Compile and install GDAL-GRASS plugin

In general, try to find precompiled packages (i.e., RPMs for most Linuxes, .deb for Debian, Install packages for MS-Windows etc). Check the GRASS download site for software providers.

Compilation

The compilation order should be kept due to inter-dependencies between the packages. Please keep the order as seen below. GRASS compilation is explained in Compile and Install.

Installation

The install order should be kept due to inter-dependencies between the packages. Please keep the order or install all in a single step:

1. PROJ4 with Datum grids (expand in nad/ before compiling)
2. Optional: GEOS
3. Optional: PostgreSQL, mySQL, unixODBC, SQLite (SQLite is needed for QGIS)
4. GDAL/OGR without GRASS support
5. GRASS 6
6. GDAL/OGR-GRASS plugin - file: gdal-grass-1.4.3.tar.gz (or later)
   1. Use the latest plugin version available. The code is fairly stable so the version doesn't need to match the latest GDAL version to keep working. Generally if an update is needed it will be issued, otherwise the existing (well tested) version will be left in place.
   2. NOTE: the plugin needs to "see" the GRASS libraries. The best way is to add a file 'grass6.conf' into the directory /etc/ld.so.conf.d/ (edit as root) which contains the path to the GRASS libraries; then run 'ldconfig'. A script to configure/install easily can be found here.
7. QGIS with GRASS support

Usage of the plugin

• GDAL: gdalinfo grassdata/spearfish60/PERMANENT/cellhd/aspect
• OGR: ogrinfo -ro -so grassdata/spearfish60/PERMANENT/vector/roads/head
• GRASS: only needs it for r.out.gdal
• Mapserver: should see both raster and vector maps, define connection properly in the .map file
• QGIS: needs it only for raster data

Troubleshooting

All stuff installed but QGIS doesn't see GRASS or r.out.gdal doesn't work?

• Check if GDAL finds the plugin:

        gdal_translate --formats | grep -i grass
        GRASS (ro): GRASS Database Rasters (5.7+)

• Check if the GRASS libs are found by the plugin. All libraries should be found (maybe you forgot to run 'ldconfig' if you didn't install from RPMs?):

        ldd /usr/lib/gdalplugins/gdal_GRASS.so
        ldd /usr/lib/gdalplugins/ogr_GRASS.so

• Check if the GRASS plugins are in the right directory (check the 'Auto register' directory reported in the output):

        # remember that you have to specify the absolute path:
        export CPL_DEBUG=on
        gdalinfo /home/neteler/grassdata/spearfish60/PERMANENT/cellhd/roads
        ogrinfo -summary $HOME/grassdata/spearfish60/PERMANENT/vector/roads/head

Further Instructions

If you are still having trouble, please also visit "GRASS for Fedora Core 4" for more detailed GRASS and GDAL compilation and installation instructions developed by Isaac Ullah for Fedora Core 4.

There are good instructions on source code compiling here http://casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/drupal/node/123