Crashing

[cc]

Hello! While working in Inkscape over the last few days I have experienced several crashes... One using the "TWEAK" Tool on 'Duplicate Objects' with SHIFT key, One while working in the "NODE" Tool, & One (just now) while working with the "TEXT" tool while moving NODES. Inkscape keeps crashing & I get the following ⛔️message:

"Inkscape encountered an internal error and will close now.
Automatic backups of unsaved documents were done to the following locations:
/Users/macbookpro/Desktop/Jr.svg.2019_01_29_16_23_48.0.svg
/Users/macbookpro/New document 1.2019_01_29_16_23_48.1.svg

Sometimes it's saved Automatic backups but sometimes Inkscape has not saved any... (Even though under Preferences (Shift+Ctrl+P) > Input/Output > Autosave --The box for 'Enable autosave (requires restart)' is checked & had been, I believe by default.

I am using Inkscape V: 0.92.2 on (as you can see) MacBook Pro, OS High Sierra 10.13.6, (Retina)
And sometimes when attempting to close the ⛔️message window, it would not do anything, necessitating a force close of Inkscape.


Help! What am I doing wrong? What can I do to not crash Inkscape!! Thank you!

[phiscribe]

I don't have an idea about the crashes.  But in preferences under input/output autosave, it might be worth enabling it while your having these crashes.  The default settings are to save every 10 minutes 10 deep.

[brynn]

How large of a file is this which is crashing?  Has 0.92.2 been working well otherwise, or do you have these crashes in a lot of different files?

If the file is in the MBs in size, as opposed to KBs, the crashes are probably related to your file size challenging the amount of RAM on your system.  This article/tutorial gives some tips for avoiding performance issues, or continuing to work in a file which already has performance issues.

https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=35

If the file is not really very large, we'll have to investigate further, and would need to see the SVG file.

[cc]

@phiscribe TY, however my 3rd paragraph, beneath the Error Message, states 'Enable autosave' IS checked & had been. It's WHY I mentioned SOMETIMES Inkscape saved, sometimes it didn't. For now my issue ISN'T work loss, learned LONG ago, SAVE & OFTEN, my concern is w/ the often occurring Crashes.


Hi @brynn, TY for responding! REALLY, w/ Graphic files? Mine are usually in the MBs, for what I do, (designing 2d footwear, handbags, packaging, logos, branding, etc., etc.) Not HUGE MBs, don't often have animated gifs, but sometimes...

I know from AI & PS to: have few Embedded Images or none, keep Nodes minimal (smoother anyway). I sometimes use filters, gradients, but again I'm mindful of these (regardless software). I use extensions: svg, png & jpeg. I'm accustomed to layers, use often, & delete unnecessary ones. I often work w/ View > Display Mode > Outline/Normal. Btw, Crtl+5 doesn't work w/ the 5 above R & T, IS there a Toggle for Laptops SANS Number Keypads? Or a way to make one, I've tried but couldn't get it to work.

Idk what 'unused defs' are?

And these crashed files are: 879 KB, 650 KB, 647 KB, 125 KB,? Just files I use to test different tool effects on, not my MAIN work files. Though I often have 2 files open together. I have 8GB of RAM, not tons, but according to the link --plenty, no?

I will keep reviewing the page link to see if this has other ideas to help & perhaps close out some other programs I have opened. Thanks again!

[brynn]

Hhmm, possibly I should edit that little article.  A couple of new versions ago, developers changed the name of File menu > Vacuum Defs, to File menu > Clean Up Document.

The only thing I know for sure are defs are gradients.  I know a lot of other things are defs, but I don't remember what they are.  Maybe markers are defs too, and I think patterns.....ummm, filters, I'm not sure if they are defs.  But if you've been doing a lot of editing, especially trial and error, and you've tried for example 10 or 15 different gradients or patterns or other whatever other defs, and even if you've deleted most them from the canvas, they still might be remaining in the XML.  So Clean Up Document removes all the defs that are not being used in the file.

We sometimes hear from people with a problem like you describe....and even worse, sometimes they've lost most of the file contents in the crash.  We'll instruct them to use Clean Up Doc, and it removes numbers as high as 500 or 800 defs!

