d.vect - GRASS manual
Author: GRASS Development Team
Description: d.vect: Displays user-specified vector map in the active graphics frame.
Keywords: display, graphics, vector, level1

## NAME

d.vect - Displays user-specified vector map in the active graphics frame.

## KEYWORDS

display, graphics, vector, level1

## SYNOPSIS

d.vect
d.vect --help
d.vect [-cirs] map=name [layer=string] display=string[,string,...] [type=string[,string,...]] [cats=range] [where=sql_query] [color=name] [fill_color=name] [rgb_column=name] [zcolor=style] [width=integer] [width_column=name] [width_scale=float] [icon=string] [size=float] [size_column=name] [rotation_column=name] [icon_area=string] [icon_line=string] [legend_label=string] [label_layer=string] [attribute_column=name] [label_color=name] [label_bgcolor=name] [label_bcolor=name] [label_size=integer] [font=string] [encoding=string] [xref=string] [yref=string] [minreg=float] [maxreg=float] [--help] [--verbose] [--quiet] [--ui]

### Flags:

-c
  Random colors according to category number (or layer number if 'layer=-1' is given)
-i
  Use values from 'cats' option as feature id
-r
  Use square root of the value of size_column
  This makes circle areas proportionate to the size_column values instead of circle radius
-s
  Do not show this layer in vector legend
--help
  Print usage summary
--verbose
  Verbose module output
--quiet
  Quiet module output
--ui
  Force launching GUI dialog

