GRASS 8, Training Documentation, or New User Error?

[lauriefitzherbert]

Description

Page URL: https://docs.qgis.org/testing/en/docs/training_manual/grass/grass_setup.html
In general, I'm having difficulty getting several parts of LESSON 12.1 to function. I am new to QGIS so refrained from editing at the GITHUB link on the training page. I've tried this lesson several times & get the same errors no matter what. Still I am not certain if it's my mistake, documentation error, or changes to latest releases of QGIS, (Testing, Maidenhead, 3.36.1/3.36.2).

Thank you in advance for any suggestions or confirmation of a legit bug.

*In Lesson 12.1.1 GRASS Setup
2. "In the Plugin Manager, enable GRASS in the List, with displayed image of the Plugin Manager"
12.1.1.2>PROBLEM(s): Image demonstrates GRASS 7 that does not exist and lesson image does not demonstrate GRASS GIS Provider.
12.1.1.2> STEPS TAKEN:
a. Searched "not installed" plugins for GRASS 7 -->RESULT: (not found)
b. Selected logical (core) plugin GRASS 8- (see d.)
c. Selected "GRASS GIS Provider" Plugin (also tried not selected)
d. Discovered that GRASS 8 shown loaded, does not appear to be actually be loaded (see end of page)

In Lesson 12.1.2,
5. "Now Select the region South Africa...." and includes image of dialog box & map with red box around S. Africa.
12.1.2.5> PROBLEM(s): Resulting map red box EXCLUDES South Africa.
See Images.
From QGIS

From Lesson 12.1.2

In Lesson 12.1.3 Follow Along: Loading Vector Data into Grass
(non-numbered instructions)
"You can easily drag and drop..." "Let’s try to import the roads layer into the grass_mapset"
PROBLEM> The road layer in the grass_mapset is MARKED WITH A RED X & the text: "roads : topology missing"
STEPS TAKEN: Tried multiple times, cleared contents of folder, started new projects, re-extracted exercise data & gpkg

Last instruction in 12.1.2
"If you expand the Mapset you will see the imported roads layer. You can now load in QGIS the imported layer like all the other layers."
PROBLEM: The roads layer under grass mapset (with RED X) will NOT import into QGIS.
STEPS TAKEN: Tried multiple new projects, newly extracted data, verified that roads from training_data.gpkg does load directly as a layer.

In 12.1.3: Follow Along: Load data using the GRASS Panel
2. "As soon as it is loaded click on Filter box of GRASS panel and find the vector import tool by entering the term v.in.ogr.qgis:"
12.1.3.2> PROBLEM: No results from filter query.
12.1.3.2>STEPS TAKEN Tried again to no avail.
Found the tool using a manual search.
Lesson gives long explanations of what "v." or "in.", etc mean, but these do not have any effect.

In 12.1.4-
PROBLEM: Same issue as 12.1.3. Query language doesn't work.
STEPS TAKEN AS ABOVE- Manual search- This lesson does not disclose the tool category where the tool might be found.
It will search for full word "vector" but not "v" or "vect"

My guess is:

GRASS 8 PLUGIN NOT ACTUALLY LOADING
OBSERVED: Under "Manage & Install Plugins" PANEL shows GRASS 8 checked as loaded (SEE SCREENSHOT)
OBSERVED: GRASS 8 does NOT appear loaded Under:

1. QGIS "About"-> (see system bottom of page)
2. drop down menu found at Plugins->Plugin Reloader ->Configure
   (what appears is: grass_provider, MetaSearch, QuickOSM, db_manager, plugin_reloader, and processing)
   (screenshot app won't take shot of open drop down menu)
   

I have rebooted, updated QGIS, re-extracted data, gone through the entire Lesson 12.1 numerous times, restarted, removed old folders & renewed exercise data, started new project- all several times. Nothing changed. I skipped only Lesson 11 QGIS Server since I'm not ready for that, yet. Maybe did Lesson 11 change feature or setting required by lesson 12?

