February 2009 - Inkscape Devel

Building ubuntu/debian package from svn
by Kalman KHIRALY 16 Feb '09

16 Feb '09

Dear list, Im trying to build a .deb package to test out the greatest and newest feature of inkscape. I have read this documentation: http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/CompilingDebian I have downloaded the daily snapshot: http://inkscape.modevia.com/svn-snap/inkscape-current.tar.bz2 I followed the steps without success. I suspect, the documentation is outdated. There is no debian/ directory in the inkscape source. The inkscape does not use autoconfig but cmake if I see it correctly. So creating the debian/ directory using the dh_make command, and building the package fails. (make[1]: *** No rule to make target `clean'. Stop.) So can somebody direct me to an updated documentation? How can I create a proper debian/ directory, and building the package with help of this directory? Using this command: dpkg-buildpackage -uc -us -rfakeroot In summary a step-by-step tutorial would be really helpful! Im using ubuntu 8.10 currently. Thank you in advance, Khiraly

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Corel DRAW-like Snapping
by Krzysztof Kosiński 16 Feb '09

16 Feb '09

The current snapping mechanism is next to unusable when there are many places where a given thing might snap. The approach of snapping everything-to-everything is fundamentally wrong, because it simply doesn't work for many snapping points. I have a different idea, inspired by Corel DRAW, where snapping is much more useful than currently in Inkscape: 1. When snap is enabled, the Select tool displays a highlight and some text describing the snappable thing over which it hovers. The things that are highlighted are the same that are enabled in the snap toolbar. 2. During a subsequent drag the snapping point that gets highlighted is chosen as the only snapping point for the dragged object. Otherwise the object doesn't snap when moving. This way we don't have to snap everything to everything, because we know one of the points the user intends to snap. If someone could give me some pointers about how to implement it, I could work on this, because it's the only feature that I found really lacking when I switched to Inkscape from Corel DRAW.* I like my drawings to be perfectly aligned :) Regards, Krzysztof Kosiński *) fortunately the ability to easily specify alpha for gradient stops was more important :) -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Corel-DRAW-like-Snapping-tp22007175p22007175.html Sent from the Inkscape - Dev mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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fonts & printing to pipes questions.
by stuart 15 Feb '09

15 Feb '09

Hi... I tried to search through the forum but I'm a newbe w.r.t. the proper terms and had trouble with my key words. Going on, at one point I remember being able to cut from inkscape sessions which included text objects. But now it's not working. I think the problem is with the post script files generated by inkscape. I am using a (little known?) utility called graphtecprint that I've modified for my own purposes. I am familiar with what it can do. Looking at the inkscape generated post script output I am sure graphtecprint can not handle a section of the post script file which starts with "/sfnts [". This is followed by several thousand bytes of what looks like pure hex (in ascii format). What I need are the cutting commands! I need inkscape to output instructions to cut the letter "A" just like it outputs instructions to cut a box or a circle. ---------- Another subject, printing to pipes. This feature saved me a lot of time and made placing utilities like graphtecprint between inkscape and the physical world easy. With out the inkscape printing to pipes feature I have to first print to a file. Are there any plans to put this feature back into inkscape? ...thanks

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Unable to convert "14,800000" to number
by the Adib 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

I get this error when I use the filter effect drop-shaddow using the dx, dy spin-control. g_ascii_strtod does not convert correctly. reding src/fixes.cpp it states: /* * until 2004-04-22, g_ascii_strtod could not handle having a locale-based * decimal separator immediately following the number ("5,4" would * parse to "5,4" instead of "5.0" in fr_FR) * * This is the corrected function, lifted from 1.107 gstrfuncs.c in glib */ So the question is: how to convert strtod locale independent? Adib. ---

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Themable icons wiki page
by Krzysztof Kosiński 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

I created a new wiki page that lists all the icons used in Inkscape and their proposed names. http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/Themable_icons It would be great if someone could send me the Tango theme for Inkscape as discrete 24x24 PNGs, or a monolithic SVG with IDs corresponding to the icon names in that list. Regards, Krzysztof Kosiński -- View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Themable-icons-wiki-page-tp22004008p22004008.html Sent from the Inkscape - Dev mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

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Re: [Inkscape-devel] Tango icons as default set
by Guillermo Espertino 13 Feb '09