### Parameters:

map=name [required]
  Name of vector map
  Or data source for direct OGR access
layer=string
  Layer number or name ('-1' for all layers)
  A single vector map can be connected to multiple database tables. This number determines which table to use. When used with direct OGR access this is the layer name.
  Default: 1
display=string[,string,...] [required]
  Display
  Options: shape, cat, topo, vert, dir, zcoor
  Default: shape
  shape: Display geometry of features
  cat: Display category numbers of features
  topo: Display topology information (nodes, edges)
  vert: Display vertices of features
  dir: Display direction of linear features
  zcoor: Display z-coordinate of features (only for 3D vector maps)
type=string[,string,...]
  Input feature type
  Options: point, line, boundary, centroid, area, face
  Default: point,line,area,face
cats=range
  Category values
  Example: 1,3,7-9,13
where=sql_query
  WHERE conditions of SQL statement without 'where' keyword
  Example: income < 1000 and population >= 10000
color=name
  Feature color
  Either a standard color name, R:G:B triplet, or "none"
  Default: 0:29:57
fill_color=name
  Area fill color
  Either a standard color name, R:G:B triplet, or "none"
  Default: 0:103:204
rgb_column=name
  Colorize features according to color definition column
  Color definition in R:G:B form
zcolor=style
  Colorize point or area features according to z-coordinate
  Options: aspect, aspectcolr, bcyr, bgyr, blues, byg, byr, celsius, corine, curvature, differences, elevation, etopo2, evi, fahrenheit, forest_cover, gdd, grass, greens, grey, grey.eq, grey.log, grey1.0, grey255, gyr, haxby, inferno, kelvin, magma, ndvi, ndwi, nlcd, oranges, plasma, population, population_dens, precipitation, precipitation_daily, precipitation_monthly, rainbow, ramp, random, reds, roygbiv, rstcurv, ryb, ryg, sepia, slope, soilmoisture, srtm, srtm_percent, srtm_plus, terrain, viridis, water, wave
  aspect: aspect oriented grey colors [range: map values]
  aspectcolr: aspect oriented rainbow colors [range: 0 to 360]
  bcyr: blue through cyan through yellow to red [range: map values]
  bgyr: blue through green through yellow to red [range: map values]
  blues: white to blue [range: map values]
  byg: blue through yellow to green [range: map values]
  byr: blue through yellow to red [range: map values]
  celsius: blue to red for degree Celsius temperature [range: -80 to 80]
  corine: EU Corine land cover colors [range: 111 to 995]
  curvature: for terrain curvatures (from v.surf.rst and r.slope.aspect) [range: map values]
  differences: differences oriented colors [range: map values]
  elevation: maps relative ranges of raster values to elevation color ramp [range: map values]
  etopo2: colors for ETOPO2 worldwide bathymetry/topography [range: -11000 to 8850]
  evi: enhanced vegetative index colors [range: -1 to 1]
  fahrenheit: blue to red for Fahrenheit temperature [range: -112 to 176]
  forest_cover: percentage of forest cover [range: 0 to 100]
  gdd: accumulated growing degree days [range: 0 to 6000]
  grass: GRASS green (perceptually uniform) [range: map values]
  greens: white to green [range: map values]
  grey: grey scale [range: map values]
  grey.eq: histogram-equalized grey scale [range: map values]
  grey.log: histogram logarithmic transformed grey scale [range: map values]
  grey1.0: grey scale for raster values between 0.0-1.0 [range: 0 to 1]
  grey255: grey scale for raster values between 0-255 [range: 0 to 255]
  gyr: green through yellow to red [range: map values]
  haxby: relative colors for bathymetry or topography [range: map values]
  inferno: perceptually uniform sequential color table inferno [range: map values]
  kelvin: blue to red for temperature in Kelvin scale [range: 193.15 to 353.15]
  magma: perceptually uniform sequential color table magma [range: map values]
  ndvi: Normalized Difference Vegetation Index colors [range: -1 to 1]
  ndwi: Normalized Difference Water Index colors [range: -200 to 200]
  nlcd: US National Land Cover Dataset colors [range: 0 to 95]
  oranges: white to orange [range: map values]
  plasma: perceptually uniform sequential color table plasma [range: map values]
  population: color table covering human population classification breaks [range: 0 to 2e+09]
  population_dens: color table covering human population density classification breaks [range: 0 to 1e+09]
  precipitation: precipitation color table (0..2000mm) [range: 0 to 7000]
  precipitation_daily: precipitation color table (0..1000mm) [range: 0 to 10000]
  precipitation_monthly: precipitation color table (0..1000mm) [range: 0 to 1000]
  rainbow: rainbow color table [range: map values]
  ramp: color ramp [range: map values]
  random: random color table [range: map values]
  reds: white to red [range: map values]
  roygbiv: [range: map values]
  rstcurv: terrain curvature (from r.resamp.rst) [range: map values]
  ryb: red through yellow to blue [range: map values]
  ryg: red through yellow to green [range: map values]
  sepia: yellowish-brown through to white [range: map values]
  slope: r.slope.aspect-type slope colors for raster values 0-90 [range: 0 to 90]
  soilmoisture: soilmoisture color table (0.0-1.0) [range: 0 to 1]
  srtm: color palette for Shuttle Radar Topography Mission elevation [range: -11000 to 8850]
  srtm_percent: color palette for Shuttle Radar Topography Mission using relative elevation [range: map values]
  srtm_plus: color palette for Shuttle Radar Topography Mission elevation (with seafloor colors) [range: -11000 to 8850]
  terrain: global elevation color table covering -11000 to +8850m [range: -11000 to 8850]
