Hello, there. I'm trying to import multiple jpegs into a page. It should be as simple as just going to File->Import, finding the file, and going on my merry way, and for some, it is. But occasionally, one of two unwanted outcomes occur. Either nothing happens after I select the jpg file, or the selection box appears, but is empty. I can change the size, grabbing the arrows, but I can not move it. With the second outcome, when I try to move the selection, it removes the selection box. But, if I create a selection over where the jpg was, it selects it again. Basically, there is an item there, and I can select it and resize it, but it's not visible or movable.

I thought that it may have been an issue when I put the images on my computer, if something is different with them, but the images are all in the same folder, and I can open images placed in at different times, all scanned in the same manner. Also, the same image sometimes does and sometimes does not work, so I don't believe it to be an issue with the actual jpg file.

It sounds like you may have found an issue with the software. You're description doesn't ring a bell for me. I recommend searching for any reported issues at https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/ and if nothing has been reported then log a new issue for it. Remember to include you file so it can be examined.

I'm not sure if it's the same, but I experienced similar things when having a drawing with multiple layers, of which I had layers locked and invisible,. Sometimes, when I import an "external" bitmap, it ends up in the hidden layer. It won't show, but sometimes I do see the bounding box of it, until I unselect it. Only after making the hidden layer visible, my bitmap shows up.

I just reported a new bug for similar issues on importing bitmaps: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/317060 .
More often I get a complete crash while trying to import, other times I experience the same issues you described.
I'm on Windows XP by the way.

This issue is frustrating me a lot!
Today I tried to compare SVG code on two different documents: one with a simple star shape, the other with a star shape AND a bitmap import attempt.
Look the code: the right side is the document where I tried to import the bitmap, differences marked with RED colour.



I'm not a coder, but it looks like the import feature isn't actually kicking the right code inside SVG document...
Any thoughts?

This problem is recorded in the LaunchPad as bug #271621: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/271621.
Let's hope it will be fixed soon!