But it doesn't sound like you're in the same boat.  It sounds like you're on the right page, with good working practices.  The files aren't all that large, you have a good amount of RAM.  2 files open at once should not cause a problem.  Over 10 files might, I guess.

If you'd like us to have a look at some of the troublesome files, we'd be glad too.  We might be able to identify some triggers that are less well known.  I'm wondering if you might have some pref enabled which is affecting all your files, and maybe it's in the background and you forgot it was there.

Oh, well there's one recent....well, I still think of it as new, but it's been around for a year or 2, I guess.  Objects menu > Objects, which is the Objects dialog.  Keeping that open all the time puts a big strain on even files as small as yours.  I guess I need to update that little article....   Anyway, we usually recommend to open it only when you need it, and then keep it closed otherwise.  (I think developers are planning a fix for that.  Not sure if it's being worked on yet, but I think I heard something about it.)

Another thing that I finally picked up on for myself.  I find if I'm working at a fast pace, sometimes Inkscape just can't handle it.  Sometimes I have to remember to just slow down and let Inkscape take a breath.  Especially extensions, at least for me, seem to need a little more "space".  (Not the export extensions, but the ones that create/render, or edit paths.)  And filters definitely need a slower pace.

Anyway, we'd be glad to examine some troublesome files, if you like.

Re the 5 key, mine seems to work ok (I'm on Windows).  You've made the necessary changes for Macs, right?  Re the Alt key, and I think Ctrl is affected too.  Info here:  https://inkscape.org/learn/faq/#mac-os-x-specific-issues

You can change a lot of the key shortcuts, and customize them for yourself.  Is that what you meant, when you said you tried and it didn't work?  See Inkscape Preferences > Interface > Keyboard Shortcuts.  It's not entirely obvious how to use that page.  Have you been able to change other keys successfully?

[cc]

Hmm, I'm not familiar w/ defs nor 'Clean up Document' (I see it, just didn't comprehend its use) but will start to use it. Ah, well I'm quite versed in AI & PS so I learned my lessons about files crashing & losing content & try NOT to lose content, when possible.

Thank you so much but unfortunately, I don't even keep these files, as I use them for training with effects so if it crashes I open a new one (& trash the old, IF saved) figuring perhaps the file's corrupt?! But I will keep that in mind for the Future to share the issues here, ty.

Per Objects > Objects... honestly Idk enough about that feature to ever use it, so that panel's never been open for me. Tell me are the panels last opened when Quitting out of Inkscape the ones that will OPEN next time you open Inkscape App or a new page/file?

Ah, yes, sorry for my misunderstanding of the term "Extensions" (I'm not very technically advanced)... but true, about Filters/Gradients/Tweak, etc. needing time to generate, I will be more mindful of that, thank you (& for clarifying)!

Per the 5 key, it would work on a REGULAR keyboard for Mac too (or so I believe,) w/ a R. side number keypad, or if a laptop had a Numbers Keypad (e.g. Calculator style) but w/ the numbers horizontally across the top, above R&T, Ctrl+5 doesn't work. (Nor Alt+5, Shift+5, Command+5, FN+5, or Ctrl+Alt+5, I've tried a bunch of combinations to no avail.) "Emulate three button mouse" is off/not selected, I haven't an issue using ALT anywhere else but w/ the Numbers up top, I assume since it's not a KEYPAD (Calculator style) it's not coded in that way. Likewise "Option keys send Alt_L and Alt_R" is selected, btw I believe these WERE by default.

Though per Inkscape Preferences > Interface > Keyboard Shortcuts, I SEE: Toggle Ctrl+5 Toggle between normal & outline display modes, & I see "Adobe Illustrator (adobe -illustrator-cs2.xml)" & hit Reset, which switched from +5 to +Y, it WORKED, THANK YOU. Is there a way to make that my Default Preference, instead of doing these steps each time Inkscape is Reopened? 🤞

YES, re: Window Alt = Mac Option (NOW Apple even prints ALT on the Option keys) &  X11 uses 'Control' instead of 'Command' (YEA! Hadn't known I can switch that to Command!! The CTRL is so far & Hard on the L THUMB & Hand! But I DID the switch w/ Xmodmap! OMG, THANK YOU, so much, it's HEAVENLY using Command Key again!! YES, customizing Keyboard Shortcuts is what I meant. I followed a tutorial showing how to create personal Keyboard Shortcuts, but it didn't seem to take, not with the keys I tried to use. No, that's the only one I tried to change, only because it wouldn't work with my keyboard.

