NAME

ps.map - Hardcopy PostScript map output utility.
(GRASS Hardcopy PostScript Output Program)

SYNOPSIS

ps.map
ps.map help
ps.map [-r] [input=name] [scale=mapscale] [copies=n] output=name

DESCRIPTION

ps.map produces an output file containing a PostScript program to produce hardcopy map products on your system's PostScript output device. Output can include a raster map, any number of vector overlays, site data, text labels, and other spatial data.

This program has 2 distincts modes of operation. The command-line mode requires the user to prepare a file of mapping instructions describing the various spatial and textual information to be printed prior to running ps.map. The interactive mode (i.e., no command-line arguments) will prompt the user for items to be mapped and does not require the user to prepare a file of instructions (some options are not used in interactive mode).

The command line flag is:

-r
Rotate plot 90 degrees.

The command-line parameters are:

input=name
File containing mapping instructions. (or enter input=- to enter from keyboard). These instructions are described in detail below.
scale=mapscale
Scale of the output map, e.g. 1:25000
Default: 1 panel

This parameter is provided as a convenience. It is identical to the scale mapping instruction described below.

output=name
Name of output the file to contain the PostScript program.

Note: the user must select a PostScript output device using ps.select before running ps.map.

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.

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. The default is Helvetica.
fontsize\ font\ size
The size of the PostScript font in 1/72 inch. The default is 10.

colortable

Prints the color table for the raster map layer anywhere on the page. 
USAGE:	colortable [y|n]
	where x y
	width table width
	cols table columns
	font font name
	fontsize font size
	color text color
	nodata [y|n]	
	end
The color table will display the colors for each raster map layer category value and the category label. To get a color table, you must have previously requested a raster map 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. Note: Be careful about asking for color tables for raster map layers which have many categories, such as elevation. This could result in the printing of an extremely long color table!!!!!

This example would print a color table immediately below any other map legend information, starting at the left margin. 

EXAMPLE:	
	colortable y

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.

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.

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 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.

greyrast

Selects a raster map layer for output in shades of grey. 
USAGE:	greyrast mapname|list
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]
	font font name
	fontsize font size
	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 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

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 header instruction or the file sub-instruction is absent, the header will consist of the map TITLE and location, each centered on the page above the map. The default text color is black.

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 p.labels ). 
USAGE:	labels  labelfile|list
	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

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 pixels (accepts decimal points [floating points] 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.)

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 pixels wide 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
	end
The default location is immediately below the map, starting at the left edge of the map. The default text color is black.

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

outline

Outlines the areas of a raster map layer with a specified color. 
USAGE:	outline
	color  color
	width  width of line in pixels
	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

point

Places additional points or icons on the output map. 
USAGE:	point east north
	point x% y%
	color color
	icon iconfile|list
	size #
	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 icon file to be used to represent the point location (see the the manual entry for ps.icon s), the size of the icon as a multiple of the size of the pattern in the icon file (default is 1.0, aprroximately equivalent to a 10 point character), 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 purple diamond (from icon file diamond) at the point (E456000 N7890000). This diamond would be the approximately the size of a 15 point character and would not be masked by the current mask. 

EXAMPLE:
	point 456000 7890000
	color purple     
	icon diamond
	size 1.5
	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|list
For each ps.map run, only one raster map layer 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 images.

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 pixels (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.)

This example would draw a yellow rectangle filled by green from the point x=10% y=80% to the point x=30% y=70%. This line would be 2 pixels wide and would appear even if there is a mask. 

EXAMPLE:
	rectangle 10% 80% 30% 70%
	color yellow
	fcolor green	
	width 2
	masked n
	end
Of course, multiple rectangles may be drawn with multiple rectangle instructions.

region

Places the outline of a smaller geographic region on the output. 
USAGE:	region regionfile|list
	color color
	width #
	end
Geographic region settings are created and saved using g.region . 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 pixel units (accepts decimal points [floating points] as well as integers) of the outline. The default is a black border of one pixel width.

