Where can I learn the vocabulary?

[Bad Hair Day]

Hi,

Brynn said to ".  Go to Inkscape Preferences > Tools, and click Geometric Bounding Box.  This will make sure that Inkscape ignores the stroke width.  "

I did Preferences / tools...  But in there I never saw "geometric bounding box".  There are a lot of options on the left part of the screen with various drop downs. 

So I googled that phrase and found this:    http://www.inkscapeforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13541 

I read that and didn't understand most of it.  I realize that there are terms that are being used that I don't understand.  I do know what a "node" is in the real world and in some engineering and mathematical contexts, but I don't feel like I have it right here in Inkscape.  And I do know what a "grid" is (and how to set up the axonomatic grid) but I have no idea what a "guide" is. 

So here are some terms that I am between "weak" and "zero" on.  Can you suggest a tutorial (or a few)?  Is there an Inkscape Glossary? 

node
grid
guide
Bounding Box
(is that different from a) Geometric Bounding Box
stroke and stroke width (I think that just means the line that is used to draw the figure, but I'm not 100% sure there aren't other bits to that definition)
path
"align a path"
Align and Distribute
snap nodes
"snap nodes and handles"
handles
"object to path"

I spent an hour or so setting up that METHex picture.  I'm hoping I don't have to start from scratch on that.  Maybe there is a way I can select all the hexes and have them line up right?  Brynn said not.  I am going to go review the notes I took on all the fantastic advice and help I got today and then start from scratch with a blank canvas and see if I can get it to work correctly right from the get go.  Or at least it'll be better than the last time. 

Thanks to everyone!  Thank you Brynn, Thank you Lady!

BHD

[brynn]

The manual is the best place to learn the terminology.  Help menu > Inkscape manual (need internet connection)  In the Quick Start section are some beginner tutorials.  That will be a place to start (if you haven't already).

When you go to Inkscape Preferences > Tools, click on "Tools" rather than the plus sign.  Then look on the right side for Geometric Bounding Box.

Did you find the video I made for you?

Edit
I'll make you another one, showing everything you need, to set up the grid manually.  You could set it up using Tiled Clones, but that would take me some time to sort out the right numbers, before I could tell you the right numbers to use.  But I'll show the process for doing it manually, at least for now.

[brynn]

Ok, here's the video with everything.



Edit
Well, I didn't think far enough ahead.  You can select all those 7 hexagons, and Group them.  Object menu > Group, or this button    Then that whole group acts like one object.

Then after you get 7 of that group, you can group that 7, and etc, etc.

If you look closely, you'll see that I showed how to add color to the path.  I didn't realize I was doing it at the time (it's kind of reflexive at this point) or else I would have exaggerated it.  But it's there anyway.

[Bad Hair Day]

I'm not hearing any audio.  Is that correct?  I like how you pause for the toolbar tips so I can read them, and pause as needed.

You drew the hex yourself!  LOL  I kept using the Inkscape draw tool.  I should have known- if you want precision, do it yourself... 

Still Watching and Eternally Grateful,

BHD

[brynn]

No, I use the free video program so there's no audio.

There still are some various tips that could help you, but I don't know if you'll necessarily need them.  But just keep asking if you need something.

[Bad Hair Day]

I followed your video as exactly as I could.  Your "Bezier Pen" was selected to "draw straight lines."  I had to switch to that. 

My only hang up is that in order for me to have the hex be 1.000000 cm in height I have to have the line thickness (sorry: correct term is "stroke style width") set to 0.0 mm thick.  As soon as I give the stroke any actual thickness, then the height of the hex on the grid is off by a few hundreds, 1.007cm, and the bigger the stroke thickness the bigger the height. 

That sounds like a set up issue somewhere, I just don't know where. 

I am finally getting close, I can feel it!  But given the way I see things getting slow, I don't expect I will be able to have all the map in one file.  I have 8 GB of onboard RAM, but even if I quadruple that (and I don't know that I could on this laptop), I don't think that'll be enough.  I'll cross that bridge when I get there, though. 

[brynn]

My only hang up is that in order for me to have the hex be 1.000000 cm in height I have to have the line thickness (sorry: correct term is "stroke style width") set to 0.0 mm thick.  As soon as I give the stroke any actual thickness, then the height of the hex on the grid is off by a few hundreds, 1.007cm, and the bigger the stroke thickness the bigger the height.

That sounds like a set up issue somewhere, I just don't know where.

Remember when I suggested to use Geometric Bounding Box? That will fix the problem of including the stroke width in the measurement. 

Inkscape Preferences > Tools.  Click on Tools, not the plus sign.   Look on the right side and click Geometric Bounding Box.