March 2005 - Inkscape Devel - Inkscape Mailman

Freehand drawing tool
by Bryce Harrington 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

There'd been some comments about the quality of the Inkscape drawing tool compared with Sodipodi. I experimented around a bit with both. I see what they mean, but it's difficult to quantify the issue. Inkscape's drawing tool "feels" snappier, it doesn't lag like Sodipodi, and it produces lines smoothly, but it just doesn't "feel" right. I can't draw worth beansy, but I could see the difference when I tried writing my name: http://bryceharrington.com/freehand_drawing.png Try signing your name with the two apps and see if you notice a difference. Bryce

9 32

extensions usability
by unknown＠example.com 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

We need to rethink this approach to warning about unloaded extensions. It seems to be causing a LOT of confusion amongst our user community, of which the below is representative. At the very least the dialog needs some text explaining the implications for the users so they don't jump to the conclusion that Inkscape is broken. ----- Forwarded message from "Robert C. Smith" <rcsthrax@...106...> ----- Date: Wed, 09 Mar 2005 13:51:27 -0700 From: "Robert C. Smith" <rcsthrax@...106...> Reply-To: inkscape-user(a)lists.sourceforge.net Subject: Re: [Inkscape-user] autopackage To: inkscape-user(a)lists.sourceforge.net "One or more extensions failed to load The failed extensions have been skipped. Inkscape will continue to run normally but those extensions will be unavailable." Wayne...I plan to run dual-boot but had problems loading Mandrake which I am investigating. The above shows that the Windows load of Inkscape HAS PROBLEMS and that this isn't just an open-source distribution issue. I would appreciate that this fact be recognized as discussion proceeds. I am new to open-source except for the Gimp. What is an "extension?" What are the implications of lacking an extension? What is new in .41 which would provoke this error message? (The situation is independent of service packs.) ....RCs On 9 Mar 2005 at 9:37, wayne wrote: > On Wednesday 09 March 2005 07:03 am, oisin feeley wrote: > > On Tue, 8 Mar 2005 18:10:46 -1000, wayne <iw@...131...> wrote: > > > Just installed inkscape 0.41 with autopackage. When I open it, I > > > get a message saying that one or more extensions failed to load. > > > > I get that message too and it doesn't appear to affect running > > inkscape-0.41, so you may be able to discount it from your > > debugging. Examining the file ~/.inkscape/extension-errors.log shows > > the following. > > > > Extension "Sketch Input" failed to load because a dependency was not > > met. Dependency:: > > type: executable > > location: path > > string: skconvert > > > > Extension "Postscript Input" failed to load because a dependency was > > not met. Dependency:: > > type: extension > > location: path > > string: org.inkscape.input.sk > > > > Extension "Postscript Input" failed to load because a dependency was > > not met. Dependency:: > > type: executable > > location: path > > string: pstoedit > > > > Extension "AI Output" failed to load because a dependency was not > > met. Dependency:: > > type: executable > > location: path > > string: pstoedit > > Extension "EPS Input" failed to load because a dependency was not > > met. Dependency:: > > type: extension > > location: path > > string: org.inkscape.input.ps > > > > Oisin > > 0.4.1 doesn't run at all after the "one or more extensions failed to > load" error window. I end up with the command line error message > about: > > SCIM: im_module_init > > > free(): invalid pointer 0x9453670! > > > free(): invalid pointer 0x9453650! > > Segmentation fault (core dumped) > > Wayne > > > ------------------------------------------------------- > SF email is sponsored by - The IT Product Guide > Read honest & candid reviews on hundreds of IT Products from real > users. Discover which products truly live up to the hype. Start > reading now. http://ads.osdn.com/?ad_id=6595&alloc_id=14396&op=click > _______________________________________________ Inkscape-user mailing > list Inkscape-user(a)lists.sourceforge.net > https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user ----- End forwarded message -----

9 12

New GUI projects
by Bryce Harrington 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

