---
name: "v.in.lines"
section: "1grass"
platform: "linux"
package: "grass-doc"
version: "8.4.1-1"
release: "Debian 13 (Trixie)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/v.in.lines"
---

# v.in.lines(1grass)

Imports ASCII x,y\[,z\] coordinates as a series of lines.

## NAME

**v.in.lines**  - Imports ASCII x,y\[,z\] coordinates as a series of lines.

## KEYWORDS

vector, import, line, point

## SYNOPSIS

**v.in.lines**\
 **v.in.lines --help**\
 **v.in.lines** \[-**z**\] **input**=*name* **output**=*name*  \[**separator**=*character*\]   \[--**overwrite**\]  \[--**help**\]  \[--**verbose**\]  \[--**quiet**\]  \[--**ui**\]

### Flags:

- **-z**

  Create a 3D line from 3 column data

- **--overwrite**

  Allow output files to overwrite existing files

- **--help**

  Print usage summary

- **--verbose**

  Verbose module output

- **--quiet**

  Quiet module output

- **--ui**

  Force launching GUI dialog

### Parameters:

- **input**=*name* **\[required\]**

  Name of input file (or "-" to read from stdin)

- **output**=*name* **\[required\]**

  Name for output vector map

- **separator**=*character*

  Field separator\
   Special characters: pipe, comma, space, tab, newline\
   Default: *pipe*

## DESCRIPTION

Imports a stream of ASCII x,y\[,z\] coordinates as a line or series of lines.

## NOTES

Input ASCII coordinates are simply a series of "x y" data points. Lines are separated by a row containing "`NaN NaN`".

The user can import 3D lines by providing 3 columns of data in the input stream and using the **-z** flag.

This script is a simple wrapper around the *v.in.mapgen* module.

## EXAMPLE

```
v.in.lines in=- out=two_lines separator=, <<EOF
167.846717,-46.516653
167.846663,-46.516645
167.846656,-46.516644
167.846649,-46.516644
167.846642,-46.516643
NaN,NaN
167.846520,-46.516457
167.846528,-46.516461
167.846537,-46.516464
167.846535,-46.516486
167.846544,-46.516489
167.846552,-46.516493
EOF
```

## SEE ALSO

*d.graph,* *v.centroids,* *v.in.ascii,* *v.in.mapgen,* *v.in.region,* *v.out.ascii,* *r.in.poly*

## AUTHOR

Hamish Bowman\
 Dunedin, New Zealand

## SOURCE CODE

Available at: v.in.lines source code (history)

Accessed: Monday Feb 24 17:51:45 2025

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