How to speed up Inkscape?

[Krzysztof]

Version 0.93.2. It is quite fast only after start (loaded image). Then it gets slower and slower as time passes. Is this machine not enough: Win7 x64, i5-m 2.6GHz (mobile but not ultra with reduced power), 12GB RAM.

[Moini]

Are you using the objects dialog? If so, close it, then close Inkscape. Then restart and it shouldn't slow down so much.

It might also be a different issue, if you never use the objects dialog.

[brynn]

If you're working very fast and adding contents, especially certain known contents, this can happen (separate from using the Objects dialog in a file with large number of objects).

"Certain contents" are imported raster images (depending on the size of the images, just one or 2 very large, let's say full frame photos, or 8 small ones), or if you're using a lot of filters (even a simple blur is a filter).  Or it could be just a large number of nodes.  For example, using the Pencil tool in default mode will add bazillions of node in a very few minutes!  Or a few other tools can add nodes very fast too.

Here's something I wrote to help with this problem:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=35

(I should maybe add something about the Objects dialog, to that article, since it didn't exist when I wrote it?)

[Krzysztof]

Are you using the objects dialog? If so, close it, then close Inkscape. Then restart and it shouldn't slow down so much.

It might also be a different issue, if you never use the objects dialog.

Yes, I was suggested to use the objects panel to solve problem with selecting 100% transparent objects and I have found this panel very useful. So, should I not use this objects panel because it generates serious performance decrease?

If you're working very fast and adding contents, especially certain known contents, this can happen (separate from using the Objects dialog in a file with large number of objects).

"Certain contents" are imported raster images (depending on the size of the images, just one or 2 very large, let's say full frame photos, or 8 small ones), or if you're using a lot of filters (even a simple blur is a filter).  Or it could be just a large number of nodes.  For example, using the Pencil tool in default mode will add bazillions of node in a very few minutes!  Or a few other tools can add nodes very fast too.

Here's something I wrote to help with this problem:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=35

(I should maybe add something about the Objects dialog, to that article, since it didn't exist when I wrote it?)

I don't work so fast, but taking the spec of my machine (they are not the highest one but still) the work with Inkspace becomes just unbearable - I spend more times waiting for Inkspace to end some task than working. Sometimes I just forget what I wanted to fix in drawing in this pause time. I am not working with raster images, only lines, paths, vector objects, more complicated paths.
But yes, paths can have many nodes. Groups of primitive objects can contain more than 50 small objects.
I am practically not using any filters. Only fill transparency sometimes.

There is other tool (offtopic) which behaves in similar way - Autocad 2010. But at least Inkspace takes some cpu power where ACAD freezes for long time without hogging CPU. Can't find the reason other than the 2010 is just a crap.

[brynn]

The speed of working is not really an issue, technically.  It's just that you mentioned...well, implied it was a short time before a file gets sluggish.  That just made me think you were working fast.

As far as I understand, the Objects dialog only creates a problem when there are many objects in the file.  For me, over 50 objects it becomes more trouble than it's worth.  Although others probably have more patience than I do.

For what purpose do you have more than one or 2 fully or almost fully transparent objects?  We might be able to suggest a different approach or technique.

How large of a file is this?  After a certain point, a file can simply become too large for your RAM to handle it. 

Have you tried using File menu > Clean Up Document?  If you do a lot of trial and error, like with gradients or....well, many other things, you can end up with a lot of unused data which is hogging all your RAM.

With nothing selected, click Clean Up Document.  Watch the status bar while you do it, and it will tell you how much was removed.

You're welcome to share the file with us.  Then we could tell you more specifically what the problem is, rather than guess.  Otherwise, that article I linked covers everything that can cause problems.

[Moini]

For the objects panel, I'd suggest you try out how much performance it costs on your particular system. I know it's getting worse with time, so closing and reopening Inkscape may be a solution when it gets unbearable... And not using it when you don't need it (note: it doesn't matter if you close it, you need to never have opened it in your Inkscape session). You can switch to outline mode, too, to select invisible objects.

Maybe if you can share a file, we can give more specific suggestions.

[Krzysztof]

It is no RAM issue, eventually speed of RAM more, but i don't suspect this here. Inkscape in sluggish state is taking no more than 1,5GB.
But I have seen already the case where it takes almost 12GB RAM. I don't remember if it was on 0.91 version or 0.92. I got this state after many copy/paste operations but maybe it was some memory leak issue.

In current case it just hogs CPU after each operation (move, paste, group, ungroup), and in my opinion the hogs are longer with time passes. Files are no bigger than 1MB svg. I can't quite share problematic files this time, i am doing them for someone else.
I will try to not use objects panel, and clean up document.

[phiscribe]

Though it has been some time, in the past many reported having rulers enabled slowed things down.  Maybe try it with them turned off.  Recently,some have reported using the Object Docker/Manager anytime in the session impacts performance.  I haven't noticed either.  Just suggesting something to try.  If you just have a drawing with large node counts, its just par for the course.

[Moini]

The thing with the rulers was a bug that has been fixed, the thing with the objects dialog is a bug that is still in existance. Inkscape evolves, and thus new bugs appear, and old ones get fixed. No surprise there

If you can share a *similar* file, we may still be able to help improve performance.

[brynn]

Note that for those times when you are using 0.91, the rulers could be an issue.  As already mentioned, it's fixed in 0.92.