Here are some areas where help is needed in the new gui code. If you'd like to help, pick anything off this list that looks interesting and have at it. * Transformation dialog. There's some bits of code that are currently commented out because they depended on inkscape internals that weren't available while inkscape_gtkmm was separate. With the code integrated, these can now be hooked up. Uncomment something, recompile, and fix any errors that occur. * src/ui/dialog/dialog.cpp. Search for 'TODO'. A lot of little leftover things that need to be reviewed/implemented/fixed. Pick something that looks interesting. * Hook in the canvas. I assume there's something in the existing codebase we can just link up to, but don't know what that'd be. In any case, there's a stub for it in src/application/editor-impl.cpp called initSvgCanvas(). * Implement preferences loading/saving. In src/application/application.cpp, implement the functions Application::loadPreferences() and Application::savePreferences. For reference, the current preferences code is in inkscape.cpp. * Commandline options Implement code that takes argc,argv, parses it via popt, and stores it in a member of Inkscape::Application::Application in src/application/application.cpp. If you've not used popt before, here's a handy PDF on it: http://www.rpm.org/local/popt.pdf The current option handling code is in main.cpp, but is kind of hackish so feel free to redesign it a bit. * Finish (re-)implementation of Inkscape Preferences dialog. Car Hetherington did much of the work of gtkmmifying the preferences dialog, but it's diverged from mainline. Also, there was some thought put into reimplementing it, so if you feel ambitious, go ahead and rework the dialog to fit the new design. * Gtkmmify the Statusbar. This should hook in to src/application/editor-impl.cpp in the initStatusbar() routine. The current code for the statusbar is in desktop.cpp. Start by looking at SPDesktop::_set_status_message, then search on 'statusbar' and 'select_status'. I *think* what is needed is to implement a new class Inkscape::UI::Widget::Statusbar that subclasses Gtk::Statusbar and adds the Inkscape-specific functionality we need, but that's just a rough guess; I haven't put much thought into it so if you know a better approach, go for it. The above tasks are what we need most desperately right now, but I think if we can get these items done, that will move us a *huge* step forward. I'd love the help, and if you have any questions on any of it, let me know. Bryce

1 0

Gtkmm updates
by Bryce Harrington 14 Mar '05

14 Mar '05

I've just checked in a few improvements to the gtkmm code: * Added support for share/ui to path-prefix.h and removed all hardcoded paths in the gtkmm code. You should now be able to run inkscape --new-gui with inkscape installed in either /usr or /usr/local without issue. * Integrated the new Transformation dialog. Looks much like the original one, but is implemented in gtkmm instead of gtk. This dialog is intended to serve as a complete working example of a gtkmmified dialog. * Added a bunch of individual icons to share/icons/. This is a mix of .svg and .xpms. This should probably be redone. We now prefer having all icons as svg, and having all of the icons in 'icons.svg' instead of as individual files. These files were done like this simply because in the separated inkscape_gtkmm codebase we of course did not have access to the inkscape renderer; now that the code is integrated, it would be a good project for someone to replace these temporary implementations with use of the inkscape renderer. Bryce

2 1

Re: [Inkscape-devel] extensions usability
by Jose Hevia 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

> Ted Gould wrote: > > Yes, I think the text needs to change -- but I think the dialog needs to > > stay. > > I'd like to recommend disabling the dialog, at least until it's pretty > common people will have most extensions. Let me tell you a story: I'm a inkscape user that eventually learned to use inkscape to make vector drawings. I use debian sid ,so I just made an update to apt-get.If you have used it you know how easy is to upgrade +30 programs at once.I was working hard until night for a deadline project so I just shut down the computer and didn't use this computer for some days when finished. Later ,I needed to open a SVG to work with and so it happened: One or more extensions failed to load!!! The failed extensions have been skipped... What the hell? (#?!(%$·#!!!!!).Something is crashed,but what?,I open inkscape from command line ,no indication.No help.Nada.Nil.Nothing. Simply ,I don't know what an extension here means,I only recently read the mailing list,and don't know.They are optional parts like extras or fundamental part? It says: [...]please refer to the error log located a[...]ooh, so it's an error. (If it wasn't inkscape will start without pushing an (annoying) OK button.) But it's strange ,I could use inkscape like I was used to and nothing breaks (but beware ,don't trust, something is broken and could make lost your important data). I didn't unmarked "Show dialog on startup" because if something is broken I don't want it to hide this fact. No need to tell you that I didn't read /home/xxx/.inkscape/extension-errors.log(or if I did don't remember), and it took me some time to connect the general update with this "crash".I thought it was inkscape having problems,then I notice something different with the program,had a look to about dialog to see that I just installed a new version. Sorry for my behavior, if I had no others things to do I'd do better Jose Hevia

1 0

'using namespace' considered harmful
by MenTaLguY 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

Guys, I've been noticing a lot of usage of 'using namespace' starting to creep into the codebase. With few exceptions, that's not a good thing... The reason is that as more classes get added to the imported namespace, a class or function may eventually get added that conflicts with one in your own namespace. Depending on the exact nature of the conflict, it may not result in a compile failure, but instead introduce subtle bugs into the compiled code (e.g. if overload resolution picks the wrong function). So, as a rule, please 'using' the individual classes or functions that you actually need. Do NOT 'using' an entire namespace, and especially DO NOT use any form of 'using' in the global scope of a header file -- that will pollute the namespace of every file that directly or indirectly includes your header. Current offenders: (header files with inappropriate 'using's that MUST be fixed) src/ui/dialog/align-and-distribute.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/document-preferences.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/export.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/fill-and-stroke.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/find.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/messages.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/dialog/text-properties.h:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/widget/unit-menu.h:using namespace Inkscape::Util; (modules where individual 'using's would be better) src/ui/dialog/inkscape-preferences.cpp:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/ui/stock-items.cpp: using namespace Gtk::Stock; src/application/editor-impl.cpp:using namespace Inkscape::UI; src/application/editor-impl.cpp:using namespace Inkscape::UI::Widget; src/io/ftos.cpp:using namespace std; src/svg/ftos.cpp:using namespace std; src/svg/itos.cpp:using namespace std; Please fix, thanks. -mental

