I researched extensively on line for a solution to put text on a path particularly re: the attached SVG files which I am having plenty of challenges with. With the help of a very kind individual I was directed to a number of video tutorials which more less reiterated the stuff I had already re: putting text to a path, I researched further & discovered the " Convert selected objects to path (Shift + Ctrl C) command. This newly discover action/command woks fine for me but only if done re: Inkscape version 47 in Windows 7. However I simply cannot get the desired results when done Inkscape V48 in Ubuntu 11.10. Also I've noticed that when text are typed in version 47 it is in the vertical, can it be a simple setting necessary to correct that. Attached are the files for your perusal & comments the file with the illegible phrase is the one done in Ubuntu & the one I am having problems with.Your help is greatly appreciated.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

The vertical text can be changed in the Text and Font dialog. It's a button in the Layout section. Or also on the right side of the tool control bar.

In your sample file, I removed the text from the path. Then I set it back on the path using Text menu > Put on path. It did put the entire text on the path, but probably not exactly how you expect it to look. Would you please try doing it with the Text menu, instead of the key commands, to see if i works better for you? The key mapping might be different on the ubuntu system.

When I do it, the text wraps around the bottom of the closed path. That's because the text is centered. You can change it to left justified in the same Layout section of the Text and Font dialog or tool control bar.

If these suggestions don't help, then I'm not sure what the problem might be. But no worries, I'm sure someone else will know, if that's not the answer

Thank you very much for such a prompt response & I have been trying it via the "Text Menu". I don't know about the inner workings of Ubuntu, I am just trying it out & like it so far but I guess you may have a point about "the key mapping in Ubuntu.

Well, the more I think about it, the more I think I can't have anything to do with the key mapping. Because it looks like somehow the text had been somehow applied to the path.

Have you changed it from centered to left justified? Maybe that's the key? I'll have another look at your file, and maybe I'll see something I missed before. I"ll post back later, as I'm about to fall asleep at the moment.

HI, thanks for your suggestion, it worked just fine. However if I use the "Convert selected objects to path (Shift + Ctrl C) command" the path created appears like a piece of a pie chart filled with black. Is that normal or how it's suppose to work. Thank again for your suggestion.

Yes, I saw that, and it can be fixed.
The problem is that I don't know how it's supposed to look when it's finished. Should there be a black path there, below the text? Or should there only be text, so that it looks like the text is connecting the heart together by itself?

What you have there is a path without any stroke, but with a black fill. If you need a black path/line under the text, you'll need to add a stroke to the path. Select the black pie-like shape, then Object menu > Fill and Stroke > Stroke Paint tab > Flat color (2nd button from left). Next choose the Fill tab and click the big X. Now you'll have the same shape as before, but it will be a black outline with nothing in the middle. Because this is such a huge image (which you have displayed at 5.5% zoom) the outline is barely visible, because it's only 1 px wide.

On the Paint style tab, you can change that width, if you need the path displayed. If you don't want to see the path, go back to the Paint Style tab and locate the A slider. If you slide it all the way to the left (the value will go from 255 to 0) the path will become invisible. There is a way to find it again, if you need to edit. I don't remember how at the moment, but you can find instructions here: http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL ... -Path.html

I hope this answers your question. If not, let us know why, and we'll try again

Thank you very much once again, everything you've stated has worked out just fine. Yes, there should be only text, so that it looks like the text is connecting the heart together by itself. I am beginning to get the feel of InkScape as I continue not only to explore its potential but to be able to use it as my means of expression. I am off now to research on how to flow text into the heart next. I've tried flowing a Ms word document into the heart to no avail, can you direct me on where to research this exercise?

You're welcome

Almost every technique below the advanced level, and even some advanced level stuff, is found in Help menu > Inkscape manual (requires internet connection). Just look for the chapter on Text, and you can learn all about it.

But you won't be able to flow the text into the heart. Well I should say, I can't get text to flow into that shape, even if I do some node editing and close it. I'm not sure what the problem is with it. But if you practice on a simple square or circle or star, or just any simple shape, it should work. Text from Word might even work. I think the problem is with this heart image.

Ok, after some further investigation, I see what the problem is. This heart shape was drawn either in some raster format and converted to vector, or drawn with the Calligraphy tool (or something like it, if not in Inkscape). In doing so....well, I'm not sure how to describe it with words. If you've ever used Stroke to Path, that's sort of what happens when it's converted. Or if you've used the Calligraphy tool, you can get the idea. Maybe someone else can help me out with the proper description?

Anyway, your test with text from a Word doc might have actually worked. And you can try it again to prove it (or disprove it). Make the text red, and make it the largest size possible (usually 144) (well you could type in any value). This heart you're working on is really huge, and normal text is so tiny, next to it, it probably looks like a faint line. Plus it was probably black. And it's being applied to the black part of the heart -- the part that to you (and me, at 5.5% zoom) looks like a thick line. So select the huge red text and the heart, and click Text menu > Flow into Frame. Now look at the very top of the heart, and you should see the red text in the black part of the heart. If you don't, it could be that the text from Word is problematic (Word docs have loads of additional strange code, that often makes it difficult to use with other programs -- possibly MS's way of trying to maintain a semi-monopoly).

Regardless of the results of that test, try another one. Just draw a simple square or circle or star with one of Inkscape's tools. Then go to Extensions menu > Text > Lorem Ipsum. Set it up to write a few sentences and a couple of paragraphs. Basically it writes out a bunch of jiberish, but it's useful to help learn to use the Text tool. (I'm not sure what it's real purpose is, but that's how I use it ). (Actually I think it might be Latin, maybe???) If you're still working at 5.5% zoom, be sure to make the text really huge again. And then flow the lorem ipsum text into the new shape. That's how one would typically use that feature (except usually at 100% zoom).

If you really want to flow text into that kind of a shape (raster converted to vector) (or sometimes you might draw an original vector like this), you can still do it. What you'd have to do is draw another much simpler heart (like with Pen (Bezier) or Pencil tools) that will fit exactly the inside of that heart. Then you would flow text into the new simple heart, and later make that new path invisible (like you did with Text on Path). Or maybe hide it behind the original black heart.

I hope this info helps. I know all too well what it's like to bang your head against these problems, only to find out later that there were simple explanations, if only I knew more what I was doing. So I hope I've stopped you from going down that road ....at least for this time The very best tip I could offer for the long run, is to consult the manual if you get stuck. It gets me out of trouble most of the time, and I don't have to post my problem in the forum. But we're always here for each other if it doesn't (get me out of trouble).

Happy Inkscaping!

You have surely put me on a new perspective regarding the treatment of files being converted. To begin with the heart I used was an eps file which I brought into GIMP, took it out as a PNG file then converted to SVG file in InkScape for manipulation. Originally this file size was 7.197 x 7.669 inches, the end result, in terms of the size I can't explain but I will keep researching to find out what happened & why was a huge file as you have pointed out. However I've tried your suggestions re: usage of other shapes & I have been successful in getting the "Lorem Lipsum" to flow into the shapes. I will be embarking on drawing an original vector of a heart in inkscape as I've located a tutorial on drawing a heart. Ha, I really appreciate you trying to lessen the impact of head banging as this can really hurt & I have done quite a bit of banging & yes it really ache when you find out that there are indeed simple explanations. Thanks for every thing & I am enjoying InkScaping particularly when I apply comprehension & application.

You're welcome. I'm glad everything worked out