Crashing

[brynn]

I remember Tim working on that too.  I assume he just doesn't have time currently, but I don't really know.

[Moini]

GANGUS, cc: Can you check if this is correct, please:

If you've found a new Inkscape extension (or palette, document template, symbol set, icon set, etc.) on the internet, you'll need to install it in Inkscape, to be able to use it.

The directory where the downloaded files need to be pasted is slightly different, depending on which kind of system you're using. To find it, look in Edit menu > Preferences > System > User config. There you will see a path, which for example, in Windows, is C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Inkscape, on Linux it could be /home/username/.config/inkscape, and on a Mac, you may find that it is /Users/username/.config/inkscape/.

When you browse to that place, using your file manager, it may be that the folder is not visible to you, because it is hidden ( period in front of a file name makes it a hidden folder or file). In that case:

- On Windows, you can consult Windows documentation for instructions how to unhide all hidden files and folders. Or you can paste that path into Windows Explorer, to open just that folder, for just this reason (and all the other hidden folders remain hidden). It might not look like there's any place to paste that path, in Windows Explorer, but it's the first row under the titlebar. Just click there, and you will see that you can paste it in. Don't forget to change "user name" to the name you registered for your computer.

- On a Mac, to unhide files in your file browser, (since the release of Sierra MacOS 10.12.6) you can do a CMD + SHIFT + .  (that’s a period at the end).

- On Linux, depending on the file browser you use, you may need to right-click and select to display hidden folders, or you can paste the path directly into the field for the path, or there may be a specific keyboard shortcut for it.

Inside the preferences directory, you will see several folders, such as 'extensions', 'palettes', 'templates', etc. Sometimes, the folder you need isn't there yet. If that's the case, you can just create one.
...

[Moini]

Tim isn't allowed to work on it, due to his workplace not giving him permission, as far as I know. Might have changed since, but that was the original reason.

[cc]

So the windows OS is cloud based? I don't even pretend to imagine how an OPERATING SYSTEM is CLOUD BASED! That's crazy! And frankly, --what a pain, what if your internet is down, you can't work, at all!? Oh dear god, I don't even want to think about that nightmare!

Per your GOOD NEWS... YEA! I think, unfortunately reading that & comprehending what was stated in that report are very different, especially for a layperson like myself. However, I believe the gist of it was:

• Inkscape for MAC WILL Indeed continue!
• Plans ARE in play for CMYK! ALL who work with 4C Print process will be psyched!
• And it looks hopeful that more money will be sought to fund these projects (perhaps a GO FUND ME or a KICKSTARTER?)
• And the interest in diversity so not only Inkscape for Linux, but also for Mac & Windows, etc., is that right?


Agreed just because it's OPEN SOURCE doesn't mean the creators should be expected NOT to get paid for their time, efforts & talent, where's the incentive in that?
That is awesome! 


Moini, so you know I've not (yet at this point) installed any Inkscape extensions... however on version 0.92.2

• Correct the path shown in USER CONFIG is: /Users/username/.config/inkscape/

• Correct it IS hidden due to .config

• Correct, Per Gangus, I've found this works:  CMD + SHIFT + .   (to both UNHIDE & HIDE again)

• Correct, regarding what is found inside that directory... see my screenshot, for a visual showing you the path & contents. 

[GANGUS]

This thread seems to be going and going on & on….But, that’s OK with me..
Mac users are few and far between around here and it’s nice to be a part of their support, if i can be.

@ cc, as/per the main Topic, have the Inkscape ‘crashes’ eased up, or are you still having problems?

I am not an Inkscape power user at all, but I do have a couple of projects I use daily that I use Inkscape for. I update a graphical calendar weekly which is a visual picture of my home and work schedule which I display as a desktop picture on my 2nd monitor. It’s nice to be able to easily drag text objects around right where you want them and keep things organized.

As far as I understand about the Cloud, it’s not really mandatory for us Mac users to be too involved, however,  Apple does open a free, minimal storage Cloud account when you install Sierra and on up. You can use it a lot or very little. In one way the Cloud can be used like a mirror of what is on your computer and you can control how much or how little of it you want you put there.
 Say your a professional photographer and you have thousands of High-Res pictures or even movie clips. So many that you have to put them on an external drive at home. Now say you go on a business trip. Well, in stead of dragging that external drive along you just keep them all on the Cloud and access them when you get to where you are going. Your computer has all your Apps. and your in business, be it your Laptop, iPhone, iPad, etc. It could be for tons audio or midi files, same thing if you were a musician.
 So, it can be a good thing for some. I should think this applies to PC and Linux as well.
The Cloud is the Cloud. Just a monster file server in a big building, in a city somewhere.