  viridis: perceptually uniform sequential color table viridis [range: map values]
  water: water depth [range: map values]
  wave: color wave [range: map values]
width=integer
  Line width
  Default: 0
width_column=name
  Name of numeric column containing line width
  These values will be scaled by width_scale
width_scale=float
  Scale factor for width_column
  Default: 1
icon=string
  Point and centroid symbol
  Options: basic/arrow, basic/arrow1, basic/arrow2, basic/arrow3, basic/box, basic/circle, basic/cross1, basic/cross2, basic/cross3, basic/diamond, basic/hexagon, basic/marker, basic/octagon, basic/pin, basic/pin_dot, basic/point, basic/pushpin, basic/star, basic/triangle, basic/x, demo/muchomurka, demo/smrk, extra/4pt_star, extra/adcp, extra/airport, extra/alpha_flag, extra/bridge, extra/dim_arrow, extra/dive_flag, extra/fiducial, extra/fish, extra/half-box, extra/half-circle, extra/offbox_ne, extra/offbox_nw, extra/offbox_se, extra/offbox_sw, extra/pentagon, extra/ping, extra/ring, extra/simple_zia, extra/target, geology/circle_cross, geology/half-arrow_left, geology/half-arrow_right, geology/strike_box, geology/strike_circle, geology/strike_cleavage, geology/strike_half-bowtie, geology/strike_line, geology/strike_parallel, geology/strike_triangle, legend/area, legend/area_curved, legend/line, legend/line_crooked, n_arrows/basic_compass, n_arrows/fancy_compass, n_arrows/n_arrow1a, n_arrows/n_arrow1b, n_arrows/n_arrow2, n_arrows/n_arrow3, n_arrows/n_arrow4, n_arrows/n_arrow5, n_arrows/n_arrow6, n_arrows/n_arrow7a, n_arrows/n_arrow7b, n_arrows/n_arrow8a, n_arrows/n_arrow8b, n_arrows/n_arrow9
  Default: basic/x
size=float
  Symbol size
  When used with the size_column option this becomes the scale factor
  Default: 5
size_column=name
  Name of numeric column containing symbol size
rotation_column=name
  Name of numeric column containing symbol rotation angle
  Measured in degrees CCW from east
icon_area=string
  Area/boundary symbol for legend
  Options: basic/arrow, basic/arrow1, basic/arrow2, basic/arrow3, basic/box, basic/circle, basic/cross1, basic/cross2, basic/cross3, basic/diamond, basic/hexagon, basic/marker, basic/octagon, basic/pin, basic/pin_dot, basic/point, basic/pushpin, basic/star, basic/triangle, basic/x, demo/muchomurka, demo/smrk, extra/4pt_star, extra/adcp, extra/airport, extra/alpha_flag, extra/bridge, extra/dim_arrow, extra/dive_flag, extra/fiducial, extra/fish, extra/half-box, extra/half-circle, extra/offbox_ne, extra/offbox_nw, extra/offbox_se, extra/offbox_sw, extra/pentagon, extra/ping, extra/ring, extra/simple_zia, extra/target, geology/circle_cross, geology/half-arrow_left, geology/half-arrow_right, geology/strike_box, geology/strike_circle, geology/strike_cleavage, geology/strike_half-bowtie, geology/strike_line, geology/strike_parallel, geology/strike_triangle, legend/area, legend/area_curved, legend/line, legend/line_crooked, n_arrows/basic_compass, n_arrows/fancy_compass, n_arrows/n_arrow1a, n_arrows/n_arrow1b, n_arrows/n_arrow2, n_arrows/n_arrow3, n_arrows/n_arrow4, n_arrows/n_arrow5, n_arrows/n_arrow6, n_arrows/n_arrow7a, n_arrows/n_arrow7b, n_arrows/n_arrow8a, n_arrows/n_arrow8b, n_arrows/n_arrow9
  Default: legend/area
icon_line=string
  Line symbol for legend
  Options: basic/arrow, basic/arrow1, basic/arrow2, basic/arrow3, basic/box, basic/circle, basic/cross1, basic/cross2, basic/cross3, basic/diamond, basic/hexagon, basic/marker, basic/octagon, basic/pin, basic/pin_dot, basic/point, basic/pushpin, basic/star, basic/triangle, basic/x, demo/muchomurka, demo/smrk, extra/4pt_star, extra/adcp, extra/airport, extra/alpha_flag, extra/bridge, extra/dim_arrow, extra/dive_flag, extra/fiducial, extra/fish, extra/half-box, extra/half-circle, extra/offbox_ne, extra/offbox_nw, extra/offbox_se, extra/offbox_sw, extra/pentagon, extra/ping, extra/ring, extra/simple_zia, extra/target, geology/circle_cross, geology/half-arrow_left, geology/half-arrow_right, geology/strike_box, geology/strike_circle, geology/strike_cleavage, geology/strike_half-bowtie, geology/strike_line, geology/strike_parallel, geology/strike_triangle, legend/area, legend/area_curved, legend/line, legend/line_crooked, n_arrows/basic_compass, n_arrows/fancy_compass, n_arrows/n_arrow1a, n_arrows/n_arrow1b, n_arrows/n_arrow2, n_arrows/n_arrow3, n_arrows/n_arrow4, n_arrows/n_arrow5, n_arrows/n_arrow6, n_arrows/n_arrow7a, n_arrows/n_arrow7b, n_arrows/n_arrow8a, n_arrows/n_arrow8b, n_arrows/n_arrow9
  Default: legend/line
legend_label=string
  Label to display after symbol in vector legend
label_layer=string
  Layer number for labels (default: the given layer number)
  Vector features can have category values in different layers. This number determines which layer to use. When used with direct OGR access this is the layer name.
  Default: 1
attribute_column=name
  Name of column to be displayed as a label
label_color=name
  Label color
  Either a standard color name or R:G:B triplet
  Default: red
label_bgcolor=name
  Label background color
  Either a standard color name, R:G:B triplet, or "none"
  Default: none
label_bcolor=name
  Label border color
  Either a standard color name, R:G:B triplet, or "none"
  Default: none
label_size=integer
  Label size (pixels)
  Default: 8
font=string
  Font name
encoding=string
  Text encoding
xref=string
  Label horizontal justification
  Options: left, center, right
  Default: left
yref=string
  Label vertical justification
  Options: top, center, bottom
  Default: center
minreg=float
  Minimum region size (average from height and width) when map is displayed
maxreg=float
  Maximum region size (average from height and width) when map is displayed

