[GRASSLIST:1890] GRASS/GIS newbie: how to start?

GRASS GRASS user
1

Hi!

I am currently on the way to experiment with a GIS (i.e. GRASS) to get some
feeling what it can do for me.

Reading the HTML documentation I understand that first before all I have to
start the grass program. So I created the following script to start it:

#!/bin/sh

# I have installed grass with prefix=/opt/GIS/grass-5.0.3
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/GIS/grass-5.0.3/lib:$LD_LIBRARY_PATH
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

# the following was based on my compilation directory
#/opt/Source-Archive/mirrors/CompilationDir/i686-whatever-linux2/GIS-Installation/grass-5.0.3
#GISBASE=/opt/Source-Archive/mirrors/CompilationDir/i686-whatever-linux2/GIS-Installation/grass-5.0.3/dist.i686-pc-linux-gnu/
GISBASE=/opt/GIS/grass-5.0.3/grass5
export GISBASE

GISDBASE=/opt/GIS/grassData
export GISDBASE

GISRC=/home/nardmann/.grassrc5
export GISRC

LOCATION=/opt/GIS/grassData
export LOCATION

LOCATION_NAME=BRD
export LOCATION_NAME

/opt/GIS/grass-5.0.3/bin/grass5 -

Inside of the directory /opt/GIS/grassData I have created a subdirectory BRD
which contains the following files which I have downloaded from
http://www.maproom.psu.edu/dcw/.

README
aepoint.e00
clline.e00
clpoint.e00
dnnet.e00
dnpoint.e00
dspoint.e00
hsline.e00
hspoint.e00
hynet.e00
hypoint.e00
lcpoint.e00
lcpoly.e00
ofline.e00
ofpoint.e00
phline.e00
ponet.e00
popoint.e00
pppoint.e00
pppoly.e00
rdline.e00
rrline.e00
tsline.e00
utline.e00

I am starting this script as root. Then I get the following error message:

Cleaning up temporary files.....
Starting GRASS ...
ERROR: LOCATION <<
       
/opt/Source-Archive/mirrors/CompilationDir/i686-whatever-linux2/GIS-Installation/<UNKNOWN>

not available

/opt/GIS/grassData: Not a valid GRASS location

How do I create a valid GRASS location? Since I am an absolute newbie please
tell me where to find a GRASS introduction.

--
Heiko Nardmann (Dipl.-Ing. Technische Informatik)
secunet Security Networks AG - Sicherheit in Netzwerken (www.secunet.de),
Weidenauer Str. 223-225, D-57076 Siegen
Tel. : +49 271 48950-13, Fax : +49 271 48950-50

Besuchen Sie uns
vom 25. - 26.11.2003 auf der Messe Moderner Staat in Berlin, Halle 7.2a, Stand
09.
Wir freuen uns auf das Gespräch mit Ihnen.

2

Hello,

I am currently on the way to experiment with a GIS (i.e. GRASS) to get some
feeling what it can do for me.

Same thing with me.

Reading the HTML documentation I understand that first before all I have to
start the grass program. So I created the following script to start it:

I don't think that you need it. Grass generates this by itself. see
~/.grass5rc

I am starting this script as root. Then I get the following error message:

Wouldn't it better to do this as a normal user?

Cleaning up temporary files.....
Starting GRASS ...
ERROR: LOCATION <<

#: mkdir ~/grassdata
#: grass5 -text

Location: maproom
Mapset: testmapset
Databases ~/grassdata

How do I create a valid GRASS location? Since I am an absolute newbie
please tell me where to find a GRASS introduction.

http://www.geog.uni-hannover.de/grass/gdp/grass5tutor/HTML_en/book1.html
http://freegis.org/freegis_tutorial/ (German)

Good luck
Holger

P.S. I am also currently exploring it as newbie. You may sent PM as well.

3

Heiko Nardmann wrote:

I am currently on the way to experiment with a GIS (i.e. GRASS) to get some
feeling what it can do for me.

Reading the HTML documentation I understand that first before all I have to
start the grass program. So I created the following script to start it:

[snip]

You don't need to do any of this. Just create a directory to hold
GRASS' internal data files, then run "grass5 -text". Specify the
directory which you created on the "database" line of the startup
screen, pick a suitable name for the "location" line, and leave the
"mapset" line showing your username. Then, press Esc-Enter, and answer
the questions about the coordinate system which you wish to use.

Eventually, you should get a shell. From there, you can start
importing your data using e.g. m.in.e00.

--
Glynn Clements <glynn.clements@virgin.net>