Happy New Year, Friends!

I'm working on an image's paths and having trouble making very small changes with the nodes' handles. I know I can zoom in close to do this. But there are times when I need to see more of a path than is visible when zoomed in, to get a curve just right. When this happens, I have to be extremely dexterous with the mouse....which can be frustrating. So I'm wondering if there is any way to precisely position a node's handles? As far as I know, there's no way to move handles by one pixel (or any unit) at a time, is there?

So my question is -- How can one position a node's handles precisely? Like for example, can the handle's length, inclination, and/or angle of placement be somehow identified, noted or saved? Among many situations, I'm often finding that the inclination of the handles of a smooth node is perfect, and that I just need to lengthen or shorten one or both handles by a few pixels. But I can't get the level of coordination from my fingers/hand that's needed to keep the handles at the same inclination and change the length by just a few pixels, or vice versa. It hasn't happened yet, but I can imagine situations where the angle of a cusp node's handles to one another might need to be preserved, while their length or orientation is changed (or vice versa).

Ever since I've learned that the X:Y coordinates of the cursor aren't precise, I know it doesn't help to use them for precisely placing...well, anything. I can't remember the explanation I was given, but it's something to do with vector vs raster. Anyway, I'm guessing it's not going to be possible to tweak node handles by one unit at a time either. But I have to ask, just to be sure.

Thanks for your help

There are ways you can help yourself when working with handles:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... se-Handles

The right bottom cursor coordinates work just fine, it's the nature of the medium that doesn't allow turbo precision. Zoom in a lot to get higher precision.
I guess you can say it is a vector issue because vectors deal with formulas, any number is valid, while raster application are pixel oriented, half a pixel doesn't mean much

There is also a way to move handles pixel by pixel or at least something along those lines... Use grid
When the grid is on, and Nodes are made to snap, the handle ends are going to snap to the grid. Make your grid spacing 1px so when moving handle horizontally or vertically (holding Ctrl down) increments will be 1px

In addition to the tips in the link posted by prkos, look under the View menu for an option called Duplicate Window. You'll get another window on the same document; you can edit in either and changes are reflected immediately in the other. And best of all for this issue, the zoom levels are independent. You can zoom in close in one window to make tiny node changes, but keep a wider view in the other window to make sure it's right.

thanx kelan, I knew I had forgot something

Oh wow guys -- I could NOT be happier!
Thank you SO much

You can also lock the length of the handles by holding Alt. This allows you to move the mouse away from the handle, which means the moving distance per degree increases (which is basically like a lower sensitivity).

Hi again

Hey, I ran into a snag using the Duplicate Window feature. It does open a 2nd window, identical to the one I'm working on. But that's about all it is. It's the same size as a regular window, and for some reason, Inkscape windows can't be resized. So I can only be looking at one window at a time. From the sound of kelan's reply, I thought it was going to be something that I could see what I was doing while I worked on the real page; that I could see the changes I make, as I make them.

The only obvious explanation I can think of, is that I'm using v .44. But I don't know for a fact that the Duplicate Windows feature isn't supposed to work right in v .44. So I guess my 1st question would be - should I expect this feature to be functional in this version? And 2nd - If not, how do I get it to work right?

Thanks for your help, as always, and your patience

Im not sure if this feature is broken in 0.44 but I think it would have been disabled if it hadnt worked.

There is a restriction with the toolbar height but you should be able to change window size. If you're viewing it full screen just hit Resore down button in the top right corner and you'll be able to drag the edges to resize. Do that for both windows and arrange them side by side so you can see both at the same time.

btw why don't you use a newer version? 0.46 will soon be released, you can download the development version with lots of new features. If you're on windows heres where you get it http://inkscape.modevia.com/win32/

Thanks prkos

Um, I haven't DL'd the development version of .46 for a few different reasons. I'm generally not computer savvy enough to handle non-stable apps of any kind. That's probably the biggest reason, that I'm waiting for the stable release. Also, I'm presently using a dialup connection, but planning soon to get DSL. So I also wanted to wait for the faster connection to DL. And with .46 expected so soon, I just don't want to bother with .45, especially on dialup. I don't mind waiting, though. It's not like I'm a graphic artist...or artist of any kind, for that matter, lol!

So anyway -- Yes, I know that you can't resize a window when it's maximized. I'm only trying to change it when it's restored down. But maybe I have a clue to the problem. I've always found it odd that the restored down size of the Inkscape window is actually larger than the max'd size! I've always thought it might have to do with my 800 x 600 screen resolution, which I use because of some visual deficits. If I recall correctly, it's recommended to use the higher resolution with Inkscape. So I thought that might explain the restored down window being larger than the maximized window. However, I haven't come up with any possible explanation why it won't resize. But I truly have tried again and again and again, and it just won't budge!

It does give me the arrows. I once had trouble not being able to resize a window (in another program) because it wasn't showing me any arrows. But I do see the little arrows, and I've tried all 3 directions -- horizonally, vertically, and diagonally. None of them work. While trying and failing so many times, I did wonder if there might be some other way to resize windows. Like maybe there's a setting somewhere that I can tweak. Like maybe Inkscape takes some info from my XP settings regarding window size? Although I can't say I've had this problem before, exactly...

