Is it possible to link a clip of an object to the original. I have a large base map in which I want to make a clip, add elements to the clipped piece, and then export. Not a problem with my knowledge, but every time the base map is updated I have to re-clip and re-export. It would be handy to have the clip update (via a link?) when the master changes so that the underlying map in the clip is updated. Possible in inkscape? Other ideas to do what I need? Thanks in advance!

You might try making a group of your base objects and clone the group, then clip the clone. Adding changing the original group will update the clipped clone. Export the clone.

Thanks I will try that. My original is grouped already to make changes harder to do (like moving layers) so will ungroup it before the clip. I think this may work. Can put the clip/clone in another file or has to be in the same file?

Hmmm.... be careful using groups and layers.... Inkscape uses grouping in a special way to make layers possible. Test with a copy.

The clipped clone needs to be in the same document, but the export area can be anything you define, like the bounding box of the clip or the document boundary.

Document (maroon rectangle) will be the export area:

Thanks for the warning about layers and grouping. I will give it a try, but think it will work fine.