[brynn]

Tell me are the panels last opened when Quitting out of Inkscape the ones that will OPEN next time you open Inkscape App or a new page/file?

They can be, if you set your preferences that way.  See Inkscape Preferences > Interface > Windows > Dialog Status (You might like to set Window Geometry as well?)

Though per Inkscape Preferences > Interface > Keyboard Shortcuts, I SEE: Toggle Ctrl+5 Toggle between normal & outline display modes, & I see "Adobe Illustrator (adobe -illustrator-cs2.xml)" & hit Reset, which switched from +5 to +Y, it WORKED, THANK YOU. Is there a way to make that my Default Preference, instead of doing these steps each time Inkscape is Reopened? 🤞

Hhmm, you're welcome, but I thought they were permanent.  Actually, I'm not a big key shortcut user, and I had never noticed the dropdown menu at the top with Shortcut Files.  I guess that makes the shortcuts act like those in the other programs in the menu?

I would think those would be permanent, until you change them again.  I don't know.   Maybe someone else knows that answer? 

[cc]

The Window Geometry is already set to: "Save & Restore Window Geometry for Each Document", "Save & Restore dialog Status" IS selected, so that means these windows WILL always popup upon opening Inkscape, correct?

Hmmm, not sure now... the first FEW times I fully closed & reopened Inkscape, I had to REDO the Keyboard Shortcuts each time. I closed out for a bit but now as I came back to test it again & it HAS been saving it with the Adobe preferences & opening with those as default? Maybe it IS permanent?! Fingers crossed!

As for me, SHORTCUTS were always a (lifesaver or at least a) Time Saver in AI & PS. Learning them here helps too, though changing to the "Adobe" shortcuts, seems to have changed all the TOOLS (e.g. Selector, Nodes, Tweak, Square/Ellipse, Bezier, etc.) to DIFFERENT Keyboard Shortcuts, oddly most are NOT the Adobe Shortcuts?! Although SOME stayed the same, some totally LOST a keyboard shortcut?! Is it possible change individual Shortcuts? Or will that confuse the program?

I'm grateful for your help w/ a shortcut for the 'Display Mode Toggle' & an ez Step by Step way to switch 'Control' to 'Command' w/ Xmodmap!! Very helpful! 

[brynn]

so that means these windows WILL always popup upon opening Inkscape, correct?

I don't use that feature.  But that's my understanding as to how it works. 

If  the key shortcuts (or other pref) requires a restart to take effect, then all the instances of Inkscape need to be closed.  So if you left a file open by mistake, it might not have taken effect yet.  But hopefully now it has.

If I were a professional artist I probably would heavily use the key shortcuts too.  But just as a hobby, I use Inkscape to exercise my creativity, more than to produce results.  And remembering all the shortcuts is more of a chore for me.  I do use quite a few, but if something has a button, I usually use the button.

I don't know about the missing shortcuts or wrong keys for the Illustrator set.  I wonder if the manual has anything about this....  Hhmm, it looks like the manual hasn't been updated for this.  Those key shortcut controls in Inkscape Prefs was just added one or 2 new versions ago, and the manual hasn't been updated yet.

Hhmm, I wonder if you're supposed to either have, or download the adobe-illustrator-cs2.xml file?  Or does Inkscape already have it ready for us?  I don't really know.

Ohh, well for me, with the Inkscape default set, a lot of the shortcuts are missing.  For example, in the Extensions category, only about 5 or 10% of them have shortcuts showing.  Other categories, like Edit or Selection seem to be missing 5 to 10%.

But yes, you can definitely change individual ones.  That's what I meant when I said it isn't obvious, but it sounded like you had figured it out.  Maybe not?

1 - click on the line or row for the shortcut you want to change, so that it's highlighted
2 - click on the shortcut's text in the Shortcut column
3 - the shortcut's text will change to "New accelerator" (which is what makes it less than obvious - "accelerator"? really??)
4 - type the new shortcut that you want  (I'm not sure if you're supposed to type the plus sign "+", or if you should press the keys just like you would actually use them, which in actual use, you don't type the +)
5 - I don't remember if you need to press enter after typing the shortcut.  Enter might end up closing Inkscape Preferences dialog.  But it should be easy enough to figure it out.

