9.2. Installation

To download NextGIS Connect plugin, from the main menu open Plugins ‣ Manage and install plugins. Start typing the name of the plugin in the search bar, select it in the list and press Install.

NextGIS Connect plugin is a part of NextGIS QGIS distributive and is ready to go right after installation of desktop app.

If you need to check the version of the plugin or update it, go to Plugins‣ Manage and install plugins ‣ NextGIS Connect.

9.3. Connecting to your Web GIS

When the plugin is installed, its icon appears in the toolbar:

NextGIS Connect icon

Click on the icon to open NextGIS Connect panel.

NextGIS Connect panel

Pic. 9.1. NextGIS Connect panel

Buttons on the panel:

If no connection is set at the moment, the following message will be shown:

Message if there is no connection

Pic. 9.2. NextGIS Connect panel if there is no connection

If the previously used version of NextGIS Connect didn’t support QGIS authentication, after the update you will need to convert all existing connections and authentication data. You can do it in the NextGIS Connect panel or in the plugin settings.

NextGIS Connect panel after update

Pic. 9.3. Message announcing the need to convert connections

NextGIS Connect settings after update

Pic. 9.4. Message announcing the need to convert connections in NextGIS Connect settings

9.3.1. Create a connection

To create a connection you need to know the address of your Web GIS. The address for your own Web GIS can be found at https://my.nextgis.com/webgis

Web GIS address

Pic. 9.5. Web GIS address

Click on Settings button in NextGIS Connect panel.

Open settings dialog

Pic. 9.6. Opening Settings menu

In the pop-up window press New and fill in the fields:

  1. URL – address of the target Web GIS.

  2. Name – connection id, how it will be shown in the list of connections.

Adding new connection

Pic. 9.7. Adding new connection

Next, in the Authentication section, add a new configuration or select a previously created one (the list items consist of configuration name, user name and authentication type).

The default setting, “No Authentication” can be used if you don’t need to perform actions that a Guest has no permissions for. For instance, only the Web GIS owner and the team members can create and delete resources.

To add a new configuration, press the button with a green plus.

The “Authentication” dialog will pop up.

Adding authentication configuration

Pic. 9.8. Adding authentication configuration

  1. Enter a name for the new configuration in the corresponding field;

  2. Select the Basic authentication in the dropdown menu below;

  3. Enter Username and Password of your NextGIS ID;

  4. Press Save.

Make sure that the correct configuration is selected. To check if the credentials are correct, press Test Connection.

If guest or user chosen for authentication does not have access at least to the Main resource group of the Web GIS, an error message will appear. Select a different authentication configuration or contact the administrator of the Web GIS to get access permission.

Next press Save in the connection creating dialog (Pic. 9.7.).

Click OK.

The connection selected in the “Connections” dropdown menu of the Settings dialog will become active after the dialog is closed.

9.3.2. Keycloak authentication in NextGIS QGIS

Desktop app NextGIS QGIS, NextGIS Web, and NextGIS Connect which serves as a link between them handle geoinformation systems that use Keycloak authorization.

This option is relevant for corporate users who have a Web GIS deployed on-premise.