Hi Inkscape

Sorry that this is my first post,but all the info i have needed i have found without needing to ask.

The problem i have is i want to create and outline around some text, i can draw a simple square then use the linked offset tool no problem but when it comes to trying it with text they is no node to drag to create an outline

is they any another way to create an outline where i can input the out line i want ? eg if i want a 2mm boarder/outline

The main reason i am using inkscape is with my craft robo to create masks for painting and stickers for rc cars

Many Thanks Andy

Welcome Andy!

Ah, ok. I had to do some experimenting myself, to sort it out. If you look for the tiny diamond (handle) immediately after you apply the linked offset, it's at the top left corner of the text to which you've applied the offset. But if you deselect it, and then reselect it, you don't see the handle. That's because linked offset creates a copy of the text. Try this -- with Node tool, click on the text once, then Alt + click. That should reselect the offset copy with its handle.

I also learned that if I rotate the text (I did that to learn if the handle is always at the top left corner, even if the text is flipped or rotated) and then apply the offset, the offset copy is located outside the image border. I don't know why. But if you did rotate it, you'll need to look outside the image border. It's outside the border on the left, kind of in the middle of the page.

If I flip the text (vertically) before applying the linked offset, the offset copy is WAY up above the image border. I had to really look around to find it, because it's so far up there. If I flip it horizontally, the copy is way far to the left outside the image border.

I don't know why the offset copy is placed with the text, as long as the text remains in a normal position, but if the text has any transform, the offset copy is placed outside the image border. And I also.....ooooohhh wait......

I'll bet this may be part of a well-known bug, attributable to my custom default landscape page orientation. (~suv, let me know if you'd like a sample document for testing. Although I suspect this may already be reported.)

Andy, if the Inkscape document that you're working on, is the default A4 page size, and you haven't changed the page size or orientation, you'll probably find the offset copy WITH and beneath the original text. But if you've changed the page size or orientation, and rotated or flipped the text, you may have to look around to find the offset copy.

If you still can't find it, you could submit the SVG file for us to examine (attach to reply, or upload wherever you prefer).

Edit
~suv, perhaps not related to the "transform attribute bug" because I just now removed the transform attribute from my custom default (finally), and all these weird placement of the offset copy still persists. I'll search Launchpad and report what I find. Edit -- nothing in Launchpad, is this a new bug? Inkscape 0.48.1, Windows 7, 64-bit. Edit -- well no, I must have done something wrong removing the transform attribute, because it's still there, in new blank docs.....aarrrggh!

Edit #4 - I can't seem to remove the transform attribute from my custom default doc. I remove it, but when I open a new doc, it's back. So I just created a new layer, to be able to test all this without the transform attribute. But I still have all these weird placements of the linked offset copy. The placements seem not so far away on new layer 2, as on transform attribute layer 1, but still all over the place. So still maybe a bug?

Have you'all tried using the plain ole 'outset' tool, I wonder if it has the same bug or not, might be worth a try. note: you might have to click the outset function several times to get it to the outline size needed.

The problem with that, is that you're restricted to the outset units that are programmed into Inkscape. (Unless you go to the XML Editor.) The Dynamic and Linked Offsets allow you to somewhat control the offset amount.

But the part that I think might be a bug should not affect Andy's use of Linked Offset, except for having to look around for the offset copy. But it might not even be a bug, for all I know. I just think it's strange that the offset copy is not rendered WITH the original (except for text in the normal position).

I didn't think of this before, but converting the text to path (Path menu > Object to Path) might eliminate the need to search around for the copy. I'll do some testing and report back.

Edit
Ok yes, if you convert the text to path, ungroup, and then combine into a compound path; then the linked offset works exactly like expected, with the offset copy still WITH the original. But Andy, if you do that, and you think you might ever need to edit the text, you'll want to save a copy of the original text (like on a hidden layer, e.g.). That's because after you convert the text to path, it will no longer be editable as text, and it can never be converted back to text. This is probably a good alternative for you

Hi
Thank you for your welcome and help

I had noticed that I could offset the text as soon as I had typed but as soon as I selected anything different I would no longer be able to use the offset !

I am away with work at the mo so am unable to get to my computer too try your advice , as soon as I can I will try it all out

Many thanks Andy

Just an update, with the advise given i am able to do what i want , many thanks

Andy