Sorry I misunderstood before.

[cc]

Gotcha, perhaps I HAD left something open, unaware I had? IDK? So long as it's working w/out my going in to change every time I use Inkscape!!

You do get used to the same shortcuts --repeatedly used. 

Oh Brilliant, NO, I wasn't clear on what exactly to do, I had found the adobe-illustrator-cs2.xml & merely selected that file, but that was all. Btw cs2? Meaning Creative Suite 2, wow, that's a while ago... regardless if it works!! And just selecting that file DID provide some of the Adobe shortcuts but lots were missing, & I didn't realize HOW to change or ADD the remaining, TY for that! So far I just put in the ones for TOOLS. As I go along, see a need I may add more but these were the most important ones for me. Now I'm setup with Custom Keyboard Shortcuts, including the Display Mode toggle AND I have a working COMMAND (vs Control) key set up as well!! Makes having those crashes worth it for ALL your help!

While I think of it, is there a way to NOT view these messages, such as: "Handle to Cusp Node", "Handel to Corner", "Handle to Guide", "Guide Origin to Guide Origin" etc.? Can those be turned off? I tried playing w/ SNAP in "Doc Properties" (Ctrl+Alt+P) & in "View > Show/Hide > Snap Control Bar", but found nothing helped. See pix attached...

[brynn]

Yes, that is indeed the snap indication that you're seeing.  There are a couple of ways to deal with that.

If you don't need snapping for the moment, you can disable it.  The very top button of the snap control bar (along the right side of the window), globally enable/disables snapping. So if you disable snapping, you won't see the indicator, because nothing will try to snap.

If you still need snapping, you can leave it enabled, and just disable the indicator.  Note that you won't know whether the right object snapped to the right target, without the indicator.  But with some experience, I've found I can usually do without the indicator.  If you notice on the canvas, when you drag something, a dot shows up on one snap target on the object you're dragging.  That tells you which target is about to snap to something else.  And if you watch when you're about to stop dragging something, that dot flashes again when the snap happens.  But it does take some experience to feel comfortable with that.

To disable the indicator, Inkscape Prefs > Behavior > Snapping > Enable snap indicator.  Uncheck that box.

Snapping is a complex feature, much more than most people realize initially.  It really took me a couple of years asking questions and learning about all the controls, before I felt like I really could control snapping more than snapping controlled me!

Anyway, in my experience, it's best to have only the snap options enabled which you need for each movement.  If you have every snap options enabled in the control bar, then everything wants to try to snap to everything else.  To me, it's pure chaos!  So if you need to snap, for example, bounding box corners, for the next move that you're planning, then enable that option, and disable everything else. 

Yes, I'm accessing the snap control bar for almost every move, when I'm working on a complex project.  There is a general setup for the snap control bar that I use, which gets me by for most things that I need, while providing support or small projects.  But once the canvas becomes heavy with contents, I'm changing that control bar with almost every step I take.

And you'll learn what your own personal prefences are, as you get more and more experience.  For myself, I almost never use the bounding box snapping options.  I tend to be extremely path/node oriented as I work.  Often I'd rather edit paths than use booleans or other more advanced features.  But that's just me.  And what I snap most is nodes to nodes.  With that, I watch for that dot, and I can easily know what's happening, without the indicator flashing all the time.

I think for new users, the bounding box snapping might be easier to use and understand.  But with experience, your preferences will grow and change over time, too.  And eventually you'll find your favorite setups.

[cc]

Yes, I recognized those messages to be the SNAP effect & I wish to keep it enabled since I use, appreciate the Snap effect, I find it very helpful.

I just need not see its message via ...every ...move ...I ...make! (Realizing some may prefer that indication.) --Oh I missed the: Inkscape Prefs > Behavior > Snapping > Enable snap indicator... Got it, Thank you!

Also when moving objects if you slow down, you can almost FEEL it constrain as it Snaps to another object, so I'm fine without viewing the indicator message.

