Editing and grouping states on a map

[juniew]

I have a .svg map of the united states please see attached. I need to group the states according to region, please see image of region map attached. I figured out how to group the states by region in Inkscape. I have one problem, some states are divided in two. ( California, Nevada, Indiana ) . How do I split those 3 states into two parts so that I am able to group them by region?

 This seems like something that should be extremely easy but I have no experience with the application.

Any help would be really appreciated.

[Moini]

Select them, use Path -> Break apart. That will split a path into all its parts, so all islands will be separate.

[juniew]

thank you for your reply. I selected one of the states and tried what you said but that did not work. I m trying to draw a line through the state and have them separate. for example im trying to split California into 2 parts.

[brynn]

Ok, so it's really just 2 states which need to be separated, right?  Attached is a screenshot you can refer to, as I explain.

 -- enable the Pen/Bezier tool 
 -- click once on the canvas where you want the line to start (notice that the line needs to start and end outside the state borders)
 -- move the mouse over, and double-click where you want the line to end

I only guessed exactly where the new line needs to be drawn.  I don't know how specific it needs to be, and I don't see any easy way besides 'it looks pretty close'.  So if you have any further info about exactly where the new line should be, please explain.  (I can think of "some" way to make it precise, it's just not exactly "easy".)

 -- Object menu > Fill and Stroke > Stroke Style tab > Width  (it looks to me like your new line needs to be 0.01 px wide)(to match with the rest of the map)
 -- with the new line selected, Edit menu > Duplicate (or this button in the command bar ) (or there's a keyboard shortcut too)

When you duplicate, Inkscape puts the new path right on top of the original.  So you probably won't notice that anything has changed.

 -- switch to the Selection tool    and drag a selection box around the path that you can see, and it will select both -- look at the status bar to confirm (bottom edge of the window) it should say "2 objects selected of the type "Path...."
 -- Path menu > Stroke to Path
 -- deselect them (click on any open area of canvas)

 -- click on the top new path, hold the Shift key down, while you click on California (Shift key allows for multiple selection) (in case you didn't already figure it out) (since the path is so narrow, it might be hard to select - try putting the mouse over the part of the new line which is over the ocean - you'll see the mouse pointer change when it's in the correct position to select it, then just click once)
 -- Path menu > Difference

You might not notice anything yet, because the 2nd new path is partly covering it up.  But repeat the last 2 steps, except this time select Nevada instead of California.  After you Difference on Nevada, you should see the new white line between.

 -- select either California or Nevada
 -- Path menu > Break Apart
 -- repeat for the other state

Now you can select the new sections of the states, and group them as needed.

Oops, I missed Illinois!  But you can repeat the same process for Illinois.

Let us know how it goes 

[TMadisson]

Hi,
I've just done a quick search and the following link will teach you the 'principles' behind what you are wanting to do. You will have to take away those ideas and adapt it to what you need.  Hope that helps.

[juniew]

Thank you very very very much Bryan,

After 4 hours of trying I managed to get Indiana split into two by following your directions but I am unable to repeat what I did with California and Nevada.  . I get lost where you say " -- switch to the Selection tool    and drag a selection box around the path that you can see, and it will select both"  what do you mean drag a selection box around a path? I am just about loosing my hair.

Thanks so much for all your help

[juniew]

Thank you TMadisson will look at this

[brynn]

Sorry juniew.  And I see I forgot to attach the screenshot 

As you must have learned, you can click on something with the Selection tool, to select it.  But when you duplicate that path, the new path is right on top of the original.  How can you ever select the one underneath?  Well, there's another way to select with Inkscape (quite a few ways, actually, depending on your needs and goals).

Oooh, I see what the problem is.  I forgot to mention this.  For some reason, California has been grouped.  All by itself, a Group of 1.  So it has to be ungrouped first.

I've made a video showing the whole process, including dragging out a selection box.  But just in case, I'll also use text to explain.

Using the Selection tool, click on any open area of canvas, and hold the mouse button down.  While you're holding the mouse button, drag the mouse in a diagonal direction.  See how a box is being formed?  When the box is all the way around the object you want to select, release the mouse button.  As long as the box was all the way around it, it will be selected, along with anything else which happens be also be inside the box.

Since the 2 lines that you made, to divide California and Nevada are on top of each other, and you can't reach the one below -- and if you don't leave them on top of each other, the resulting white dividing line won't meet properly.  So anyway, drag a selection box around the line that you see, and automatically, the one below, which you can't see, will also be selected.

[juniew]

Brynn you are amazing!! you deserve a medal !   

Words cant express how Grateful I am . thank you soooooo much.

Your the man !! or woman if your female 

[brynn]

I'm glad it worked