Trouble with inkscape eraser

[GMcD]

I?m new to the using the program, but following the tutorials and information I?m still having trouble erasing things with the eraser.

As you can see in attached image (originally a PNG file) the eraser  is acting like a paint brush putting red over the image once I release the mouse.

In graphs (originally SVG files) I?ve imported instead of deleting the eraser creates a separate straight line!  (See attached image)  on the orange line I?ve attempted to delete a bit instead I get another separate orange line (the straight one)

It?s Driving me nuts
Can anyone Please help?

[brynn]

Welcome to Inkscape Community!

The Eraser tool seems to be a stumbling block for a lot of new Inkscape users.  In my experience, it's a bit buggy.  I feel like I can't depend on it to work every time, and rarely use it.  (Hah, really I only use it when I answer messages like this!)  Fortunately, it's sort of a redundant tool.  Everything the Eraser tool can do, can be done in other ways with Inkscape.

The red line that you're seeing is supposed to disappear when you release the mouse, and at the same time, the part you erase should disappear.  But the heart of the problem with erasing part of an imported raster image, is that the Eraser tool won't work on raster images....at least not in Cut Out mode.  In Touch mode, it will delete any whole raster image that is touched with the red line.  But it can't erase only a part.

It's possible you could use clipping, to "erase" part of a raster image.  But it depends on the specific circumstances.  It might be better to use a raster editor (such as The GIMP, Paint.net, etc.).  If you could show us the project, or describe it, we could give more direct suggestions.

For the SVG graph image, are you trying to erase part of the orange line?  The Eraser probably isn't the best tool to use, on simple lines (open stroked paths).  That's because the Eraser wants to close the path (the new straight segment).

To edit the orange line, there are a couple of ways to go.  One (and probably the best) is using the Node tool.  Here's the manual info on node editing:  http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths-Editing.html  I could give you specific steps, if I know exactly what you want to do -- break the line into 2 pieces, or just make it shorter on one end.

The other way will allow the Eraser tool to work.  However, it will make it much, much harder to edit that line, in the future.  Select the line and do Path menu > Stroke to Path.  Now the Eraser will work!  But again, if you ever need to edit that line in the future, it will be quite hard to do.

Without seeing the actual SVG file, it's hard to suggest the best approach.  But I hope I've answered your questions 

[GMcD]

Hi Brynn,
thank you for taking the time to answer this for me, it's much appreciated.

basically with the graph file I was looking to erase about half of the orange and green lines (where they are at zero)- as there was no data for them to put against the columns and as it stands its a bit misleading

the SVG file allows un-grouping so I can isolate these lines but as already stated the damn eraser tool just makes the original line squiggly and adds a totally new straight line! (As seen in image #2)

I'll follow up on your suggestions on the node tool and see how that goes.

Image #1 was just a mock up to show what happens with these red lines when I use the eraser tool. 

thanks again.

Regards
G

[brynn]

It's interesting how you experience the red line just staying in place, as if you had drawn it.  For me, with relatively low RAM (for Inkscape) (4 gb), sometimes there is a brief delay between releasing the mouse button, and the red line disappearing, along with the  erased part.  If you had even lower RAM, and the file was large, so that there was more-than-a-brief delay, it might seem like the line had been drawn.

When I try to erase in Cut Out mode, on an imported JPG, the red line disappears immediately, and nothing happens to the image.  This is with Inkscape version 0.48.5 (the current stable) on Windows.  Which version of Inkscape are you using?  Operating system?  I guess since the Eraser tool (all of Inkscape, technically) can't edit the raster image, it's probably no interest (as far as bugs) that the red line doesn't disappear.  But it does seem curious to me 

When you select the orange or green line with the Node tool, you should see the Nodes.  It's quite a simple matter to just grab a node with the mouse, and drag.  If you have any odd behavior, such as it seems to be out of your control, you might have Snapping enabled.  The Snap control bar is on the right side of the window, and the top button is the "on/off" button.

Anyway, let us know how it goes