Open Sample Files (APRX Files) and Draw Maps Using QGIS

Opening the Door of ArcGIS with QGIS ~ Fundamentals of Plugins and Map Representation

Hello, I'm Koga.
While advancing my GIS studies, I took on the challenge of using QGIS to handle ArcGIS-specific files with the sample data from the book Geospatial Data Analysis Starting with ArcGIS Pro. I will record what I learned in that process and the actual work procedure.

Fundamentals of Map Representation in GIS

First, I learned the basic concepts for creating maps in GIS.

• General Maps and Thematic Maps: There are general maps (such as GSI maps) that depict general information like terrain and buildings, and thematic maps that express specific themes (such as weather maps). Remote sensing, which visualizes land surface temperature or crop growth conditions, falls under creating these thematic maps.
• Choropleth Maps: A commonly used technique for displaying statistical data on a map. It uses color coding based on the magnitude of data values to convey information visually. It is important to be mindful of the ordinal nature of information by using gradients of color or warm/cool colors.
• Basic Map Elements: Maps shown to others require essential information such as a north arrow, scale bar, legend, title, and source.

I felt that this knowledge is important not just for drawing maps, but for considering what you want to convey through the map.

The Power of Plugins Connecting ArcGIS and QGIS

The sample data from the book was in the ".aprx" file format, which is exclusive to ArcGIS. Since QGIS cannot open it directly, I introduced a plugin called "SLYR" to solve this problem.

By using this plugin, I was able to read the contents of the aprx file, which QGIS does not natively support. This experience made me realize the strength of open-source software: QGIS, being free, can have its functionality expanded through community-developed plugins.

Today's Achievement: Visualizing Ise City's Population Data

Using the SLYR plugin, I was able to open the administrative boundary data of Ise City. Furthermore, I succeeded in displaying "S_NAME," an attribute (place name), as labels on those boundaries.

This image shows that the map, which was just shapes, has taken a step forward as a map that conveys information to the reader by linking place name data.

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Work Procedure: Opening an APRX File in QGIS

1. Installing the SLYR Plugin

1. Launch QGIS, and select "Plugins" from the menu bar, then "Manage and Install Plugins."
2. Enter "SLYR" in the search bar and select the plugin from the search results.
3. Click "Install Plugin" and wait for completion.

2. Loading an APRX File

1. Open the "Browser Panel" on the left side of QGIS.
2. Navigate to the folder where the APRX file is saved.
3. Right-click on the target giswork01.aprx file and select "Add Layers to Project."

3. Displaying Labels

1. Right-click on the ise pop2020 layer added to the Layers panel and select "Properties."
2. In the Properties dialog, go to the "Labels" tab and select "Single Labels" from the dropdown menu.
3. From the "Value" dropdown, select the attribute you want to display as a label (e.g., S_NAME).
4. Click "Apply" and then "OK" to close the dialog.

References

Geospatial Data Analysis Starting with ArcGIS Pro by Takashi Kirimura

Article on how to install the SLYR plugin
URL: https://mapscaping.com/opening-an-aprx-file-in-qgis