* Inkscape now features a complete support for flowed text:
o Creation of flowed text is simple. Just drag anywhere on canvas (except over an existing text object) using the Text tool to create a rectangular frame. After you release mouse, the frame is created and you can type text into it.
o Resizing a frame is as simple as dragging the handle in the bottom right corner to change its width or height. Drag with Ctrl to restrict resizing to horizontal or vertical. Such resizing can be done by Text tool, Node tool, or any shape tool; however, only Text tool also highlights the frame border when a flowed text is selected.
o Transforming a flowed text is straightforward. It is selected as a single object including both the frame and the text, and can be moved, scaled, rotated etc.
* Dragging with the Text tool creates a regular flowed text object whose frame is internal (does not appear as a standalone object on canvas) and rectangular. You can, however, create a different kind of flowed text: linked flowed text that can use as its frame any existing shape, including non-rectangular ones. It can also use a chain of frames, with the text flowing from one frame to the next one in chain.
o To create a linked flowed text, select a text object and one or more shapes or paths, then use the Flow into Frame command (Alt+W) in the Text menu. When two or more shapes or paths were selected, they become a chain of frames for this flowed text.
o A linked flowed text is in some ways similar to a clone. It will reflow when the frame is changed, but it is a separate object that can be moved away and transformed independently from its frame. As with a clone, when a linked flowed text is selected, you can use Shift+D in Selector to jump to its first frame (this is useful if the frame is invisible or locked).
o Statusbar description of a selected object will identify regular text, flowed text, and linked flowed text as different kinds of objects.
* Full on-canvas editing of flowed text is now possible. Just click in any flowed text object with text tool and type - the text will reflow automatically within its frame. Letterspacing and linespacing adjustments (but not manual kerns) work in flowed text as well.
* The Unflow Text command (Alt+Shift+W) converts a flowed text into a single-line regular text object, cutting its link to its frame.
* Another command, Convert to Text, also converts flowed text to a regular text object, but does this preserving appearance (i.e. all lines are kept where they were). The resulting object does not reflow anymore but it is still editable. It is recommended to use this command if you have flowed text in a document but want it to be viewable in SVG 1.1 renderers.