## DESCRIPTION

d.vect displays vector maps in the active frame on the graphics monitor.

## NOTES

d.vect can simply be used typing `d.vect map=vector_map`. There are a large variety of optional parameters which allow the user to specify vector type, colors, data fields, SQL queries, label size and justification, etc.

When d.vect is used with where parameter on MS Windows Command Prompt, it is important to use `ˆ` caret symbol for escaping special characters `< > ( ) & | , ; "`.

    d.vect map=vector_map where="cat ˆ> 10 AND cat ˆ< 20"

By default d.vect areas are filled with fill_color and outlined with color. Area outlines can be suppressed with

    d.vect map=vector_map color=none

and areas can be made transparent with

    d.vect map=vector_map fill_color=none

In order to display attributes in the map, attribute_column must be specified.

Feature colors may be specified by v.colors in a form of color table or in an attribute table column containing `RRR:GGG:BBB` values.

A table for a vector map might look like this:

    db.select sql="select * from testisola"
    cat|label|GRASSRGB
    0|no data|255:255:255
    90|FRASSILONGO|23:245:67
    104|LEVICO|23:145:67
    139|PERGINE VALSUGANA|223:45:237
    168|SANT'ORSOLA|223:45:67
    190|TENNA|123:45:67

To add the GRASSRGB color column, use v.db.addcolumn:

    v.db.addcolumn map=testisola columns="GRASSRGB varchar(11)"

To add/change a color, use v.db.update:

    v.db.update map=testisola column=GRASSRGB value="123:45:237" where="cat=139"

A much simpler method of color coding is by using the -c flag which displays vector elements of like category number with a random color.

This module can use FreeType/TrueType fonts if they have already been selected with d.font.

Parameter width is set by default to '0'. XDRIVER specifies the precise behaviour for non-zero line width, but drivers have some freedom as to how zero-width lines are handled, so they can use the hardware's "thin line" drawing primitive, if it has one. A width of zero can potentially result in significantly faster operation. On drivers where there is no such thing as a "thin" line, the driver will use a sensible default (which might not be the same as '1').

## EXAMPLES

Spearfish examples:

    # display roads with category numbers:
    d.vect map=roads display=shape,cat label_color=green

    # display randomly colorized soils map with attributes
    d.vect -c map=soils attribute_column=label

    # display randomly colorized selected vectors from soils map
    d.vect -c map=soils where="label='VBF'" display=shape attribute_column=label

3D points, 3D lines and 3D polygons colorized according to z height (for 3D lines and polygons a z height is computed by a midpoint of line/area bounding box):

    g.region raster=elevation.10m
    r.random input=elevation.10m n=5000 vector=random3d -z
    d.mon start=x0
    # display as black points
    d.vect map=random3d
    # display 3D points colorized according to z height
    d.vect map=random3d zcolor=gyr

    # 3D contour lines
    r.contour input=elevation.10m output=contour20m step=20
    d.vect map=contour20m zcolor=gyr

    # generate 3D triangles
    v.delaunay input=random3d output=random3d_del
    # display 3D polygons colorized according to z height
    d.vect map=random3d_del type=area zcolor=gyr

## SEE ALSO

v.colors, d.erase, d.rast, v.colors, v.db.addcolumn, v.db.update

GRASS SQL interface

## AUTHORS

CERL
Radim Blazek, ITC-Irst, Trento, Italy
Support for color tables by Martin Landa, Czech Technical University in Prague (8/2011)
and many other GRASS developers

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: d.vect source code (history)

Accessed: Monday May 11 17:53:56 2026

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