I work with maps in a regular basis and I have two problems. Dealing with maps always needs some tools to prepare the base of the projection, contour lines, state borders, and then to convert to the appropiate design tool. These are the two problems:
1) When I convert to SVG the map looks ready to work, but all the lines are discontinuos even that they look continuos in appearence. In other words, they are segment of lines overlapping to each other. Therefore when I select a contour line or a state border, I can not work with it unless I join all the line segments. I tried all the possible options to join to separate lines into one, but I didn't succeded. It seems that the node tool is only for the same object. Can you give me a hint how to tackle this problem?. I also want to fix the problem since the begining, I want to write a small program to fix the SVG file and convert it directly to single lines. I need your advice to do it.
2) Many times I have a closed polygon, therefore I can fill with color, put patterns, etc. (for examlpe a State line). And sometimes I have an open line that is not closed but the two end-nodes touch closed polygons (in this case the border state). I want to convert the open line to a closed polygon using boolean operators. The problem is that I have to preserve both polygons. At the end I need two closed polygons. ( I guess my boolean arithmetic is not good enough). I need some hints.
Thank you...
Roberto