Since inkcape doesn´t provide a way to arbitrarily style the next object before it´s created,
I usually work like this when doing linedrawings.

Let´s say I use three different strokes "thin" "middle" "thick" in my drawings.
When I open my template it already contains three strokes "thin" "middle" "thick".
Before I draw a thin line, I select the "thin" stroke in my template, I double click on the pen tool or (Ctrl Shift P).
A window opens, I klick on "Take from selection". Only then I am ready to draw thin strokes.

Here my questions:
Is it possible find a keyboard shortcut for this kind of workflow. All I want to is to selcet a stroke (in my template) and assign its style to the pen tool without having to go through several dialogs...

Is the capability of managing styles in inkcape´s roadmap? Don´t you think it´s a basic feature that should be implemented before aiming for other features.

(Excuse me for my inefficient english).
Thanks for your help,

If you define an object with all the style attributes you want, you can copy the object then just paste the style information onto a selected object using Ctrl+Shift+V. Does that help?

Yes I know about pasting style with "Ctrl shift V".

However picking lines out of a complex line drawing only to change their style after you have created them is pretty awkward.

When drawing a technical illustration (linedrawing), I already know in my mind which parts I´ll draw with thin or thick strokes.
Therefore I want the pen tool to do whats on my mind before creating all those lines.

I guess it depends on how much screen space you have, but you could leave the Preferences dialog open so you don't have to open it each time you switch styles. Then you just select the object with the matching style, click "Take from selection", and start drawing.

I don't have an answer for you, but I believe the developers are aware of a need for managing styles. SVG uses CSS just like HTML does but Inkscape can't yet use or define them. Whilst I know the developers are aware of the need, I don't know if anyone is actually working on it.

In recent development builds in Pen and Pencil tool you can choose a shape to be applied to the drawn path. There aren't many options there yet but I think later you'll be able to save your own presets, so you'll be able to make presets for the 3 different thicknesses you need and just choose from the toolbar when you need it.

For now you can use From clipboard option: draw a thin rectangle and copy it, in Pen tool select From clipboard and start drawing. Do the same with a thicker rectangle

prkos: I don´t quite understand.

For now you can use From clipboard option: draw a thin rectangle and copy it, in Pen tool select From clipboard and start drawing. Do the same with a thicker rectangle

Is this what you mean?
1. Draw a "thin" rectangle and copy it.
2. Double click on pen tool or (Shift+Ctrl+P) to open peferences.
3. Here I can click on "Take from selection" but I there is no option "Select from clipboard" on my Version (inkscape 0.46/Winxp)

No, it's a different feature, newly added recently, you can check it out if you download one of the latest development builds (although I'd wait a bit till the Node tool gets fixed.)

Here's a screenshot:


the first two were made by Pencil tool, the bottom two by Pen tool.
Notice the toolbar, it shows the new options for Pen tool.

The last path that was drawn using Pen with Ellipse shape applied has only 3 nodes, 2 endnodes and one in the middle.