I now haven't ANY Snap options selected in the Preferences, (again TY for showing where that was tucked away). In Doc Properties, for 'objects, grids & guides', I use 'Snap only when closer than: I like more control so I went for 10 (guessing those are POINTS, there's no indication of WHAT the distance measurements are?) & under View > Show/Hide I leave the Snap Control Bar showing... w/ 'Snap: Nodes, Paths & Handles', 'Snap: Cusp Nodes...' & 'Snap: other Points', selected for now, (those may even be default,) but I can play with as needed. I've turned off Visual Bounding Box immediately into Inkscape, never used or had an appreciation for it in AI, & hadn't a use for it in Inkscape either. Agreed, it is a bit chaotic with all items attempting to Snap to everything! Like a magnet!

Thank you so very much for ALL your help... your wealth of Inkscape knowledge has saved me a lot of time & is enlightening to say the least.
 

[cc]

Hi Brynn, Sorry, I don't mean to keep you this busy.

I am doing something incorrectly, --maybe I need to just shut down my computer.... I have been messing around with Doc Properties > PAGE, attempting to change 'Display Units' & Custom Size 'Units' which are currently set to Inches for both. I keep changing one or both units to POINTS, close Doc Properties, close fully out of both Inkscape & X11, then relaunch, open up Doc Properties & these units of measure are both set back to Inches again? Is that not meant to be a permanent change?

Pls know my end goal is to be able to set STROKE (within FILL & STROKE) to POINTS instead of Inches, as my custom default. Currently each time I open Fill & Stroke, the Stroke default is: 'Width' 0.010  IN. But what I'd like is for the Stroke default to be set at: 'Width' 1.00  PT. Is this possible without changing ALL units of measure to Points? Or IF one unit of measure is changed, then all units of measure are meant to change? Thanks again.

[brynn]

Oh, don't worry.  I like helping!  I like seeing users grow and learn more!

If it's only the stroke units that you want to change, you can change those right next to where you change the stroke width.  (If it was a snake, it would have bitten you!)  And it only changes the units right there in that dialog.  But it doesn't change them anywhere else.

For example, if you use the Style Indicator section of the status bar, which is the bottom-left corner of the window, where it shows the fill and stroke and a lot of other stuff, for whatever is selected.  The tiny number at the right end of the Stroke color is the stroke width.  But I just tested, and if I change the units of the stroke in the Fill and Stroke dialog, the units in the the bottom-left corner are still showing the document units (inches for you).

Oh, interesting.  Right-click on that tiny number on the right end of the stroke color, and in that menu which comes up, you can change the units there too.  So that will solve that little problem!

I'm not sure why changing the units in Document Properties doesn't stay changed.  Is it possible you've created a custom default document at some time in the past?  If you have it defined in the default document, it will keep reverting when you open a new document.  It would stay changed in whatever document you were using when you changed it.  But as soon as you open a new doc, it will change back.

If you do have a custom default document, you'll need to edit that document, to keep the new stroke units.

Now that you mention PT units, what is that?  I thought you meant pixels, but I just noticed that "pt" is in all the unit menus.  But I'm not sure what it is.  When people talk about points or dots, I always assume they mean pixels.  But I guess not.  What kind of unit is pt?

[Moini]

Document properties are per document. If you need a different default document, learn about creating your own custom template:
https://inkscape.org/en/learn/faq/#how-create-custom-document-templates

[cc]

Well, thank you Brynn, I appreciate your help!!

Sorry, I wasn't clear... I know how to change the Stroke units from within the "Fill & Stroke" dialog box, AND even by (Right Clicking or) '2 Finger Click & Hold' on a Mac, in the bottom left corner. What I'm looking for is WHERE may I CHANGE Stroke Units for a Default setting, --so every time I launch Inkscape or open a new page I don't need to reset Stroke from Inches to Points within the "Fill & Stoke" dialog box. Hopefully, that makes more sense.

PT = POINTS, they're a PRINT unit of Measurement vs PX = Pixels, a SCREEN unit of Measure, but no, PT & PX are not the same units of measurement.

