Setup

If you’d like to follow along with the examples, please download and unzip the sample data from the Map and Data Library: QGISEssentials.zip

Opening the project file

Launch QGIS3. From the menu at the top of the interface, choose Project → Open…

Choosing Project → Open

Navigate to the location of the unzipped sample data. Select the project file (qgis.qgz) and click the Open button.

Selecting and opening the project file.

The project file will be loaded into QGIS and a map showing Toronto’s neighbourhood boundaries will be displayed.

Initial view of the QGIS project.

If they’re not already open by default, add the Browser, Processing Toolbox, and Layers panels.

• Click View → Panels → Browser.

The Browser panel allows us to view and work with all the components of our QGIS Project.

The QGIS Browser Panel.

• Click View → Panels → Processing Toolbox.

The Processing Toolbox gives us access to tools that can analyze and transform our data.

The QGIS Processing Toolbox Panel.

• Click View → Panels → Layers.

The Layers Panel shows us all data that’s been added to the project. test

The QGIS Layers Panel.