Files no bigger than 1 mb?  Cpu, not RAM?  That leads me to think you may be using 0.91, and you're experiencing the ruler issue.

[Krzysztof]

Note that for those times when you are using 0.91, the rulers could be an issue.  As already mentioned, it's fixed in 0.92.

Files no bigger than 1 mb?  Cpu, not RAM?  That leads me to think you may be using 0.91, and you're experiencing the ruler issue.

I use both, 0.91 to solve import dxf issues, 0.92 as a main to work.
Increasing in time memory use (even up to 12GB) with many copy/paste operations seems like memory leak, where memory is not properly cleaned after operation.
I can disable ruler because i don't even use it.

[brynn]

Since we haven't seen a file, we are mostly guessing.  But if you feel like you've found a bug, please feel free to report it.  https://launchpad.net/inkscape  But you would certainly need to provide a file which is demonstrating the problem, so developers have something to look at.  Otherwise, they could only guess as well (although most likely they just would close the report).  Also be sure to include all your system stats, like you did here, Inkscape versions, and any other info that might be relevant.

You could create a similar file, which shows the same problem, in case you can't share the actual file.  Also, be sure to search first, in case it's already been reported.  Just because we (in this forum) can't remember seeing a bug like this, doesn't mean it hasn't been reported.  Most of us don't spend a lot of time with the bug tracker (some do, I guess).  And Inkscape developers rarely participate in forums, so they aren't reading this.

I can't speak for everyone.  But from what I've read, I think we've pretty much covered everything we can think of, short of having a file to look at.  If the files are as simple as it sounds, I would estimate that this would be a very reportable bug.  But I can't tell you how many times I've seen users insist the problem can't be in the file, and when we finally see a file, we find the problem.

You've mentioned copy/paste a few times.  Is there a particular reason you use that, rather than Duplicate?  I don't know if it would help, but who knows, at this point?  Maybe using duplicate would avoid the problem?

[Krzysztof]

I had to left the Inkscape for a moment so didn't check all the advises.
But You Brynn told about copy/paste and duplicate and I have observed one thing which is not strictly a bug, but annoying (for me) thing and maybe already sorted to fix.
When You duplicate an item, items or group, application gives new names to clones. For example text1156, the new one will get text1178 (any number, doesn't matter).
If copy/paste operation is used then it looks different. text1156 becomes text1156_0, the next one from previous text1156_0_1, next text1156_0_1_2 or something like that. The names are becoming longer and longer, and eventually doesn't fit in objects panel. Is this by design?

[brynn]

Since I'm not a developer, I don't know for sure.  But I would guess that it's by design that each object gets its own unique identifying number.  You can actually give objects any kind of ID you want, but I suspect if you named 2 objects by the same name, it would add _0 or something else behind it, so that it's unique.

Well, we certainly took the long way around, but you may have identified why Inkscape is running slow, as well as the reason not to make a clone of a clone of a clone of a clone, etc.  That can cause serious problems in a file, besides just slowing it down.

You should always reselect the parent object, to create a new clone.  If you need many clones, you can use the Tiled Clones dialog, and just make an array of many clones, all at once.

Also, if you need to locate the parent of a clone, you can select the clone, and do Shift + d.  Inkscape will draw a dashed line to the parent, and also select the parent.  Then the dashed line disappears.

Edit

Actually I might have misunderstood.

If copy/paste operation is used then it looks different. text1156 becomes text1156_0, the next one from previous text1156_0_1, next text1156_0_1_2

By that quote above, do you mean you're copy/pasting clones?  I'm not sure why you would do that, rather than just make another clone?  But I guess it should not cause any problems.

[Krzysztof]

Seems You didn't understand me. Duplicate generates new sets of names, short and unique.
Copy/Paste adds to existing names underline and number.
Objects panel appeared in 0.92. In 0.91 there is no objects panel and this was one of flaw of Inkscape. It was quite hard to see what objects are on drawing. I mean their names, structure and sth like that.
You want me to search for original object in big drawing? I just select the nearest one and make another one. There is no functional differences beetween clones.

[brynn]

I understood what you meant about the IDs.  The part I misunderstood was I thought you were cloning clones.

You want me to search for original object in big drawing? I just select the nearest one and make another one. There is no functional differences beetween clones.

Finding parent isn't hard. 

1 -- Shift + d points to and selects the parent
2 -- Click clone button or use key shortcut

However, I think you're fine if you copy/paste or duplicate the clone.  Just don't clone the clone.   

(Even if you do clone a clone once or twice in the file, I don't think it would cause a big problem.  But if you do it a lot, there could be problems.  It might not make a difference how the image looks, but it could make the file corrupt, or make Inkscape slow, or other problems.)

I'm still stumped on what's causing your performance issues though

[Moini]

Probably the objects dialog, plus the number of objects, plus some uncleaned defs. We will never know without being able to look at the file.

[Krzysztof]

I understood what you meant about the IDs.  The part I misunderstood was I thought you were cloning clones.

So it seems i have never made a one clone. I was doing copy/paste and duplicating, where i was thinking that clone is the same as duplicated. But it isn't. The shortcut for cloning is Alt+D which i have never used. And method with Shift+D works only on clones, not copied/pasted or duplicated.

I can confirm that turning off the objects panel made Inkspace to work much faster and less lags.