Hello,

This seems like a stupid question, but I'm not very advanced with Inkscape. How can I display nodes (cusp nodes, smooth nodes, etc) for my lines/polygons/etc all the time? Is the only way to do it by setting 'Mid Markers' via the Fill and Stroke dialogue?

Ben

Hi Ben,
We might need a little more clarity about your question. As long as you're using the Node tool, the nodes are always displayed. If it would work to to combine all the paths in your image, into subpaths of the same compound path, then as long as the Node tool is engaged, all the nodes will be visible.

But when you say "setting 'Mid markers' via F/S dialog".....I can't quite conceive of a use for such. Are some of the paths transparent, so that you can't see them without markers? Or do you mean that you want to see the nodes, no matter which tool you're using? If that's the case, then actually markers would seem a pretty clever trick!

If I didn't answer your question, could you explain why you need to see all the nodes all the time?

Would viewing in Outline Mode help? (View menu) You can't see the nodes, but you see all the paths, whether transparent or covered up by something else.

I want to be able to see the nodes when I create a second line that exactly matches (node for node) part of an earlier line (using snap). If I can see the nodes, then I can just click along on each one quite quickly. Otherwise I have to dwell a little, and wait for the little popup text and node marker to indicate where they are.

Ah, well I think you've discovered a very clever trick then! I can't think of a better way, although there are many wise Inkscapers here. Perhaps someone else will have some other ideas?

I can suggest a workaround - duplicate the path (Ctrl + D) and then apply the Number nodes extension, it's under Extensions > Visualize Path > Number Nodes.... You will get a group of objects, small circles/dots and their numbers. You can ungroup once and delete the group with numbers if they get in the way, so you only have the group with the dots. Later you just delete the dots group, when you don't need it any more.

Also very clever, prkos!

I don't know why I didn't think of this before, but could you just duplicate the original line, and delete the unwanted part?

You can get the same result as the dots from 'Number nodes' without running an extension if you duplicate the path, add mid + end markers, convert stroke to path, delete the converted stroke but keep the converted markers (they are inside a group).

Drawback of both solutions is that they are static, whereas when using markers on the original path, the location of the dots updates when editing or moving the path. And that the static solutions with explicit objects for the dots (instead of markers) will interfere with node snapping.

I doubt there will be a mode added to the select tool to display node handles like the node tool currently does. (OTOH there have been several requests to allow turning off the node handles in the node tool too, as well as requests to show the nodes of currently drawn paths (pen (bèzier) tool)).

ottadini wrote:Otherwise I have to dwell a little, and wait for the little popup text and node marker to indicate where they are.

You can reduce the snap delay in the preferences (Inkscape preferences > Snapping) and set it to zero, if that helps.

I didn't think of turning the delay down to zero, that will certainly help.

I think the request to show nodes of all paths (bezier tool) would be useful, if even a toggle, or an on-press only display (hard to describe - similar to the way the Q key works, in that the nodes would only show while a certain key was depressed).

Of course - markers! I can't believe I missed it, clever ~suv!

Yes showing nodes during snapping might be useful, will you open a new bug report/wishlist item about it? https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+filebug
Search first to see if someone already asked for it.

I opened this bug: "Request: show nodes on paths when snap active: bezier tool"
https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/872057