# Getting Started

## Get Started In 5 Steps

1. Prepare a cleaned segment-based street network in GIS.
2. Open the network with `File > Open`.
3. Choose an analysis under `Analysis`, such as `Reach`, `Distance`, or `Point Distance`.
4. Set the parameters, then click `Run`.
5. Review the map visualization, exported attributes, and generated fields.

## Data Requirements

UrConnect works with segment models. Each line represents a street segment. The current application does not edit geometry, so topology, snapping, duplicate lines, and attribute joins should be resolved before opening the file.

Supported input formats:

- Shapefile (`.shp`)
- CSV files containing segment endpoint coordinates
- TXT files containing segment endpoint coordinates

For Shapefile input, analysis results are written into the source file. For CSV/TXT input, UrConnect also creates a same-named Shapefile so results can be used in GIS.

## Core Concepts

Reach
: The amount of network reachable from a source segment under a distance rule. The quantity can be segment length, junction count, or selected weighted attributes.

Directional distance
: A topological distance based on turns. Small angular changes can be ignored with an angle threshold.

Junction distance
: A distance based on the number of junctions of a selected degree, such as 3-way or 4-way intersections.

Weighted reach and distance
: Attribute-weighted calculations using numeric fields such as population, POI counts, floor area, or other joined GIS variables.

## Interface Overview

```{figure} ../_static/images/guide/4.32.png
:alt: UrConnect interface

UrConnect desktop interface.
```

The left side contains tools, file operations, analysis modules, path analysis, visualization controls, and run/stop controls. The central map window displays the current network and analysis results. The right side lists numeric attributes from the opened file.