Questions:

(1) Does Inkscape have any ability that allows you to input a specific length for, say a bezier line, in a drawing? For instance, if I have a document that is 11"x8.5" to represent a Letter sized page, with the units set to Inches, could I initiate the bezier tool and type a distance of 2" in length?

(2) Is there any way Inkscape can plot to a certain scale? For instance, say I have a drawing with a page size of ANSI D (which is 36"x24" page dimensions), and I wanted to print it at a 1/2 scale, so the page would actually come out to size ANSI B (which is 18"x12" page size).

This is my CAD background asking is all. I have found Inkscape to be extremely useful in connecting my needs with CAD related designs. If it's not possible and I'm way over my head, feel free to give me a firm backhand to the face. haha j/k

Thanks in advance.

I don't think Inkscape can do this without actually making changes in the file, essentially making a new document (although you don't have to save the changes), but I think your printer driver should be able to handle this sort of scaling - mine does it quite accurately, and it's definitely a low-end printer...

1 - You can do it by placing the nodes at certain coordinates, or by adjusting the object dimensions. But only after having drawn the line.
2 - I don't know.

Thanks for the replies and I was expecting that it wasn't possible. Brynn, 1st off that's my daughter's name so that means you have an awesome name, and 2nd that will definitely help if I need to do some things completely to scale, which sometimes I might. So, not a total loss, and I think I already have a work-around.

I can just scale it in the plot properties I believe. What I can do is say I need to print a 36"x24" page and a 1/2" = 1'-0" scale, I can just draw 1:1 scale in a document with a page properties of 72'x48' (or 864"x576"). This is the same ratio to 36x24 but it's scaled by a factor of 24, which is the scaling factor for printing something at 1/2" = 1'-0", which I can factor down when I export or plot.

So I can actually still have it work out after all. Good stuff!!

Awesome!