I just downloaded the latest version of Inkscape to my Dell computer. I am running Windows 7 64 bit which I thought would not be a problem but the program tools won't work. I can open the program and make a page a change tool presets but when I go to draw or type nothing happens. The cursor shows the tool but nothing happens. I downloaded to my laptop which is windows xp and it works fine. Is this a windows 7 issue and is there a fix?
Thanks

Welcome gwyn!

No, Inkscape should work there. I'm using Inkscape 0.48.1 on a Windows 7, 64-bit laptop myself. When you installed, was it installed to Program Files (x86)? Did you use the Windows installer package (.exe) or the zipped version (.7z)?

Another member who installed from the zipped version found tools not set to the same defaults as the installer package (in some cases tools appeared not to be working but in fact were drawing without color). I haven't been able to confirm that for myself, but I tend to believe it (which doesn't mean that I understand it).

Can you tell me one of the tools that don't work? Then we can look around and hopefully figure out why.

Welcome Gwyn!

It's funny, cuz I had a similar problem. I downloaded the latest Inkscape to Windows XP Home SP3 and none of the tools seemed to work. Had I posted this issue here in the forums, I'm suuuure no one would have helped me solve the issue. This is how it went down.

1. I have a graphics tablet (tablet, pen and mouse from Wacom).
2. I also have an HP wireless mouse.
3. When using the wireless mouse and clicking on a tool, the tool was selected , , , but did nothing on my blank document.
4. None of the helpful tools worked either: , , , , etc.

In the end it was the fact that the Wacom mouse was sitting on the Wacom tablet off to the side. It prevented my wireless HP mouse from interacting with Inkscape. The moment I removed the mouse from the tablet, it all worked well.

BobSongs wrote:I'm suuuure no one would have helped me solve the issue

I don't know about that. I read a topic a while back with the same resolution. I think someone else knows your secret

Thanks for the replies. I installed the zipped version to program files. I am using a graphics tablet but no wireless mouse. It appears none of the tools work visibly. The cursor changes as it should for the tool but nothing shows when I click on the page. For instance with the type tool I get the A type cursor but the vertical line that should show where to start typing does not appear. I will try a different installation and see what happens?

Ah, the zipped one! I don't know why in the world the developers have set up the zipped version without the usual defaults!? We can get your current version working perfectly, it will just take a little simple tweaking.

If you have'nt already re-installed with the .exe installer, let's get the Rectangle tool working, and then you can follow suit for all the tools. So choose the Rectangle tool and draw a rectangle. You'll see a rectangular dotted line with arrows (those are selection indicators), but no stroke or fill. Leave it selected, and look in the bottom left corner of the window. I'm guessing you'll either Stroke and/or Fill shown as "Unset". Therein lies the problem!

Now just click any color in the palette, and that should give it a color. That might be all you need to do! To find out, please open Inkscape Preferences > Tools > Shapes > Rectangle. Look and tell me which setting is ticked: "Last used style" or "This tool's own style"? Also please let me know which option you prefer here. And as well, if you want to go this route, or just start fresh using the Windows installation file?

Either way will have you drawing very soon!

EDIT
Actually I just realized there still may be a tablet issue, in addition to the Unset style issue. So if the Rectangle tool does work, try the steps I gave for any tool that shows the Unset style. Thanks

a possibly related thing...latest stable inkscape install on both win 7 64 and OSX Snow Leopard with wacom bamboo fun tablet the tablet settings seem a bit shaky and sometimes ones i set do not save.......anyway i've had problems whereby tablet could make marks and use tools but mouse cursor stopped interacting with tools and canvas. playing with input/tablet options seemed to fix, and also re-install wacom latest driver after fully removing the one that comes on disk.

brynn wrote:

BobSongs wrote:I'm suuuure no one would have helped me solve the issue

I don't know about that. I read a topic a while back with the same resolution. I think someone else knows your secret

That may be because it was my post.

Ugh I still haven't gotten it to work. I discovered it is definitely the tablet. I switched to a regular mouse and it works fine, but I depend on the tablet to do detailed work. I uninstalled the tablet driver and reinstalled the latest one and still no luck. Any more suggestions? Thanks

Well, just to make sure all the bases are covered, there are some settings in Inkscape Preferences > Mouse. You could make sure those are set properly. For some reason I'm thinking there's another setting somewhere that's required for tablets, but I can't remember it.... Maybe not? Hopefully BobSongs will chime in. Since he uses a tablet, he'll be much more capable than I.

Since you've narrowed it down to the tablet, at least we're on the right track now

I found it! Just under preferences is input devices. You choose pen tablet and restart. Tada! Thanks