@Moini yes, your text for installing exts’ seems quite correct to me.

Although, for the hidden files thing;
You have ‘On a Mac, to unhide files in your file browser, (since the release of Sierra MacOS 10.12.6) you can do a CMD + SHIFT + .  (that’s a period at the end).’
I would change that to ‘On a Mac, to unhide files, in The Finder, (only since the release of Sierra MacOS 10.12.6) you can do a CMD + SHIFT + .  (that’s a period at the end).’

The Mac equivalent of ‘your file browser’ should read ‘The Finder’ for Mac people.
also, if you like, you could mention  ‘On Systems before Sierra it has to be done using the Terminal App. for your specific MacOS’ (perhaps not really necessary). Up to you.
{because; there is a small but important difference between using earlier OS’s, one uses (F)inder and the other uses (f)inder. depending on the specific OS.}

I guess your getting ready to include it within the big Inkscape FAQ file and want it to be right.

@Brynn Yes, I recall that now, with Tim using the work machine for private stuff was a no no.
If I hit the lottery, I will buy him a Mac.

[Moini]

Thank you, both, cc + GANGUS! Finder it will be then. I'll update the FAQ later today.

[brynn]

When you browse to that place, using your file manager, it may be that the folder is not visible to you, because it is hidden ( period in front of a file name makes it a hidden folder or file). In that case:

Moini, that's only for Macs.  Windows doesn't have it (not sure about Linux).  Oh....actually Windows does put a dot in front of a folder name sometimes, but I'm not sure the reason.  It could be that it means they're hidden.  However, the hidden folders in this case, in Windows, don't have the period.

Otherwise, it looks good to me

So the windows OS is cloud based? I don't even pretend to imagine how an OPERATING SYSTEM is CLOUD BASED! That's crazy! And frankly, --what a pain, what if your internet is down, you can't work, at all!? Oh dear god, I don't even want to think about that nightmare!

It's not now, but it will be, starting with whatever the next version after Windows 10 is.  Being cloud based doesn't mean it needs the internet to run.  It means part of the system is in a cloud network.  I have to think it's not a part that's needed very often.  Probably there will be a temporary version of those parts on the user's computer.  At least that would be my guess.  I don't know anything about exactly how it will work, because as I mentioned, I'm jumping ship!

Yeah, nightmare is right!  Windows 10 was enough of a nightmare for me.  I tried upgrading, but it was in fact a nightmare, and I promptly went back to Windows 7.

And the interest in diversity so not only Inkscape for Linux, but also for Mac & Windows, etc., is that right?

I think "diversity" refers to recruiting more volunteers who are not Caucasian males (as is the current trend).  I'm not sure exactly what's behind that.  Being such an international community, as Inkscape's is, I think we are already fairly diverse.  But perhaps not among developers....I'm really not too sure.  It might be a desire among the larger open source community, but I'm just guessing.  (I know you probably weren't interested in that, but I didn't want to break up that item when quoting the message.)

[cc]

@Gangus, Lol, Yes, this seems to be a continual growth thread.

Per the crashes, they have either somewhat, or I'm not working at the same extent. I was testing the TWEAK Tool 'Roughen Parts Of Paths', to try to recreate Faux Fur, something I do in AI, with the WARP Tool, I believe it's the closest tool. AND of course I realize it's a toll with the math calculations but I was hoping to get the same effect. (See attached AI examples) These are to mimic what FUR would look like along the top Cuff, down along a zipper of the shaft & a pompom on a lace of footwear/boots. Tweak tool may not have the power behind it, 1) because I cannot seem to get the 'Roughen Parts Of Paths' to the heights & depths as shown with AI, 2) because after doing a bit of this it craps out & I lose the entire path itself --not a crash, while STILL in Inkscape, but my path vanishes, & I have to undo to regain my path or start again, same diff. Or 3) there are times I can't even get the 'Roughen Parts Of Paths' to work --at all.

