In what units does the xml editor report stroke width, please? I have a simple star whose stroke width according to the Fill and Stroke sub menu is 0.810 px, but when I move to the xml editor I am told 'stroke-width 4.44489274'. I cannot at the moment relate those two figures. Thank you!

It could be the object has been transformed (scale, rotate, move, etc.), in those cases, the original object parameters may still show in the xml path, but the resulting values will be displayed in the Inkscape panels.

Hmmmm. So is there a way to update the XML editor?

Later - there may be something in what you say. I created a new star from the leftside toolbox and checked it in the XML editor. There was no mention of stroke width so I took it to be zero. Then into the Fill and Stroke dialog which gave a width of 1px. I changed that to 2, came back to the XML and that now also gave 'stroke-width 2'. Via the Fill and Stroke amended back to 1 and then the XML also said 1. So perhaps the answer to my original question is 'should be pixels but may be erroneous'?

FWIW I am using Inkscape to prepare a 2014 dance calendar for the Monaro Folk Society, using different glyphs for the different series of events. I am much impressed with all that Inkscape can do but on a long 'try it and see' learning curve working it out.

And you were right about the original star having been transformed. In the XML is an entry 'transform matrix' and then six parameters - could you direct me at anywhere that would explain what those six signify, please? There does not seem to be much on 'matrix' in the Inkscape manual. Perhaps also the 'sodipodi' references which similarly have me puzzled.

re xforms:

http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... sforms-Xml
(More info links there)

Thank you - I appreciate all the help, but I think the lesson for me is to avoid matrices. If I find I have got one then either delete and recreate or source another glyph. The calendar I was working on has now been printed and has come out well enough but there are differences in the shade and density of hue and of stroke width between the different types of objects. This was the original problem that led me to start this thread. Now the pressure is off I will go back and explore Inkscape more leisurely.