Selecting an entire path

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covertboblerg
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Selecting an entire path

Postby covertboblerg » Wed Sep 25, 2013 8:33 am

I have been importing graphs/figures from matlab. Each figure is made up of multiple curves (see attachment for example). However, when I use the node tool to click on each curve, I select small segments of each curve rather than the whole thing. How do I group all the nodes on a single curve into one curve so that they are joined together and I can select the entire curve with one click? I realize this is probably a really basic question but I'm an Inkscape noob so please forgive me.
Attachments
toPost.zip
A simple example of the type of curves I am dealing with. I would like to be able to group the nodes on each curve such that I can easily select the entire curve.
(32.41 KiB) Downloaded 166 times

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Xav
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Re: Selecting an entire path

Postby Xav » Mon Sep 30, 2013 7:53 pm

The problem is that what you see as a single curve is actually made up of *lots* of short paths. If you literally want to group them all so that you can move the curve as one then it shouldn't be too tricky - but will require care where the curves cross. But if you want to turn the short paths into a single contiguous path then the task becomes far more involved.

A little more information about what you ultimately want to do with the curve, or how you need to interact with it, might help us to understand the best way to advise you.
Co-creator of The Greys and Monsters, Inked - Inkscape drawn webcomics
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Xav
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Re: Selecting an entire path

Postby Xav » Mon Sep 30, 2013 8:00 pm

I've just seen your other post about converting curves (please don't start multiple threads for the same problem, as it just leads to confusion and missed information), which dismisses CTRL-K as taking too long. In that case I can't think of any approach that will suit you, as there's no way to automatically do what you want - every approach would require manual work and CTRL-K is probably one of the fastest.


If you just want the shape of the curve, but don't need the nodes to be in precise locations, I would be inclined to just trace over the curves by hand using the Bézier tool :tool_pen: then delete the originals. If you draw the new version on a separate layer it will make it easier to get rid of the originals without affecting your new curves.
Co-creator of The Greys and Monsters, Inked - Inkscape drawn webcomics
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covertboblerg
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Joined: Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:10 pm

Re: Selecting an entire path

Postby covertboblerg » Mon Sep 30, 2013 10:19 pm

Aha! That's an excellent idea. I'll try using the Bezier tool. Actually, I've found another solution as well. When I export my figures from matlab, if I use the program "plot2svg" found here (http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/ ... of-figures), the program automatically groups the curves as a single object. I can then edit the individual nodes by clicking on each curve and selecting the 'Convert selected object to path' button (Shift + Ctrl + C).

Lazur
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Re: Selecting an entire path

Postby Lazur » Tue Oct 01, 2013 6:08 am

Here is how it would look if you
combined the paths together, connected -all- unconnected nodes, and removed double nodes.

To remove the double nodes I used Ctrl++, which meant some more trick to be used at the overlapping part.
Actually inkscape cannot handle well that many nodes at once.
I had to break it down to about 500 paths for the method, and combine those together after.

To sum it up: that is not a fast task through inkscape to be managed.
Also the result is questionable: matlab provides segments in a bit random order for the small details.
You could have a much cleaner result, in less time if you trace those figures.
Attachments
hlp79.svg
(48.01 KiB) Downloaded 214 times


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