🗂️✅ Creating and Managing QGIS Projects

🟢 What is a QGIS Project?

A QGIS Project is a workspace file that saves:

• Map layers and their styles

• Layer order and symbology

• Coordinate reference system (CRS)

• Layouts, labels, selections, etc.

🗃️ It is saved with a .qgz or .qgs extension.

✅ Step-by-Step: Creating a New QGIS Project

🔹 Step 1: Open QGIS

• Launch QGIS. By default, a blank project opens.

🔹 Step 2: Set CRS (Coordinate Reference System)

• At the bottom-right, click the CRS (e.g., EPSG:4326)

• Choose the desired CRS → click OK

🔹 Step 3: Add Layers

• Add vector, raster, or CSV layers via:

  Layer → Add Layer → Add Vector/Raster Layer
  or drag and drop from Browser Panel

🔹 Step 4: Style Your Layers

• Change symbology, labels, and layer order as needed

• Save attribute edits if any

💾 Step 5: Save the Project

Option 1: Save Project

• Go to:

  Project → Save
  or click 💾 Save icon

• Choose a location and name (e.g., Landuse_Map.qgz)

Option 2: Save As (Save a Copy)

• Use:

  Project → Save As…
  to create a duplicate project in a new location or under a new name.

📂 All settings are stored in the .qgz file – so you can reopen it later with everything preserved.

🧩 Managing Existing Projects

🔁 Open a Project

• Go to:

  Project → Open…
  or use the Recent Projects list from the QGIS welcome screen.

📌 Set Default Folder for Projects

• Go to:

  Settings → Options → System → Project Home

• Choose your preferred default location to save/load QGIS projects.

♻️ Clean Project Organization Tips

1. 🔸 Create a folder for each project: Landuse_Study/
├── data/
├── maps/
├── project.qgz


2. 🔸 Use relative paths so the project works even if the folder is moved:

   • Project → Properties → General → Save paths relative to project

3. 🔸 Backup regularly by duplicating your .qgz file.

🧠 Summary