Cannot save to .sif format

[PLutonium27]

I made an artwork with Inkscape, made every object to path, and broke apart all objects so that it doesn't get an error. However, I tried saving as .sif file and just 'file.sif cannot be saved' error message appears. So I just tried it again with just a simple circle, but it doesn't work at all too. Why does this keep happening? I tried uninstalling and installing again, but it doesn't work.

Does anyone know how to fix it? Also, I'm using window 10.

[Moini]

Is synfig installed?

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

Would you please share the SVG file with us?

I've been able to save an SIF file, and I don't have Synfig installed.  Of course I can't view whether the file is proper, since I can't open in Synfig.  But it was properly saved, without error.

When you tried the test with the circle, did you remember to convert the circle to path?  If not, you could try that again.  If that works the 2nd time around, I would guess there's something in the other file that's interfering in the save.

If you still can't save the SIF file.....well, I'll be stumped.  But I'll at least search for bug reports.  And cross fingers      

[Moini]

Okay - then I'd take a look into the extension-errors.log file and would try running Inkscape from the command line if that doesn't give any useful info.

[brynn]

Why would the extensions error log file help, in this case?

By the way, you can find extensions-error.log in Edit menu > Preferences > System > User Config.  Follow the path shown there in your file manager. 

I couldn't tell you to use the command line.  I tried to understand it once, but got lost.

[Moini]

Because it's supposed to log errors from extensions. FAQ item that mentions how to use the command line on Windows: https://inkscape.org/en/learn/faq/#inkscape-does-not-start

[brynn]

Because it's supposed to log errors from extensions.

Of course that's obvious by the name of the file.  But the Save As SIF option isn't an extension.  It's in the Save As dialog.

And I realize that at least one extension does simply provide a new format in the Save As dialog, without providing any extension dialog and without appearing in the Extensions menu.  But I never would have installed an SIF extension, because I don't have Synfig.  Therefore, it seems like a native feature, and not provided by an extension.

[Moini]

It is an extension. Just one that saves.
https://inkscape.org/en/develop/extensions/#extension-types

It comes with Inkscape, no need to install.
https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inkscape/blob/master/share/extensions/synfig_output.inx

[brynn]

But you understand what I'm trying to say?  If it's not in the Extensions menu, most people would think it's not an extension.

By this logic, then saving as SVG must be an extension too?

In any case, if there are any other ways where that error log can help (besides extensions and Save As formats) perhaps there should be some kind of explanation, somewhere, telling all the situations where that error log can be helpful.  Because again, most ordinary users would not think that error log would help in this situation.

[Moini]

Internally, a lot of things are extensions. There are even C++ extensions (but they don't write to that log file). I don't think saving to Inkscape SVG is one, but I might be wrong.

Saving to sif is a python extension. Some 'print to device' outputs are also extensions - but I think they can be found in the extensions menu ('send to plotter').

Any 'item' whose files can either be added to the extensions directory or that already are in it will log errors to extension-errors.log.

I think this is a bit too specific for user-facing documentation...