Oh, and I've also run into situations (in other programs) where windows can be resized larger but not smaller, and vice versa. But the Inkscape windows won't resize in any direction.

So what's the restriction wth the toolbar height that you mentioned? Because I'm pretty sure the toolbar, the vertical toolbar on the left side by default, can be moved around. Oh cool!

Ok, I just opened an Inkscape window, and tried moving the vertical toolbar. And it does allow me to make the window shorter Then I noticed where I could move the 2 horizontal toolbars, and once I moved them, I could make the window narrower (And just for potential future readers of this message, after moving one of the 2 horizontal toolbars, I could make the window narrower, but only to the length of the remaining horizontal toolbar. So for complete control over window size, all 3 toolbars have to be moved.)

So I guess...(think, think)...well, I'll have to move the toolbars from both the active and the duplicate windows, to be able to resize them both. But only the toolbars of the active window need to be placed where they're accessible. Because I shouldn't need to access the toolbars of the duplicate window, right?

Ok then, I guess the problem is solved - YAY! Well, for me, for now, anyway A few lingering questions though. Why weren't the toolbars coded so that resizing of the window would caused them to just...get thicker (for my ignorance of the proper terminology), so that the toolbars get shorter but have 2 rows of buttons/icons (or more, depending on final length)? What is the purpose of having the size of the toolbars fixed? Or is this a bug? If so, has it been fixed in v .45 or .46, or should I report it to the mailing list or the Sourceforge forums?

I can totally understand the connection problem, no one could make me go back to dialup!
But don't think you're not savvy for any version of Inkscape. I thought I wouldn't be too, I thought it was also too unstable and that it would crash all the time but it doesn't, or at least it doesn't crash any more than the "stable" 0.45 lol. Using any dev build is the same as using the stable one, better actually. Old bugs get fixed and new features get implemented, I just love the new stuff in 0.46. All versions before 1 are "unstable"...

I sometimes get the window larger than screen when it's not maximized, Im not sure exactly why it happens but I think Inkscape saves the window size in each document and opens the file with that info. I usually work with maximized Inkscape and my files get saved that way, so when I open them the windows are exactly my screen size (minus the traybar at the bottom), but since the windows aren't in the maximized state and they aren't "centered" across the screen some parts leak out of the screen. I doubt it has anything to do with the XP settings. But don't worry, 0.46 will be out soon and you won't have any such problems

Yes I can only reduce the size as far as the vertical toolbar permits and the horizontal toolbars have a minimum width. There are bugs already reported about the toolbars to make them smaller or allow them to be arranged into 2 rows/columns if there isn't enough space. The problems are lower screen sizes on laptops, especially wide screens that have very little vertical space.

You don't need toolbars in the duplicated window, there is also a feature request to implement "Show/Hide All" in the View > Show/Hide menu, so it will be just one step. For the original window, well I think you might do something else to help yourself

I too have eye problems (too much staring at the monitor) but people make a mistake when they lower the resolution (screen size actually). When you reduce screen size (to 800x600 for example) shapes aren't smooth, you can see the pixel edges, it reduces your ability even more. Every OS should have a usability/accessibility option to use large font sizes etc. So the solution is to increase your screen size (popularly called resolution) so you get a nice stable smooth image, but use the large font size option. You can find it here: right-click on desktop > Properties > Appearance > Font size is at the bottom. And while you're there go to Settings tab to increase the screen size . Try it you'll love it

btw thanx for the flower, I can't remember the last time I got flowers

hehe I love banana smilies

LOL, yeah, I love smileys!
Have you seen the cheerleader banana smiley? I thought I had it, but I can't seem to find it, or I'd show you. It cracks me up!

Yes, I know about the options for text size, and I've changed back to the higher resolution, and selected a larger text size, in the past. But I ran into a problem with so many websites that make their text size fixed, so even with the browser set to a larger text size, it can't enlarge fixed size text. But, smileys being a prime example, I even need a lot of images larger as well, also a lot of icons tend to be too small for me.

Anyway, I'm ready to get to work with the duplicate window now. It should really save me a lot of time zooming in and out. Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!

What browser are you using? IE is notorious for not allowing font size to scale if it's declared in px. Use any other browser, Firefox is my fav. You can set the minimum font size for websites, you can also set anything you want for the toolbars and there are extensions for zooming the images. Let me know if you need any help with that.

Nice smileys -- is that a llama that one banana is riding? Geez!
Yeah, I'm using IE right now. But I've been planning to get Firefox. Everyone says it's so much better than IE, so I'm looking forwards to getting it. For now though, still looking towards getting DSL -- I have a whole list of downloads ready, lol!

It's very kind of you to offer to help. I'll definitely keep your advice in mind, when the time comes. Thanks again for your help with this Inkscape problem. I have absolutely no doubt that I'll be posting for help in the future, probably many more times, lol!

All best