No not the movie matrix, but applying a design guide to screen elements.

For example I have a 10x10 square that I want to use to create a grid (or circular pattern) of 100 squares evenly spaced based upon values I would put into a dialogue and then tell inkscape to apply this matrix based upon the selected graphic element.

Is this something that would be doable?

I'm not exactly sure what you asking for. 1) Lines in side a path would be Effects > Render > Grid. 2.) Making a bunch of copies of an path would be edit > clone > tile clone. Tile clone interface is not intuitive and take some getting used too. You should probably read or watch a tutorial on it before you try it.

http://screencasters.heathenx.org/wp-co ... ep004.html

Yes Tile clones is probably what you need, here's some more info about it

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... Tiles.html
http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/gal ... bjects.png
http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/gal ... -color.png
http://www.inkscape.org/screenshots/gal ... nclump.png

Thank you again for the information and the links, I believe this is close to what I am referring to.

If I was unclear I apologise. I was thinking along the lines of applying a pattern (like a circular bolt pattern in CAD) by selecting any vector element and applying values for vertical, horizontal, and quantity from the selection.


Example:
1. Select a 10mm circle, input 3 copies at 45 deg from the original and in relation to each other.
2. Select a star, input 100 copies at 10 columns and 10 rows with a spacing of 40 pixels.
3. Select square, input 50 copies, 20 pixels apart and apply to a path.

The reason I was thinking of this is because I was using Inkscape to lay out a tile pattern for a flooring project and I needed precise placement of the 12x12 tiles to a matrix so I could then drop in 6x6 tiles two across by two down in a 12x12 space and 4x4 tiles three across by three down in where I wanted them.

I managed to do this manually but it took more time than I thought it should have, I know this is probably a limitation in my understanding of what other means I may have followed.

I hope this made my intention a little clearer

Thanks again.

As prkos suggested, it sounds like Tile Clones is exactly what you want. Did you take a look at the feature?

I did look at what was suggested, I just wasn't sure if that was the same thing.

I have not had a chance to try it yet but I will.

Thanks