
end

vlegend

Prints the portion of the map legend containing the vector information, on or below the
map.
USAGE: vlegend
where x y
font font name
fontsize font size
width width of color symbol
cols number of columns to print
span column separation
border color|none
end
The default location is immediately below the legend containing the scale, grid and region
information, starting at the left edge of the map. If the where instruction is present
and y is less than or equal to zero, the vector legend will be positioned immediately
below the map, starting x inches from the left edge of the page.

width is the width in inches of the color symbol (for lines) in front of the legend text.
The default is 1/24 * fontsize inches.

cols is the number of columns to split the legend into. The default is one column. The
maximum number of colums is 10, or equal to the number of legend entries if there are less
than 10 entries.

span is the column separation distance between the left edges of two columns in a
multicolumn legend. It is given in inches. The default is automatic scaling based on the
left margin and the right hand side of the map box.

border will draw a border around the legend using the specified color. (see NAMED COLORS)

Alternatively, the user can create a custom legend by using the rectangle, point, and text
instructions.

See also the colortable command for creating raster map legends.

This example prints the vector legend immediately below the map and starting 4.5 inches
from the left edge of the page, using a 12/72 inch Helvetica font.
EXAMPLE:
vlegend
where 4.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 12
end

end

Terminates input and begin painting the map.
USAGE: end

EXAMPLES

The following are examples of ps.map script files.

Simple example
The file has been named spear.basic:
# this ps.map example draws a map of Spearfish, SD
raster elevation.dem
header
end
vlines roads
color brown
end
end
Generate map as Postsript file:
ps.map input=spear.basic output=spear_basic.ps

More complicated example
The file has been named spear.soils:
# this ps.map example draws a map of Spearfish, SD
raster soils
outline
color black
width 1
end
comments soil.cmt
where 1 6
font Helvetica
end
colortable y
where 1 6.5
cols 4
width 4
font Helvetica
end
setcolor 6,8,9 white
setcolor 10 green
vlines roads
width 2
style 0111
color grey
masked n
end
vlegend
where 4.5 0
font Courier
fontsize 8
end
text 30% 100% SPEARFISH SOILS MAP
color red
width 1
hcolor black
hwidth 1
background white
border red
size 500
ref lower left
end
line 606969.73 3423092.91 616969.73 3423092.91
color yellow
width 2
end
point 40% 60%
color purple
symbol basic/diamond
size 25
masked n
end
scale 1:125000
scalebar f
where 4.5 6.5
length 5000
height 0.05
segment 5
numbers 5
end
geogrid 60 s
color blue
numbers 2 yellow
end
paper a4
end
end
This script file can be entered at the command line:
# First set the region
g.region raster=soils
# Generate comment file (or use text editor)
echo "Spearfish (SD) soils" > soil.cmt
# Generate map as Postsript file
ps.map input=spear.soils output=soils.ps

More examples can be found on the GRASS Wiki help site.

CHANGES BETWEEN VERSION 5.0.x/5.4.x and 6.0

· Devices and ps.select do not exist any more. Paper is defined by the paper
instruction.

· vpoints are used instead of sites (points are read from vector).

· vector is substituted by vpoints, vlines and vareas.

· Symbols are used instead of icons (different format and directory).

· Map legend can be printed in columns.

Use ps.mapgrass online using onworks.net services