I have used the Object Docker on occasion, to find objects or paths that are under other objects, to make selections easier, and to toggle visibility on an object level rather than a layer level. But now I have been trying to do more with the docker and it does very strange things time to time. I wanted to hash it out here before doing a bug report.

Basically when you drag a object around to position them into new layers or change there order it behaves oddly. Sometimes you can drag and drop in the docker and move an object into another layer. But other times it winds up getting shunted to the root layer. Dragging an object below another object will some times change Z order but most often not. The green buttons at the bottom always work for z order. Further moving an item from on layer into another makes it appear X and Y position seem to change. I say seem because if you move it back it is restored. Sometimes an object flat refuses to be drug, (dragged?) to another layer or position in the layer. Most of the time what happens is it winds up in the Root Layer.

Being layers are just groups, all the above applies to trying to drag and drop reordering inside groups also. This is so close to being a viable Object Manager I want it to succeed.

Anyone else see this? Any suggestions? Any pertinent observations that would do well in a bug report? I have read a bug about the Object dialog and performance and don't know if it is related, https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/1431274. Think it is pointless to pursue until they fix the previous bug?

Yes, exactly for that existing bug report, is the reason I have not started using the Object Manager on a regular basis. So I can't confirm or even comment on the issues you mention.

However, I don't see any reason not to go ahead and report these things, if others chime in and can reproduce them. Who knows -- maybe investigating these problems will lead them to find a solution to the existing one?

Tips for making the bug report. Make everything as easy for developers as possible. This might include screenshots of the results of the problem (so developers are sure that they've succeeded in reproducing the problem), test SVG (and/or other) files, where everything is set up and ready to reproduce the problem, specific steps for reproducing the problem. And of course, nice clear text, which clearly you have that covered

Hopefully others who use the Object Manager will chime in.

The Objects Dialog is very handy and likely will get more developer love.

What can help the Devs are reports that have consistent, repeatable issues described with steps to repeat the issues.

WRT the objects changing position when moving between layers, there may be a transform on one layer. Having the Preferences settings toggled to optimize transforms my help.

Other issues with drag/drop may be with clearly viewing if the line or outline is showing where the new location will be.

e.g when dragging an object to another layer, it is quite easy to get a single line between layers, rather than an outline around the target layer's label... which will land the object at the root.

It would be nice if the object being dragged did not obscure the view... that's worth mentioning to the Devs if it hasn't been already.

It might be helpful to observe the XML editor when issues arise, to watch for clues.

I think you might be right on the transform idea. I'll look some more. But thought I would respond anyway just to keep the thread going. I was hoping form some a response or two more from someone that had a keen observation or two I might have missed.

I have noticed, that if you have a group and bring up the object docker, select an item. The group becomes partially ungroup. That is it still shows as a group in Objects, but on canvas they are independent.

phiscribe wrote:I have noticed, that if you have a group and bring up the object docker, select an item. The group becomes partially ungroup. That is it still shows as a group in Objects, but on canvas they are independent.

Note the status bar... you have likely "entered" the group.

tylerdurden wrote:

phiscribe wrote:I have noticed, that if you have a group and bring up the object docker, select an item. The group becomes partially ungroup. That is it still shows as a group in Objects, but on canvas they are independent.

Note the status bar... you have likely "entered" the group.

I see the difference now. Without the Objects Dialog you enter a group by ctrl+click. Clicking off the object say onto a blank region, leaves the group. The Layer drop down on the status bar will return to say "Layer1." But if you select an object in a group from the Objects dialog and then click off onto a blank region, it does not leave the group. It will say on the drop down in the status bar, "#g###." You have to change in on the drop down on the status bar or in the Object dialog to leave the group. I guess this is maybe how it should work, but is different behavior from how I would expect it to work.

Entering a group is commonly achieved by double clicking on any object residing inside the group. There are other simple ways as well.

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... roups.html

Ctrl+Click accesses an object within a group or groups, without entering a group.

I am schooled. I had thought ctrl+click entered the group, not just just accessed. Obviously my precision of terms is off.

Inkscape supports many workflows, so if that's working for you, I'm not going to knock it. =)