Yes, (thank you also Moini,) I actually HAD (earlier on) created my own custom "default.svg" template. I did research to learn how to do this myself & found this incredibly helpful, old but still quite viable video:



Per my file, I was able to find it by going here: Applications > Content > Resources > Share > Inkscape > Templates > default.svg > Which I then OPENED as an Inkscape file, made changes to fit my custom Default settings requirements, including opening the "Fill & Stoke" dialog box, drawing a spiral, setting STROKE to: "Width: 1.00 PT", then deleted my spiral (so I have a fresh, new BLANK canvas each time) took notice that the Stroke box grayed out but still showed "Width: 1.00 PT", SAVED the file (to the same place) quit out of Inkscape/X11, relaunched & MOST ALL changes remained to my custom setting specs, but NOT Stroke unit of measure, nor my scaled screen size of 71%? Each & every time I've attempted this the Stroke setting automatically reverts back to the Original: "Width: 0.010 IN", & screen size initially opens at 71% but by the time it fills my screen it also automatically reverts back to the Original size of "165%", a tad too large for my screen. Regardless of how many times I've done this.

Which is why I thought to ask my question in here because I had created a personal default.svg but this does not keep ALL of my setting specs as I would like. Any thoughts Moini?

[brynn]

Hhmm.....  That tutorial has you save the default doc in....not exactly the wrong place, but not the best place.  Have you upgraded Inkscape since you created your first default doc?  If so, you might not be opening that custom doc anymore.  And even though you may have re-saved it, just now, it still might be saving in the old Inkscape version.

Inkscape Preferences > System > User config, shows you the best place to save your default doc.  When you get to that directory, save the default doc (default.svg) in the templates folder.  When you put it here, you don't have to remember to move it into the new version, every time you upgrade.


If that doesn't fix the problem, the only other way I can think to put the stroke units in a default doc would be to change all your tool styles' stroke widths.  Then as you're drawing, the widths are automatically drawn at the width you want (and with the units you want).  Here's a lilttle tutorial for changing the tool styles, in case you don't already know how.

https://forum.inkscapecommunity.com/index.php?action=articles;sa=view;article=15

Or else maybe  Moini knows another way?

[cc]

This video tutorial is done w/in windows PC, I'm on a Mac, so I actually had to search around to find my default.svg file. Obviously, files wouldn't be in the same place on a PC as they are on a Mac.

This youtube'r says to just "Save" the file, I actually do a "SAVE AS" placing it back exactly to where I found it on my computer, which was: Applications > Content > Resources > Share > Inkscape > Templates > default.svg.

Yes, I have upgraded from 0.91 to 0.92.2, however, I created a new default.svg for 0.92.2 as well, (as I've become more acquainted with Inkscape's controls, etc. I redo this to include new customized settings to my default.svg file)


Per your line here, as where to place this file: Inkscape Preferences > System > User config,


Pls see my attachment, Top to Bottom, Back to Front:
• 1st window IN Inkscape, shows: Inkscape Preferences > System > User config:    /Users/cc.macbookpro/.config/inkscape
• 2nd window IN Mac Finder/Templates, shows the above Route verbatim: Users > cc.macbookpro > .config > inkscape > templates (with NOTHING in templates?)
• 3rd window IN Mac Finder/Templates, shows where I found it: Applications > Contents > Resources > Share > Inkscape > Templates > default.svg > (with all default.svg files including those in other languages)
• 4th window (lower left) IN Mac Terminal, shows: the ONLY way to see the "Config" folder

You may know, on a Mac when a folder or file has a . in front of it (*GRAYED out, as you can see), like the "Config" folder, it's a "HIDDEN" folder, (*Apple hides folders/files so users won't accidentally trash or mess up important files,) most Mac users won't find that folder or its contents without using TERMINAL to SHOW all hidden files.

Thank you for the page on Customize Your Inkscape Tools' Styles. I went through one by one, Rectangle, Ellipse, Star, Spiral, Pencil, Bezier, etc., set up the specs for my needs, double-clicking for each preference, those I use most often were already set up with: "This Tool's Own Style", however, I hadn't known that clicking the bar w/ "Take From Selection" did anything. I'd clicked it in the past expecting a pop-up but nothing. So I specifically clicked this bar thinking this would LOCK-IN my preferences into the default file. But it did not, after a file Save As, quitting Inkscape/X11 & a relaunch, stroke reverted again back to Inches... Sigh.
 

[brynn]

Yes true, I'm not a Mac user, so I'm not sure about the hidden files.  I know Windows has hidden files too, and we specifically have to instruct users how to unhide, so they can put the files in the right place.  But I can't speak to Mac users about that.

