Double-click the icon on the desktop or navigate to Start / All Programs / Quantum GIS
Like ArcMap, QGIS displays with the Toolbars running across the top of the screen, a Map Window pane on the right-hand side of the screen, and a Legend/Layers pane on the left hand-side of the screen. Unlike ArcMap, the QGIS Graphical User Interface also includes an Overview Map Window, located directly beneath the Legend window. The Map Overview Window provides a full extent view of layers added to it. Within the view is a rectangle showing the current map extent. This allows you to quickly determine which area of the map 8 you are currently viewing. You can add a single layer to the overview by right-clicking on it in the legend and choosing “Add to overview”. You can also add or remove all layers to the overview using the Overview tools on the toolbar. You can also grab the red rectangle showing your current extent and pan around; the map view will update accordingly.
If you open QGIS and you do not have toolbars, it may be because the toolbars are not turned on or plug-ins have not been activated.
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