I tried to export a rectangle to a previously named file saved from the same rectangle on another occasion and got error "The chosen area to be exported is invalid" I tried deleting the rectangle and creating a new one of the same extents, but got the same error. I also tried exiting Inkscape and reloading, with same result, Same thing happens when I try a different rectangle in the same file, same result. I opened a recent file and tried to export a rectangle that worked fine a few days a go, but got same error.
I am using Inkscape 0.91pre3 r13670

Hello

It's a strange problem. Can you share your svg file? or at least a similar sample?
... As far as I remember, Inkscape saves the last file direction used when exporting to PNG. It puts them as an XML tag into the SVG file. Perhaps, your problem is related with that. But to be sure, It's better to see your SVG file. Or, You can do it by yourself, opening the svg file in a text editor, and looking for something that looks like your last saved file direction. When found, try to delete it. It's something like




Something like that.

Please answer if you manage to solve your problem

Two more things you could try:

- use the official version, not a prerelease version. I can't promise you won't get that error, but a few have been fixed since pre3.
- another idea: rename your preference file, then restart Inkscape. It will create a new preference file, and - of course - reset all your preferences to the default values

I tried opening in an older version Inkscape 0.48.4 r9939 and it exported the same rectangle to png without any problems. Now that I think of it, I may have had the same problem and the same solution the first time I exported that rectangle.
I opened the file in notebook and could not find the string png_export_path.
I would be quite happy for anyone to look at the file, but how do I attach it?
I will also try loading latest version and see if that makes any difference.

I installed the latest stable version Inkscape 0.91 r13725 and the problem seems to have gone away.
Unless someone is interested in trying to find out what the problem was, I think we can call it solved.
Thanks
Peter

Sounds good - if you encounter the problem again (I hope you won't, of course!), you can upload files here by switching to the 'full editor' mode, then at the bottom there's a tab labelled 'attachments'.

Thanks, I will do that if the need arises.
Cheers,
P

The main problem with the error message "The chosen area to be exported is invalid." is the settings done in the inkscape tool recently and you forgot what change you did. As per the solution it is very easy. In the export png image tool box you can see 4 options for export area. they are
1. Page 2. Drawing 3. selection 4. custom
First three options have no problem however the 4th option custom has all the variables set to 0 by default. (This means nothing is selected to export)
If you have selected custom but didn't give the dimensions then the message pops up.
Hence change it to either option 1.Page or 2.Drawing.
Hope this helps

praveen117 wrote:Hope this helps

Perfect! I just had the same issue, and your tip did it! Thanks!

I've just ha the same issue. The answer is simple: you must be trying to export/save with the Custom exporting area, instead of the Page exporting area. Just click on the button written Page and it will export normally.