It's common that the templates folder in the user directory might be empty.  Sometimes users don't even find a templates folder, and have to make one!  Inkscape doesn't put templates files there, so it's not a surprise that there's not already any files there.  As far as I know, everyone puts the first files in there themselves (as opposed to Inkscape doing it).

When you set the custom tool styles, you don't necessarily have to do that in the default template file.  As far as I understand, setting the tool styles edits the preferences.xml file which would affect all document templates.

And when you clicked Take from Selection, something was actually selected, right?  And what was selected had the stroke set to the right units, right?  I'm just double-checking.  I know you've been banging your head about this.

When you say the stroke reverted back to inches, where were you looking?  It wouldn't show up in the Fill and Stroke dialog unless something is selected which you just created, with one of the tools which you just made a custom style for.  But if nothing is selected, it probably shows the document units, which is inches.

Well, if you're still striking out, maybe Moini will have an idea.

[Moini]

Please use the directory indicated by Inkscape for saving user files (anything custom, except for markers and filters).

The other path that you used, with 'share' in its path, is part of the Inkscape program, and will be lost on an update, for example - it's also really bad practice to use that, because you're modifying actual program files, which you should never do, unless you know what you're doing and are able to deal with any consequences.

Can someone please summarize the other issue for me, if it's still unresolved?

[cc]

We're even Brynn, I know less than little about Windows... I see, it is common for that template folder to be empty, got it! Well, I saved my latest default.svg in Inkscape Preferences > System > User config:    /Users/cc.macbookpro/.config/inkscape. Regardless, upon launching Inkscape, afterwards, while in the Fill and Stroke dialog box the Stroke size reverted back to INCHES, (though the size is different, albeit not the size I specked?!)

Ah, so my setting the tools prefs, won't change a thing in the default.svg, makes sense that it DIDN'T keep Stroke Unit settings then.

When I clicked 'Take from Selection', yes I had made the unit selections. But here I get confused ... within the Preferences above 'Take from Selection' I see 'Fill' above 'Stroke', to the right of 'Stroke' I see some numbers but no idea what those numbers coordinate to? E.G. Rectangle, Ellipse, Spiral, Pencil, Bezier, etc. are 1.33 (1.33 --what --inches, --pixels, maybe this isn't even relating to measurements, idk?); however Star is 0.96? I input 1.00 Point which converts to 0.014 Inches... so I am lost on what these numbers reference.

Well, if what you're asking here: "And what was selected had the stroke set to the right units, right?" --In the Fill and Stroke dialog box, YES, these all were set to the correct units. IF they are to be input somewhere in Preferences, I have no idea where.

Yes, when I say the stroke reverted back to inches, I did mean in the Fill and Stroke dialog. I HAD created a new box & what I thought I set as my custom default stroke of 1.00 Point reverted back to the original Inches setting for Stroke.

Moini, as I mentioned I now have placed my default.svg file in the  /Users/cc.macbookpro/.config/inkscape/template folder. Just fyi MOST Mac Users will NEVER, EVER find the .config/inkscape/template folder for the simple reason that Apple keeps this folder hidden. & Apple doesn't easily share how to find hidden files/folders with us mere users, it defeats their purpose of hiding them. A bit a catch 22... the Template folder Inkscape creators want users to save custom files to, Apple HIDES. Where Apples allows us to SEE Templates, Inkscape creators would rather be hidden --so we can't destroy anything.

I thank you all for the help & the education experience I'm getting here as well, but yes, setting my custom/default units of measure for STROKE in the Fill & Stroke dialog box is still unresolved.
 

[brynn]

When I clicked 'Take from Selection', yes I had made the unit selections. But here I get confused ... within the Preferences above 'Take from Selection' I see 'Fill' above 'Stroke', to the right of 'Stroke' I see some numbers but no idea what those numbers coordinate to? E.G. Rectangle, Ellipse, Spiral, Pencil, Bezier, etc. are 1.33 (1.33 --what --inches, --pixels, maybe this isn't even relating to measurements, idk?); however Star is 0.96? I input 1.00 Point which converts to 0.014 Inches... so I am lost on what these numbers reference.

