Having trouble moving selections and rotation tool is acting weird

[coachmombabe]

I'm so glad I found you all! I'm feeling quite alone in the Inkscape world. I'm very new at this and trying to learn Inkscape on my own via various tutorials. I've learned enough to make some designs, but, LOL, I'm NOT proficient! I have a goal of surface pattern design, but haven't made a good repeating pattern yet. Still don't know how to upload a drawing or watercolor yet.  Anyway, recently my Inkscape program is giving me trouble. I don't know the technical terms for it, but when I select an image and then try to move it, it breaks apart in pieces, and lags before finally coming back together. It's bogging down so badly that I just give up. Shortly before that I started having trouble with the rotation tool. Instead of simply rotating, it takes the loooong way around, like going in the opposite direction then coming back around to the intended spot. I sure hope I'm making sense. Maybe I have a computer virus? I really appreciate your input! I am looking forward to checking out the tutorials, but I think I need to get my program working properly first. Thanks SO MUCH!

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

First, if you think you might have a virus or other malware, your first step is to make sure you have a clean computer.  First make sure you have adequate security on your computer.  If you already do, then run every scan you have, and run the deepest scans - not just quick scans, but run deep scans.  If you're all clean, we can go ahead with Inkscape problems.  If you're not all clean, I might be able to refer you to a good security forum, where professionals can guide you in cleaning your computer.  It's been while since I was involved in security forums, but I could probably find one or 2 now.

Are you seeing problems with other programs?  Or other parts of your computer?  Or just Inkscape?

You can find your Inkscape version in a couple of ways.  The best way is Help menu > About Inkscape.  Depending which version you have, the version number is either in the middle of that small window, or in the top-right corner.  Or if you kept the download file (MSI, EXE or 7Z), the name of the file is usually the version.

For Inkscape, the sympton of lagging or slowness often indicates a resources problem, primarily RAM.  The file you're working on needs more RAM than your computer can provide.  Maybe your computer doesn't have enough RAM, or more likely, the file is too large.  How much RAM do you have? 

Normally we would ask you to share the file, and we can tell you what kind of problems it has.  But if you're worried about malware on your computer, I hesitate to ask you to share the file, until you're sure your computer is clean.  I'm sure you would not want to spread a virus, any more than we would want to risk being infected.

But if you're sure your computer is clean, you're welcome to attach the file here, or upload it wherever you like, and give us the link to it.

[Moini]

primarily RAM

- usually, it's a processor issue, not a RAM issue. But usually, it can be remedied.

Does the problem only show with one specific file, or does it happen even in new documents?
Did you make any changes in the preferences?

[brynn]

primarily RAM

- usually, it's a processor issue, not a RAM issue.

I'm not sure what you're referring to Moini.  I'm referring to performance issues in general, often resulting from large files.  As far as I understand, and for many years, I've been told that only a few of Inkscape's features rely primarily on the processor, such as filters.  What gives you the idea (at this early stage) that the processor could cause the reported problems?

Edit
If you search InkscapeForum, you can find many discussions about this, some going back 10 years or so.  If you have some new info which supercedes this, please elaborate, rather than just contradict.  That would allow all of us to learn

[Moini]

It's the calculation capacity, not the memory, that determines how fast something can be calculated. I think I mentioned that a couple of times, too... It's not new at all.

[brynn]

This is the first time I've heard this.  I would need to see a larger discussion about it before I change the only advice I've ever heard about it.  I have a feeling we're talking about 2 different (but related) areas of how Inkscape works.  I've always thought that RAM was related to displaying the graphics.  And calculations would be a different thing than display.  It's also possible that Inkscape is becoming more sophisticated over time, and it uses the computer differently now?

But we need to see the file before we can say much of anything for sure.

[Moini]

No. Nothing new. Just plain old calculations required for rendering. Anything that has to do with speed, usually is not an issue with memory (it can be, though, in case of a memory leak, but that's a different story). If you want to learn more about those concepts, I suggest an 'intro to computing' course or similar. I know it's hard to change one's ways, when one is getting stuck into something. Try to keep an open mind.

[brynn]

It's not a matter of changing my ways, or keeping an open mind or closed mind, or learning how computers work.  It's a matter of what I've learned about how Inkscape works.  When I learn something different, from a discussion where people are asking and answering questions, I'll share it.  I understand that you don't have time for an extended discussion.  That's fine.

[flamingolady]

And I'll jump in with a diff possibility, as mine has gotten really slow as well (I just downloaded the latest stable v92.4, and I already see some bugs).  anyway, maybe one of you can answer this - where should Inkscape download if using a 64 bit pc and where if using a 32 bit pc?  I remember a long time ago having to move the entire pgm once to make Inkscape start faster and run better/faster - but now can't remember which is right. 
If memory serves me right, seems like inkscape is inteneded for 32 bit and it worked better run in the C:\\...Pgm Files   vs Pgm files (x86), I'm in (X86) and I think that's why it's slower right now. 
So, Coachmombabe, depending on what the others above say, you may also need to move your actual pgm...  btw I'm on a very old laptop, close to 9 yrs old, and using Win 7, so everything is slow for me, lol.

[brynn]

Hhmm....I'm not sure if I've heard that - either that Inkscape is designed for one or the other, or that placing in one directory or another makes it faster.  Well I guess if it was in the wrong place to begin with, then putting it in the right place (the place intended by Windows) might help.

All I really know for sure is that the 64 bit version of Inkscape is supposed to go in Program Files.  If you install the 32 bit version of Inkscape, it should go in Program Files (x86).

If you use a lot of filters, I guess the 64 bit version of Inkscape would probably be a little faster.