This example would place a white outline, 2 pixels 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

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

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).

sites

Selects sites data to be placed on the output map (see manual entry for s.menu ). 
USAGE:	sites sitemap|list
	color color
	icon iconfile|list
	eps epsfile	
	size #
	size_att #
	rotate #		
	desc [y|n]
	font font name
	end
The user may specify the the color of the sites (see section on NAMED COLORS below); the icon to be used to represent the presence of a site (see the manual entry for p.icons ); the eps Encapsulate Postscript file to be used to represent the presence of a site; If $ is used in EPS file path it is replaced by category number. the size of the icon (number of times larger than the size it is in the icon file); the size_att number of attribute used for size (if used size is equal to size * attribute_value); the rotate in degrees for clockwise rotation for EPS files; and whether or not the description associated with each site is also to be printed. If the description is to be printed, the font name may be specified. The size of the font is proportional to the icon size. This example would paint a sites map with blue windmills (from an icon file created by the user using the p.icons GRASS command) placed at all windmill locations (from a sites list). These windmills would be two times larger than the size of the icon in the icon file and have descriptions from the sites list file printed beside them. 
EXAMPLE:
	sites windmills
	color blue
	icon windmill
	size 2
	desc y
	end

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
	size #
	ref reference point
	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 map. 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 \en (e.g. USA\|\enCERL).

The user can then specify various text features:

font: cyrilc gothgbt gothgrt gothitt greekc greekcs greekp greeks italicc italiccs italict romanc romancs romand romans romant scriptc scripts (The default font is romans);

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 as 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);

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;

yoffset, which provides finer placement of text by shifting the text a vertical distance in pixels 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 pixels from the specified east The horizontal offset will shift the location east if positive, west if negative;

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.

This example would place the text SPEARFISH LAND COVER at the coordinates E650000 N7365000. The text would be a total of 3 pixels 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

vector

Selects a vector map layer for output. 
USAGE:	vector vectormap|list
	color color
	acolor r g b	
	width #
	cwidth #
	hcolor color
	hwidth #
	offset #
	coffset #
	ref left|right
	masked [y|n]
	style  0-9
	line_cat #	
	label label
	lpos 0|1-20
	end
The user can specify:

color - color of the vector lines or area boundaries;

acolor - the area color. If acolor is used areas are plotted instead of lines (accepts 3 integers from 0 to 255 for red, green and blue separated by spaces);

width - width of the vectors lines or area boundaries in pixels (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 pixels;

offset (experimental) - offset for the vectors lines in pixels for plotting parallel lines in distance equal to offset (accepts positive or negative decimal points);

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 typing a series of numbers (0's and 1's) in a desired sequence or pattern. Blanks and non-digit characters are recognized as 0's. Using 0 would allow the colors of the raster map layer (or the background color if no raster map layer was selected) to show through;

line_cat - which category 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.

This example would paint a map of the vector map layer named streams. These streams would be a total of 3 pixels wide (the inner two pixels blue and the outer highlight pixel white). The map would not show streams outside of the current mask. Only streams of category 2 will be plotted. In legend appeares label 'Streams - category 2'. 

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

verbose

Changes the amount of talking ps.map will do. 
USAGE: verbose [0|1|2]
A higher value implies more chatter. The default is 2. This example sets the amount of chatter to a minimum. 
EXAMPLE:	
	verbose 0

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
	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.

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

NAMED COLORS

The following are the colors that are accepted by ps.map: 

aqua
black
blue
brown
cyan
gray
green
grey
indigo
magenta
orange
purple
red
violet
white
yellow

EXAMPLE ps.map INPUT FILE

The following is an example of a ps.map script file. The file has been named spear.soils. For the purposes of illustration, the file is in two columns. This script file can be entered at the command line: 
  ps.map input=spear.soils output=soils.ps


raster soils
vector roads
   width 2
   style 0011
   color 1 black  
   color 2 red  
   masked n
   end   
labels town.names
region subregion	  
   color white	
   width 2	
   end	        
grid 10000	
   color green	
   numbers 2 red	
   end	  	
outline	   	
   color black	
   end		
colortable y	
comments soil.cmt
   font Helvetica	
   end	   	
scale 1:25000    	
setcolor 6,8,9 white	
setcolor 10 green
vlegend
    where 4.5 0
    end
text 608000.00 3476004.73 SPEARFISH SOILS MAP
    color red  
    width 2  
    hcolor black
    hwidth 1  
    background white
    border red  
    size 500
    ref lower left
    opaque y
    end
line 606969.73 3423092.91 616969.73 3423092.91
    color yellow
    width 2
    opaque yes
    end
point 40% 60%
    color purple
    icon diamond
    size 2	
    masked n
    end	
end

INTERACTIVE MODE

If the user simply enters ps.map without arguments, then a simple prompting session occurs. Some, but not all of the non-interactive requests are available at this level.

SEE ALSO

ps.icon
ps.select

AUTHOR

Paul Carlson, USDA, SCS, NHQ-CGIS
Modifications: Radim Blazek