Getting data into QGIS

Loading data into QGIS can be done in several ways. The three most common ways are as follows:

• You can drag data directly from a folder straight into the map.
• You can drag data from the browser panel (shown in Chapter 1, Where Do I Start?) onto the map.
• You can click Layer | Add Layer and choose what type of layer to add.

In the following screenshot, we are choosing to load a Vector Layer, which can also be done using the Ctrl + Shift + V shortcut:

By choosing this method, the Data Source Manager window will appear, with Vector highlighted, as follows:

Click on the ellipsis for Vector Dataset(s) and navigate to the layer you wish to load. In the following example, the alaska Shapefile is selected. You can load more than one layer at the same time by holding down the Ctrl button and clicking on multiple files:

If you then click the Add button at the bottom of the Data Source Manager window, the data will be added to your Map window as well as the Layers window. The Data Source Manager window will remain open, and you can also load other layers. Close the window and your Shapefile will appear in the map, as follows:

In the next section, we will look at how to interact with the data to zoom in and inspect its attributes.