About The QGIS INSTALLATION

`<QGIS version
3.36.2-Maidenhead
QGIS code revision
6d250527200
Qt version
5.15.8
Python version
3.11.2
GDAL/OGR version
3.6.2
PROJ version
9.1.1
EPSG Registry database version
v10.076 (2022-08-31)
GEOS version
3.11.1-CAPI-1.17.1
SQLite version
3.40.1
PostgreSQL client version
15.5 (Debian 15.5-0+deb12u1)
SpatiaLite version
5.0.1
QWT version
6.1.4
QScintilla2 version
2.13.3
OS version
Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)

Active Python plugins
QuickOSM
2.2.3
plugin_reloader
0.9.4
grassprovider
2.12.99
MetaSearch
0.3.6
processing
2.12.99
db_manager
0.1.20/>
`

[lauriefitzherbert]

1. See my query has been sent to Training Manual. That is all good & fine but I'd like to point out that the panel "New Mapset" has 2 ERRORS.
   a) "Select Region" results in a box that excludes region selected.
   b) "Select Region" panel has text formatting issue- text overruns image.

2. Tried above Lesson 12.1 in Windows 10 OS with QGIS 3.36.0 and experienced same issue as above.
   This indicates the error encountered is not a Linux OS-based error.

3. Installed GRASS 8 GIS 8.2.1 (on the Debian machine). Following GRASS GIS tutorial GRASS files for example North Carolina installed & downloaded.
   This indicates the computer & user have access to and ability to download GRASS files

[DelazJ]

Hi @lauriefitzherbert

In general, I'm having difficulty getting several parts of LESSON 12.1 to function. I am new to QGIS so refrained from editing at the GITHUB link on the training page. I've tried this lesson several times & get the same errors no matter what. Still I am not certain if it's my mistake, documentation error, or changes to latest releases of QGIS, (Testing, Maidenhead, 3.36.1/3.36.2).

Ssorry to say but I'm afraid that most of the issues you face are likely documentation errors, not yours. This chapter (and a few others) hasn't been updated for years but QGIS has evolved, so did GRASS, hence there are a number of outdated instructions there.

I am new to QGIS so refrained from editing at the GITHUB link on the training page.

Do not. Just edit and suggest anything you feel will improve the situation (particularly for the next learners). I'm not a GRASS user but will try my best to have them merged...

[lauriefitzherbert]

Hi @DelazJ
Thanks for your input. Can you please explain the obvious bug in the "New Mapset Panel"? One does not have to be a USER to see that there is a bug.

If you are correct that all the QGIS Training Manual versions are out of date, why does QGIS website bother to offer Training manuals specific for major releases. (see lower left corner of image)

this is typical of 3.22 version and earlier- pink notice at top, link to latest

this is the latest version 3.34

this is the "testing" version with a notice that it's not up to date, link to latest

[DelazJ]

Hi @lauriefitzherbert
I finally found some time (and interest) to walk through that lesson and below my feedback.

Can you please explain the obvious bug in the "New Mapset Panel"? One does not have to be a USER to see that there is a bug.

Not sure there is anything to explain here; it is a bug. Developers missed it, so it takes someone USING the feature to find the issue and report it.
The extent issue is fixed in qgis/QGIS#57457 and will be available in next point release.
About the text overrun, I failed to understand how the .ui file is structured, and generates that, but if you enlarge the dialog, at some point, the text is no longer over the map. almost fixed 😄 ?
PS: these two issues are better reported in qgis/QGIS issues instead as they are not documentation issues

If you are correct that all the QGIS Training Manual versions are out of date, why does QGIS website bother to offer Training manuals specific for major releases.

That is not what I said. The GRASS chapter (and a few others) haven't been updated for years and yes, the pages you screenshot in the training manual are the same across the versions, but if you browse the training manual, you will find lessons that were updated and apply to the version in use.
And the top "out of date message" is for all the documentation repository, hence all the manuals (training, user & devs manuals, cookbook...). Not sure that splitting it would improve the situation, given our resources.

For the remaining points I won't go into details for each because most are consequences for the previous and the main reasons I could experiment:

• user permission rights on folder: read GRASS plugin mapset permission blocks use if user doesn't own PERMANENT QGIS#13007 (comment). I fail to drag-and-drop or v.in.ogr.qgis the roads layer because of this. Put the grass data e.g. in your user folder and retry...
• drag-and-drop in browser seems broken when using a not topologically clean layer (which is the case for the roads) from a geoPackage. I exported the roads layer as shp them dragged successfully onto mapset, and dragging a point layer from the geoPackagealso worked successfully. The fix here is to use the v.in.ogr.qgis
• why v.in.ogr.qgis doesn't appear on your side....? No idea but may I ask if your QGIS is "built/installed" with GRASS support?

Btw: an update of the lesson is in #9110

[DelazJ]

BTW, no issue with the search tool

vinogr.mp4