[Bug] No way to add a GIS database folder to the data catalog

[cmbarton]

Describe the bug

I just realized that in GRASS 8.5 and above, there is no way to register a folder/directory as a GIS DATABASE. At least there is no way from the GUI data catalog window. Nothing in the menus either.

This is accomplished via button in GRASS 8.4.2. But it has been removed in subsequence dev and RC versions

IMHO, this is a very serious problem and a blocker.

GRASS has always had the ability to use multiple folders as a GIS database. This is not possible now (at least not easily possible). Also, if someone decides to change the name of the current GIS database, there is no way to register the new folder name with GRASS.

System description

All OS
GRASS 8.5 and above

[nilason]

I can confirm this issue on Mac. I suspect it is a Mac-only bug, is it?

[nilason]

I now realise I haven't kept up with GUI development. This is a feature, since #6405. The button "Add an existing project" will allow you to choose a project/location also outside the default GISBASE. The #7305 issue you have experienced, make it all the more painful. Transitioning from 8.4 will be smoother with #7307.

Changes with #6405 probably need to be emphasised on 8.5 release news.

[cmbarton]

No. It was removed intentionally to simplify GRASS use. But I don’t think it helps and in fact makes it harder to use. Michael...Sent from my iPadOn Apr 12, 2026, at 11:43 AM, Nicklas Larsson ***@***.***> wrote:nilason left a comment (OSGeo/grass#7300) I can confirm this issue on Mac. I suspect it is a Mac-only bug, is it? —Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub, or unsubscribe.You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[petrasovaa]

Yes, this is intentional, I implemented it after I saw a student struggling with adding a project. It goes along with the decision to de-emphasize grass database (see all the location - project discussion), given it's just a folder. When you create a project with wizard, you can set in which folder you create it. For new users I believe this behavior is more intuitive.

[cmbarton]

When you create a project with wizard, you can set in which folder you create it. For new users I believe this behavior is more intuitive.

Creating a folder is easy. It is registering the folder with GRASS as a GISDatabase that is not intuitive if the only way to do so is to create a project using the wizard. This used to be very straightforward by clicking a menu button.

If GRASS is going to abandon the ability to use multiple GISDatabase in a location chosen by the user, then the default is pretty much OK. But if GRASS is going to retain the ability to register any folder and multiple folders as a GISDatabase, then there needs to be a straightforward way to do this.

[wenzeslaus]

My observations:

The point is that the parent folder is registered automatically when you add or create a project. If you have an existing project, you put there path to the project. If you need to create a new project, you choose where. In both cases, the folder which contains the project is added automatically. You can put more projects into that folder or to any other folder in the same way.

Is this different from before? Yes, now new users don't have to learn or know about GISDatabase (aka gisbase, grassdata, GRASS Database Directory...). It is simply the folder where projects are. If one wants to treat it in a special way, e.g., name it grassdata, that's possible just like before, and the default desktop setup makes use of that (creating $HOME/grassdata). However, basic usage does not require a user to understand a GISDatabase concept, only the project concept is a must.

Can you add a GISDatabase-level folder without having an existing project or creating a new project? No, that's not possible anymore (unless you edit the settings file manually). I can't imagine new users asking for that feature and I don't see that as a problem as an advanced user.

What else has changed? If you add a mapset instead of a project, the parent project is added. This is aligned with adding the parent folder for a project.

The change is aligned with Phase 3 in #3121.