1 0

NEW: more gradient stuff
by bulia byak 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

Some improvements since the last announcement: - All tools that were previously able to click to select (namely node, shapes, and gradient tools), can now do Shift+click (add to selection) and Alt+click (select under) exactly as the Selector tool. - Dragging a gradient handle with Ctrl+Shift will scale the entire linear or radial gradient around its center. - Gradient handles for each gradient are connected by blue lines for fill gradient and yellow lines for stroke gradient. - In gradient tool, instead of dragging, you can double-click an object to create a new gradient centered within the object's bounding box. If you have several objects selected, or if your selected object is behind another one, you can double-click with Ctrl to create gradients on selected object(s) without changing selection. - The selected gradient handle will intercept any color/opacity setting commands and apply them to the corresponding stop(s) of its gradient(s). This means that at least two-stop gradients can be completely edited without ever opening the Gradient Editor dialog. In particular, you can use these methods to change the color of the selected handle: + Dropper tool (for example, to blend a radial gradient onto background, select its outer handle and pick the background color with the dropper). + Paste style (if the pasted style contains both fill and stroke style, the stop will take the fill style). + Fill and stroke dialog [this does not quite work yet because the dialog switches to gradient button and won't let you edit the color] - Double-clicking any gradient handle will open the Gradient Editor dialog with that handle's gradient loaded and the corresponding stop selected in the list. - Before, the actual direction of the linear gradient was not always perpendicular to the line connecting it handles if the bounding box of the object was not a square. This is now fixed, though the fix only works for new gradients that you create (i.e. gradients in old files are not affected). In other news, Richard Hughes' text layout rewrite appears to have reduced the memory consumption on a text-heavy document by about 20%, and rendering is faster by the same percentage. Hooray! :)

3 2

Inkscape hangs; create rectangle, lock layer, select (root)
by xscd 13 Mar '05

13 Mar '05

Can someone confirm the following issue? I'm using Inkscape 0.41 (Feb 10 2005), installed via Debian package, in Debian with a dual-CPU Tyan motherboard. I can reliably cause this hang by doing the following steps: * launch Inkscape, and in the default new document, choose the rectangle tool and draw a rectangle * with the rectangle still selected and its handles visible, click the "lock layer" icon on the status bar at the bottom of the window * click the layer menu on the status bar next to the lock icon, and select "(root)" At this point Inkscape hangs and begins to monopolize the CPU(s). Thank you, Steve D, New Mexico, US -- ---------------------------------------------------------------- The difference between a violin and a viola is that a viola burns longer. -Victor Borge ----------------------------------------------------------------

6 7

gradient editing strangeness
by Johan Forsberg 11 Mar '05

11 Mar '05

Hello, I *really* like the new "on canvas" gradient editing mode. However, the gradient editing still has a feature that I find puzzling. Maybe it's part of the svg standard or something and then it can't be changed I suppose. When editing a linear gradient, the line between the handles seems like it should represent the actual direction of the gradient, but it doesn't, exactly, unless the object has a perfectly square bounding box. If the bounding box is rectangular, the only directions in which the line and the direction of the gradient are the same are horizontal and vertical; all other directions the gradient appears "sheared" ('m not sure if this is the correct term); it is not parallel to the line. (This is a bit hard to explain, perhaps I should make a screen shot to demonstrate what I mean?) Even more confusing is the fact that this behaviour does not change even if the object is resized to have a square bounding box. This sometimes makes it difficult, for example to fine-tune a gradient on a very long and thin object, depending on its orientation. I don't know it I should report this as a bug or if there is some rational explanation :) Cheers, Johan Forsberg

2 2

Absolute paths for website
by Jonathan Leighton 11 Mar '05

11 Mar '05

I've been working on a prototype of the Inkscape news using WordPress, but am having trouble as URIs for archives come out like "/archives/2005/01/". Due to the relative paths used on the website, the browser then can't locate the stylesheets, and links point to the wrong place on those pages. So... does it matter if I change to absolute paths? (Which, IMHO, are better anyway) -- Jonathan Leighton aka. Turnip http://turnipspatch.com/ | http://digital-proof.org/

5 10