I had considered editing the XML but was afraid to break something. The idea of using clones is great but the methology is so much more complicated than spacebar stamping copies... Perhaps a feature request to stamp clones rather than copies (alt-space maybe) is in order.

-Rob A.

On 12/28/07, Donn <donn.ingle@...155...> wrote:

...

stamp? Sort of an object search and replace?

You *could* start searching and replace in the XML--the SVG file is just a plain text XMLfile (from hell) :)

You would be better served by using clones. Start again. Draw your initial shape, then add another to it, perhaps under it. Group the two. Now select it and hit Alt-D, drag that away. You will see it's called a 'clone'. If you press Shift-D it will locate the original group.

Now you can edit the group and the clone(s) will change. This is why I always try to clone a group, so you have something to "go into" later on when you need more complex changes.

Also, set the colour and outline of the shapes in the group to that "?" symbol. That way you can change the colours of each clone.

HTH, \d

On Dec 28, 2007 8:47 AM, Donn wrote:

...

Perhaps a feature request to stamp clones rather than copies (alt-space maybe) is in order.

Why not make one clone and then stamp that with space?

(You can kick yourself now :) )

\d

Thanks Donn -

That works great! I also found it handy to make the first object a group, then cloned the group. This let me go into the group afterwards and replace the simple shape with more complex geometries.

Not quite as simple as "search and replace" as I have to plan ahead of time, but I can certainly work with it.

In case anyone is wondering, this is for cartography, where I can use simplified symbols on a map, then go back and change all instances of the same symbol in an easy manner.

-Rob A>