In the latest version of QGIS the atlas function has been improved so that you can now preview the output rather than having to create a pdf first. If you haven't yet used an atlas facility then you may not be aware of what this option can provide. The atlas facility enables you to use a base map of points, lines or polygons to create a series of maps. You could for instance, take a map of a country consisting of its regions and automatically create a series of maps for each of the regions. 
 
The map of France shown below consists of 22 regions. To show the functionality within the atlas function first choose a print composer or create a new one. I will assume that you are familiar with how to use the print composer. 

Once you have set up your print composer select Atlas - Atlas Settings from the top menu or alternatively select the tab Atlas generation. Within the Atlas section enable the Generate an atlas option. Select the layer you want as the Coverage layer - in this example the Regions_Metro layer. This layer contains the 22 regional polygons. You have an option to sort the generated maps using an attribute - in this case the regional names. If you enable the map by clicking on it you will see that there is an option: Controlled by atlas in the Item Properties dialogue section. In order for the atlas to be generated you need to enable this option. As this option is not always automatically enabled for the coverage map you need to check that this option is enabled within the Items properties dialogue section. With this feature enabled you have three options: 1. You can choose a margin around the feature. 2. Predefined scale (best fit). 3. Fixed scale. On this occasion I have chosen option 2.   

If you want to label your map you can normally achieve this without too much difficulty with GIS software such as ArcGIS, MapInfo or QGIS. All of these desktop GIS provide the facility to automatically place labels on the map by using data in the attribute table linked to a layer. 

Various labeling functionality is available depending on your choice of GIS software. However, most desktop GIS now offer dynamic labeling options regarding text style, buffers, shadows and placement. Below is an example created with QGIS of a regional map of France showing most of these options.

Using the label facility rather than adding a text field is recommended as labels and text behave differently. Labels will remain near to the features they are associated with when you zoom in and out. By contrast, text does not react this way when you use zoom or pan controls in your map.   

Some desktop GIS now support ruled based symbology as a method of rendering a vector layer. If your GIS supports this option you can convert a vector layer from simple points, lines and polygons into something much more meaningful.

Here is an Ordnance Survey sample prior to applying the rule based option. As you can see the layer shows a plain black and white polygon map without any of the features being differentiated depending upon their underlying layer attribute data.  

Desktop GIS software such as ArcGIS, MapInfo and QGIS offer a number of classification methods. The most commonly featured are Natural Breaks (Jenks), Equal Interval, Quantile, Standard Deviation and Manual.

Natural Breaks was developed by George Jenks. This method uses clusters and gaps in the data to create classes.

The attribute tables attached to your map layers enable you to create different representations of your data. The numerical data within the attribute table can be displayed in a number of different ways through a thematic layer. Displaying data by dividing values into groups requires you think of size of the classes and how you wish to display them by one of several methods available within your GIS software.

If, for example, you are using graduated colours to represent population data,  you have a number of different options. both in the number of classes you have and the mode by which you calculate them.   Equal Interval, Quantile, Natural Breaks, Standard Deviation and Manual being some of the most common options.

When you first load a vector layer into your map it will be assigned a default colour. For instance, if you have a outline map of the UK, in a vector polygon format, it will load with a different colour each time you bring it into your map. Vector maps are built up from a combination of point, line and polygon layers. QGIS and ArcGIS only allow a layer to contain either point, line or polygon objects. MapInfo is different in that it will allow vector data for more than one object type to be present within the same layer. You can still import a MapInfo tab file, containing a layer with more than just one object type present, directly into QGIS. QGIS will check to see if more than one object type is present within the MapInfo layer and will then separate the various object types into separate point, line and polygon layers.

Whilst GIS browser facilities, which are now available for ArcGIS, MapInfo and QGIS, have similar functionality they also have a few differentiating features. These features reflect basic differences in how these different GIS software solutions operate.

For instance, ArcGIS has what is known as a data view. In the data view you have the map display together with a table of contents. ArcGIS can support multiple data views within the map display. However only one data view can be active at a time. As well as data views there is also a separate layout view. In the layout view you can see your map as it would appear prior to being sent to a printer. Unlike the data view you can have multiple data view frames visible within the layout view. With ArcCatalog, the ArcGIS browser, you can drag vector and raster layer information into either your data view or your layout view. When you drag a vector layer into a data or layout view it will initially be assigned a random colour. You can of course modify the layer once you have loaded it.  

If you want to examine a specific area of your map you have a selection of tools to help you. You can activate the Zoom in tool which is usually represented as a magnifying glass containing a plus sign. By clicking on the map the Zoom in tool will increase magnification, usually by two or three times, based on the settings within your GIS software. Alternatively you can create a box with the help of your mouse to zoom in to an area of interest. Depending again on your settings, the layer may show label information if this layer has been set up to be scale dependent. For instance, these settings are usually found within the Layers Properties dialogue box. Here you can decide whether labels display based upon a preset scale. This ensures that your map does not look too cluttered when you zoom out. Once you have zoomed into an area of interest you can use the Pan tool to move about this area of your map. There is also the option of a Zoom and Pan tool in some GIS software packages. This tool enables you to have the combined functionality to either Zoom in or out and Pan whilst using this specific option.

Most popular GIS desktop software have similar methods of displaying and navigating maps. Moving about the map window will usually be achieved with the aid of the mouse coupled with options from a tool bar offering zoom and pan facilities. With these tools you can zoom in and out of areas you wish to study. Additionally, you can also pan across the map window  to view particular sections of interest.

Within a GIS, the table of contents, usually positioned on the left side of the map window, contains the names of the layers available within the map. QGIS, ArcGIS and MapInfo all now provide for the table of contents to be a permanently visible feature within the main mapping environment.  MapInfo does differ from QGIS and ArcGIS in that it also has the ability to open numerous map and attribute windows within a MapInfo work session. QGIS and ArcGIS both allow for more than one attribute window to be open in a ArcGIS map document or QGIS project file. However, only one map window is available at a time within the mapping environment. If you have been used to working with either the  QGIS or ArcGIS interfaces you may need some time to become accustomed to MapInfo's ability to open multiple map and attribute windows within a MapInfo work session.

A desktop GIS is an application for showing maps and interrogating them. Through analysis of maps you are able to answer a variety of questions of a geographical nature. With a desktop GIS you create maps which give answers pertinent to what is being investigated.

Modern GIS solutions provide a map window for viewing your spatial data. Most will automatically provide a table of contents listing the layers being displayed in the map. Manipulation of the map data is achieved through menus, toolbars and dialogue boxes. Many GIS solutions are customisable so that only the features which you commonly use are displayed. With the latest versions of Windows various toolbars and dialogue boxes can be automatically docked to suit your requirements. Both MapInfo and ArcGIS can use these latest Windows facilities when docking, pinning, displaying and hiding dialogue boxes. Any Windows based solution can also have toolbars either docked or floating to suit individual requirements. Again, most GIS solutions will also save your preferences when you close the software. On opening again these same settings will then be restored rather than the default.