The number to the right of the stroke color bar, just like in the Style Indicator section of the status bar that I mentioned before, is the value of the stroke width.  In the Style Indicator area, you can right-click on that number and change the units.  You can't do that in Inkscape Preferences.

Yes, I see what you mean.  For me, Inkscape Preferences shows the value in px.  It probably shows whatever units are set for the document (inches for you).  I think that must be a bug that the unit doesn't change, there in the Preferences dialog. 

However, after I changed the units for the stroke, for my Star tool, the next time I draw a star, the Fill and Stroke dialog shows the stroke in the new units.

I'm starting to wonder if we're seeing a new bug for Macs?  (a different bug than I just mentioned)  When I select any object, and change the stroke units, even after I deselect the object, the Fill and Stroke dialog still shows the new units.  If I select a different object, the Fill and Stroke dialog still shows the new units.  As far as I can tell, it stays changed until I specifically change it again.

Is that different for you?  Follow these steps:

1 - select an object
2 - change the stroke units
3 - deselect it

Does the Fill and Stroke dialgo still show the new unit, or does it go back to the old?

4 - select another object

What units are showing now?

[Moini]

There was a bug about setting document units in 0.92.2, I think... It has since been fixed, though, but I don't know how. Maybe we can make a default template for you, if you let us know your requirements. Who knows, perhaps that'll work.... (might not).

[Moini]

You are setting the 'Display units' in the document properties, right? Because that's the only place where this setting will be saved. All other, single changes to units in the dropdowns behind the number entry fields are temporary only.

[cc]

@Brynn, per what the Inkscape Preferences show, I figured the conversion from the 1.00 Point to Pixels, this does = 1.33 PX, so for me it's that same. But I hadn't a clue WHAT the number referred to, since Preferences doesn't show, next to these numbers any type of measurement units to know what they are, e.g. PX, PT, IN etc., or IF they are in-fact measurements.

Though pls know I had set Stroke for ALL tools, including the Star to 1.00 POINT, but the Star Stroke did not/will not register the 1.00 (point) equivalent size in PX or IN.

Upon launching Inkscape, within the same open page document, when I draw with Rectangle, Ellipse, Spiral, Pencil, or Bezier, ALL strokes are 1.33 INCHES, the equivalent size of 1.00 Point but STILL the dialog box gives me Inches, not points. I go back & select each object, change the unit to points (the width or girth visually remains the same because 1.33 Inches = 1.00 Point, fine.) So, yes while I have the page opened, these remain constant every time selected (unless I physically change the stroke size or unit).

All except Star/Polygon... even though I have stroke set to 1.00 Point from the last objects drawn. After having selected POINTS, I draw a new star/polygon and it defaults to a size of 0.720 PT, so yea, it kept the POINT unit (within the Same file) but it will not keep the width/girth size, that drops down. I select it, change it to 1.00 point, & yes the same star remains 1.00 pt. But immediately after I draw another new Star and it reverts to 0.720 pt, every time a new one is drawn on the same opened page, regardless that the last star, the last items selected all are at 1.00 pt.

I then quit Inkscape/X11 relaunched all Rectangle, Ellipse, Spiral, Pencil, or Bezier, ALL strokes are now 0.014 INCHES? Except Star/Polygon that stroke is 0.010 INCHES? Always is Star/Polygon at a smaller width/girth size, for some reason.



@Moini, oh there WAS a bug with units in 0.92.2, I think I've re-broken the fix, possibly.


Re: my setting 'Display units' in the document properties... on my February 2, Reply # 12 I asked: IF one unit of measure is changed (or set as a default), then are all units of measure meant to change, across the board, by default will all items be Inches, or Points?

Because my end goal is to be able to set STROKE (within FILL & STROKE, also fyi Font size) to POINTS as my custom default.

But is this possible without changing ALL units of measure to Points? May I set units of measurement for individual uses, for example, I use "Stroke" and "Font" sizes measured in POINTS; can I set these items for POINTS & have these be the Default setting?

While I use INCHES for "Page Size", "Ruler" (<-though sometimes Centimeters), "Measure Tool", "Rectangle" dimensions, "Ellipse" dimensions, "Star/Polygon" dimensions, "Spiral" dimensions, etc. and would like to set these items with their own Default setting for INCHES as their unit of measurement.

Is it possible for me to do or create this in a default template?