13 Feb '09

worms invasion wrote: > Well, re. the proposed Tango icon set for Inkscape... I do NOT want to be "forced" to test the Tango icons - let alone to be forced to use them. I hate the Tango icons. :-) The same argument that Tango people has: We hate that set, we don't want to be forced to that. > The main reasons are: > - they are unreadable, "undecodable". > I do not need to use a magnifying glass to "decode" the current (non Tango) icon set, the icons are "sharp" and "clear". Compared to them, the Tango icons are... "wtf?... which icon is that...?" I do not want to lose time wondering each time I need to click on an icon (and it happens quite a lot in Inkscape, because I don't use the shortcuts or F-keys). Honestly, I hardly *see* the Tango icons. Some of the current Tango icons need some contrast tweaking, that's right. Plus the non-black outlines give less contrast than black lines, but the problem with black and dark/black themes is an issue. Anyway, I don't think they are unreadable, undecodeable or that you need a magnifying glass to see them. > - they belong to the Linux world. They're intended to be multi-platform. Just as Inkscape and other free applications. Using an icon set created for that purpose is consistent to a free, open source, multi-platform program. Other people can argue that free software belongs to linux world and you shouldn't use it in Windows :-) > - I do not use any other "free" software which uses the Tango icon set, such as The Gimp or..., so I don't care about "being used" to seeing such or such icons. That's your point of view. You don't care, and since it's not your concern you don't consider if others do. I don't want to bring such discussion to the list, but I'd like to know why people is using inkscape? Just because it's free of charge? It's also free (libre) software, and a lot of people cares about that. Being part of a software movement that's created in a collaborative way implies to have a goal and work to make it happen. There are people who sees inkscape just as an application that costs nothing, but others see it as a part of something bigger. Theme changers are quite common in shareware/freeware apps for windows, so I don't think that would be a big deal if we put Tangos as default and let people change it back to the current set if they don't like it. That would be enough for them (they won't be forced to Tango) and would be nice for people who prefers Tango because they fit with the other free apps. In my honest opinion, for people who sees inkscape as a freebie, a UI option for changing the icon set will be enough. I don't want to make a political discussion about this, and I'm not saying that you are that kind of people (i can't speak, I don't know). > - I believe each application can have its own style, its own icons. I hate the "applications on a platform must all look alike" concept, it's sterile, it's boring, it's dull. Of course, and nobody denies that, and that's why we need an easy way to change icon themes from the preferences. You're talking about what you hate and what you'd love, what would be amusing, bright and happy and not a technical reason. People who back up Tango icons ask them to be default for technical reasons, not just personal preferences -A normalized icon set with clear design guidelines -More care about details (pixel alignment, for instance) -An unified look between free design applications -Better look in dark gtk themes. If the current set would cover most of these topics (well, the unified look with other apps wouldn't be possible) I bet most of the Tango people would find it acceptable and a easy icon theme changer in the preferences would suffice. > So, my user opinion is: if the Linux users are masochists and want to have Tango style icons for Inkscape, fine, give them a GUI to switch to Tango icons. Again, just change the "Linux" word for "Windows" and change the Tango word for "current" and that's the way I see it. This is matter of personal taste. I'd prefer to talk about technical reasons. Gez.

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Verbs
by Felipe Sanches 11 Feb '09

11 Feb '09

I dont really understand perfectly how verbs work. So, I would like my code to be reviewed. Could anybody review these verbs and related code, please? /* Color management */ SP_VERB_EDIT_LINK_COLOR_PROFILE, SP_VERB_EDIT_REMOVE_COLOR_PROFILE, /*Scripting*/ SP_VERB_EDIT_ADD_EXTERNAL_SCRIPT, SP_VERB_EDIT_REMOVE_EXTERNAL_SCRIPT, JucaBlues

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Checkboard background
by Yann Papouin 11 Feb '09

11 Feb '09

Hi, I would like to try to add a chessboard background to the background canvas. Can you tell me where it could be drawn? I think it is at the same place where the pages border are drawn. Yann.

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Blur slider inserts feBlend???
by bulia byak 11 Feb '09

11 Feb '09

Since recently, adjusting a blur of an object in Fill & Stroke not only adds Gaussian blur but also a feBlend. Do you have any idea of who added this and for what reason? I think this is a bug and must be fixed. -- bulia byak Inkscape. Draw Freely. http://www.inkscape.org

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Supporting Inkscape Development
by Tavmjong Bah 11 Feb '09

11 Feb '09

Hello, I have received an email from someone who is using Inkscape professionally in his company. He would like to support the Inkscape project but his company doesn't allow him to directly donate money. He is required to purchase something. He has pointed out that the Blender project (www.blender.org) has a shop where part of the proceeds go to support Blender. Is there interest in creating a similar Inkscape shop? Tav

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