I've been using a tablet for a few weeks and usually it takes four or five restarts of Inkscape to get the software to recognise that a tablet is connected and put an entry in the Input Devices list. Once I have the tablet recognised as long as I start a new drawing from the same instance of Inkscape all is well. This morning I have restarted Inkscape endlessly, restarted the computer, unplugged and plugged the tablet, used different USB ports and nothing.

Any tablet users have any tips on how to get Inkscape to recognise that a tablet is connected? I used the tablet all day yesterday. Is it tired? Does it need a rest? It didn't say anything last night ...


EDIT: sorry. This should have gone to the Help With Using Inkscape section. Could someone move it there please?

In a minute, I'll move your topic, and post some links to previous topics about this same subject. But really quickly first -- there have been some reports that having a wireless mouse (or maybe any mouse) sitting on the tablet, will cause it not to draw.

Also, I'm not clear what your specific problem is at the moment. Is the tablet not showing in the Input Devices list? Or is Inkscape not starting? I'm just not clear....??

Ok, topic moved

I made this list about a year ago, because we get so many questions about this. There are more recent topics, but I'm not sure there are any new answers to the various problems. Also note that some of these topics address problems that have been solved by recent new releases of Inkscape. And unfortunately, some of them are quite long. But maybe someone who knows the quick answer will reply soon

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4107
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3054
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4164
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5448
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=4055
viewtopic.php?f=21&t=1091
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=471
viewtopic.php?f=29&t=3870
viewtopic.php?f=22&t=1505
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1771

Also, Inkscape Preferences > Mouse contains 2 options for tablets. You could also make sure those are set correctly. And finally, I do seem to recall someone recently pointing out something about starting Inkscape in mouse mode, and switching to the tablet.....or maybe it was starting Inkscape first vs starting Inkscape from the tablet.....hmm....unfortunately this forum's software does not allow searching by date....well, maybe I can find it. I'll post a link if I do

Thanks for the list - I'll have a look this evening to see if there is a work-around.

I am using Inkscape 0.48.1 under Windows Vista 32 SP2

The problem is that Inkscape does not notice that a tablet is connected when it starts. The program does not show the tablet on the list of connected input devices in the File)Input Devices menu. You can move the cursor around the screen, you can even pick up drawing tools - they just won't do anything on the canvas.

I'm thinking that this might be a windows problem, as the same behaviour sometimes occurs with iTunes - a connected iPod doesn't register for ages - sometimes never (even though windows itself has registered that the thing is connected). I don't think my particular computer is at fault, I think it is just windows. I'm not expecting a proper fix until I jump ship and run Linux, I'm just looking for a work-around.

Well I went through some of the postings and a variety of related problems seem to come up from time to time. My particular problem was only in getting Inkscape to recognise that a tablet was attached at all. Once Inscape picked this up the tablet would work properly - both on the menus and on the canvas. But Inkscape was unreliable recognising the tablet.

A recurring piece of advice was to use the pen to start and stop Inkscape rather than the mouse (confusingly one posting suggested removing the mouse after startup and plugging in the tablet). I have tried this and I have had six starts out of six with the tablet recognised! I can leave the mouse connected, which is good, as some stuff is easier with a mouse.

I'll report back in a week or so and let you all know if this simple trick works all the time.

Wow, thanks for investigating and reporting. This will be helpful for others looking for answers

i mostly use my tablet on OSX but sometimes it also gets plugged into other pc with win7 64bit. I sometimes have had the same problem in OSX, where some of the preferences for the tablet don't save. then i get the same with being able to pick tools but nothing draws. changing preferences again fixes it...but not permanently. i haven't troubleshooted it to get a repeatable set of steps.
generally you will also want to make sure you download latest driver. unload the old one, and load the new/updated one. take off tablet support in inkscape, exit, and start inkscape and setup tablet options again.
windows vista is not a very good/stable OS....upgrade to win7?

fizzcat wrote:A recurring piece of advice was to use the pen to start and stop Inkscape rather than the mouse (confusingly one posting suggested removing the mouse after startup and plugging in the tablet). I have tried this and I have had six starts out of six with the tablet recognised! I can leave the mouse connected, which is good, as some stuff is easier with a mouse.

This is exactly what I must do for both Inkscape and Gimp for the tablet to work (Windows 7 64 bit and a Wacom Intuos)

-Rob A>

Had the same problem with Genius tablet (it was possible to move cursor but no tools or actions could be applied / WinXP, 0.48), and solution was rather unusual. Inside the Inkscape preferences/Mouse, check box for "Use pressure-sensitive tablet" was checked, as expected, but it all worked when unchecked. Also, haven`t changed anything under File/Input devices and I think default state for tablet is unchecked.

Hope this would help.

Just thought I'd quickly report back. I've been using the tablet 4 or 5 hours a day 5 days a week to draw with Inkscape since early september and the only times that Inkscape has failed to recognise the tablet were when I used the mouse or touchpad to start the program (not often as I try to always use the tablet to start Inkscape). In all of these cases closing Inkscape and restarting using the tablet fixed things.

Oh yeah. My fingers and wrist no longer ache at the end of the week. Tablets are great.

What may be happening with your Mac is the whole X-Windows thing. MacOS is essentially NetBSD Unix with the Apple "interface", "GUI" or "Shell". So when you start Inkscape, you bring into action the X-Windowing system. Perhaps simply starting Inkscape with the pen moving or doing the action lets X-Windows be aware of the pen's presence.

A good solution.