Regarding my crashes, know that I NEVER even got as far as these AI drawings before Inkscape crashed, using Tweak, Node, Text... but so far in what I've done those crashes have subsided.

Per the Cloud, if I understood Brynn correctly, it's not STORAGE, it's the Window OS, that will be cloud-based & she seems to be confirming that... even if only part of the OS Yikes.

Yes, Apple's iCloud storage has been in play for a bit, I tend not to use iCloud too much, between my Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPods, the storage was sucked up in a NANO second (ha, ha an older iPod iPunn!!). And for Business (MOST all of my files are Vector & Raster), I've used corporate VPN's, not as public if you will. Also, I personally have HAD issues with virtual storage while traveling for business abroad, certain countries do block access to things we take for granted, & I do mean WORK related, so I tend to take a thumb drive with me as a plan B, they're plenty small physically & best to be prepared.

"The Cloud is the Cloud. Just a monster file server in a big building, in a city somewhere." <----- Just like the WWW

@Moini, you're welcome, hopefully, other Mac users will find it helpful too.

@Brynn, OHHHH, of course, YES, Programmers, Developers DO indeed tend to be Male... I never knew that until I dated one. But unfortunately, lots of industries are like that. Funny I thought it meant inclusive of different OSs! 

[Moini]

There is no cloud. It's just a fancy term for 'someone else's computer'.

[Moini]

Thanks, Brynn, for that hint. It's correct, Windows has another mechanism of marking a file as hidden than macOS and Linux do.

[brynn]

Oh yes, that mode of the Tweak tool can create massive numbers of nodes very quickly!  I'm not surprised about crashes while using that.  Adjusting the Fidelity setting might help.  But might also not give the effect you want.  Yes, it's buggy for me too.  Doesn't always want to work.  (RAM is probably the limiting factor.  But no matter how much RAM someone has, it's still possible to find or create files that challenge it.)

Are you familiar with this way to get a jagged path?  First make a lot of new nodes.  Either use Extensions menu > Modify Path > Add Nodes, or do it using the Add Nodes button.  And then Extensions menu >  Modify Path > Jitter Nodes.  I find I have more control using that method.  I can also think of a more manual way to make a jagged path, but would take more time.

As far as I understand, the cloud part of Windows will be more than just storage.  Even in Windows 10, they already pressure you to use the cloud storage....I forget what it's called, but they really push you to use it.   To me, the whole cloud thing, I mean with Windows os (not "the cloud" in general) is too Big Brother.  I wouldn't be surprised if they make it like a subscription, too.  Count me out!

[Moini]

The changes are online now: https://inkscape.org/learn/faq/?edit_off=true#how-install-new-extensions-palettes-document-templates-symbol-sets-icon-sets-etc

[cc]

Yes, understood this Tweak tool creates massive nodes, as does the AI Warp tool. But I don't know if this is a RAM thing with MY computer, I have created files like this in AI, I have since opened my AI files with these massive amounts of nodes IN INKSCAPE and have been able to manipulate them in Inkscape --no problem.

Attached are both the same single AI file opened in Inkscape where I've deleted ALL except the parts created with AI's WARP tool for 2 reasons, my designs are under NDA & those parts are much less complex, fewer nodes. But I CAN open these entire AI files in Inkscape, work in them with no crash... check out the amounts of nodes I work with here, & again this is not the entire file. One shows the work, the other shows all the NODES selected, just to give you an idea.

No, I have not tried the Jitter Nodes, but I will try to see what kind of effect I can achieve. TY.

OH so agree!! The cloud, (yes, someone else's computer) in general IS Big BROTHER! God knows WHAT they're looking at, how private it is, or WHAT they copy, lose etc.  Not a huge fan, they don't need their hands on every bit out there. Just my 2¢.

[brynn]

I don't think it's the number of nodes by itself, that causes the crash.  I've had a similar experience to you, where I can handle large number of nodes.  But it's something about the Tweak tool.  Maybe the speed of the requests it makes of Inkscape has something to do with it?  You know, how many nodes are created in single move of the mouse with that tool?  But in any case, I've had crashes with the Tweak tool, using the Roughen mode, when I didn't have especially a lot of nodes.

[brynn]

Note that I've split the last few messages here into their own topic, since it's a completely different subject than the original:  https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?topic=1616.0