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1 New properties of GRASS 6.0

Vector geometries:

• Support of external ``simple feature'' data formats such as SHAPE or PostGIS without previous import (at read-only access via v.external as ''virtual maps'');
• Import into and export from GRASS to all OGR-supported vector formats;
• New ''spatial index'' for reducing the computing time (e.g. at v.build for structuring the vector topology (formerly v.support in 5.4).

Database Management:

• Attributes are stored in the DBMS (SQL-based interfaces to dBase files, PostgreSQL, MySQL and ODBC);
• Multi attributes are now internally saved in dBase files (default) or externally saved in DBMS;
• Multilayer features of a vector can be linked with one or more external database tables;
• 3D vectors can be created (e.g. TINs, CAD drawings) and are also visually supported by NVIZ.

Modules:

• Support of SQL queries/selections by, for instance, d.vect, v.extract and v.surf.rst;
• Direct updating attributes is possible in the query (e.g. attributes directly linked with d.what.vect can be changed);
• Vector network analysis based on DGLIB (Directed Graph Library);
• new digitalizing module v.digit with GUI;
• export of SHAPE file, DGN, TIGER, MapInfo and GML2 via the OGR library;
• user-friendly module management with popup menus via the 'forms library';
• new GIS Manager (d.m);

In order to familiarize with the use of the new vector features the following chapters are mainly focused on the innovations of GRASS 6.0- especially the management of geometries and attributes.