Inkscape doesnt load under macOS XQuartz

[MyLovelyMrSingingCub]

A question for the mac-specialists:
I have been using Inkscape under macOS 10.13 with XQuartz 2.7.11 (xorg-server 1.18.4). Since a few day Inkscape doesnt start correctly and stays in the status as shown in the attachment. No Button is clickable.
Since then I have reinstalled both Inkscape and XQuartz, but the problem stays. I will be happy for every idea.
thanks
John

[brynn]

Welcome to the forum!

I'm not a Mac user.  But I have heard about similar problems, especially on Macs which are using either a dual screen or multiple monitor setup.  Or they have changed their system from landscape to portrait orientation.  Or sometimes with an unusual screen resolution.

Does any of that ring a bell?

[MyLovelyMrSingingCub]

Thanks brynn for your quick answer!
Yes, that definitively rings a bell. I resently switched to an external Monitor and I'm using it together with the internal one oft my macbook. On top of that the external Monitor has a resolution of 2560 x 1440p so this might be an unusual resolution.
The first thing is, that this setup worked fine for about two weeks and then suddently from one day to another Inkscape wouldn't load correctly. The second thing is that when I disconnect the external monitor the Problem still exists.
Beside not being a mac user would your rather think it is a bug in Inkscape or in XQuartz? Where did you hear about a similar problem, maybe I could ask them for a possible solution?
regards
John

[brynn]

Hi John,
Oh gosh.....it's just been a few messages like yours that I see from time to time (over probably 8 years since I first heard about it).  And some were on the mailing list (i.e. hard to find unless you have mad searching skills).  I can't recall exactly what the solutions were, for the others who had this problem.

I would think that putting everything back to where it was before, and of course with restarting the whole system, should fix it.

As far as I understand, a fix for the high dpi screens is coming in the next major version release.  But high dpi isn't the same thing as high resolution, is it??  I don't know about the multiple screens.  Let me search the bug tracker....

This one is on Windows:  https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/555253  Until I saw that, I thought it was Mac issue.  But if it happens on other systems, that might point more to Inkscape, I guess.  Although it's probably too complex of a problem, to minimize it like that.

This one starts out about Windows, but there are some comments about Mac issues as you read through:  https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/379463

Here's one about Macs:  https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/1110090

OH!  Jackpot!!  https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/1244397

I won't go any further after finding that one!  But for all of these, be sure and follow all the links, especially links to related bug reports.  Also, note that often fixes for a lot of bugs can be very short, almost offhand comments.  So you need to read them very closely, and follow the links.  (Developers don't like a lot of chit chat, and tend to say volumes in just a few words 

I'll have to mostly leave you on your own with those, since they are mostly over my head (plus not being a Mac user).  But if you should need more answers, I'll refer you to developers.

You can reach developers most reliably via the Devel mailing list.  Or actually, the Devel list is full of hackfest mail lately.  You might be more likely not to get overlooked, if you post in the User mailing list.  Most developers monitor both lists.  There is a development IRC channel, but the person who has your answer isn't necessarily going to be logged on when you are.  Find info on both of those from here:  https://inkscape.org/en/community/

Or if it seems to fit with the discussion, feel free to ask a question or comment in one of those bug reports.

And I don't mean to imply I won't answer you.  I'll always try.  It's just that likely I won't be much help.  But definitely ask and I can at least point you in some direction....probably.

[PaulN]

Hi,

I observed the same behavior under macOS 10.14.
I used the Inkscape.dmg, version 0.92.2.

Do you have any news on how to fix this bug?

Best regards,
Paul

[brynn]

For the moment, you just need to use one of the techniques that are available to bring a lost dialog back onto the screen.  I think developers are working to fix it.  If you follow the links I gave above, to the bug reports, you can get the most current info.

Or you can also search the new bug tracker, which is the Issues feature in gitlab.  It seems there are 2 main places.  Here:  https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/issues and here:  https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inkscape/issues  The project has only recently switched to the new bug tracker, so I'm not familiar if any new reports are posted on gitlab.

Edit
Or if you have the right skills, you could use version 0.92.4, with the uhhh....  MacPorts, or else compile Inkscape yourself.  The problem might be fixed in the current stable version (0.92.4), although I really have no idea.

[PaulN]

Hey,

thanks a lot for your reply!

I found this problem in the bug tracker: https://gitlab.com/inkscape/inbox/issues/404.
The suggested list of commands to delete the preferences immediately fixed my problem