This has happened to me with a couple of svg files.

I go to File-> Document Properties -> Fit Page To Selection
and Inkscape crashes with the message:
"Inkscape encountered an internal error and will close now.
Automatic backup of the following documents failed: ..."

I get the same error if I change the dimensions manually via File-> Document Properties -> Width/Height

I put a copy of a problematic svg file here:
http://www.math.uh.edu/~robertr/temp/Ro ... re_6U2.svg

If anyone knows of a workaround, even if inconvenient, please let me know.

I am running Inkscape 0.47 on mac OS 10.6. I installed from the binary on the Inkscape website.

I'm unable to open your image at the moment. But if it's very big either in dimensions or in MB, that could be what's causing the crash, especially if it contains many filters (including blur) or extensions. If you could try it again on another system with more resources, that would be one thing to try. Maybe you either have, or know someone who has a computer with more RAM?

Another idea might be to break it up into Layers, if it's not already in layers, save each layer as an image (being VERY careful to use the exact same dimensions, and not to offset any), then compile them into one image. Although if size is the issue, you might run into the same problem trying to put them all back together. But if it were me, I try it anyway (that's just me ).

If size (dimensions or MBs) is NOT the problem, then I'm at a loss.... If size isn't it, then you may have a bug. I'll search Launchpad in a minute. For some reason, it seems like I've heard of some kind of bug like this. I'll post if I find anything, and here's the link to Launchpad if you want to search as well https://launchpad.net/inkscape.

[Edit] Imagine my surprise to find you've already reported it (https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/527314). And not only that, but managed to get it confirmed in only a few hours! (My few bug reports have taken many months to get any kind of response ) So I guess you've read the other bug reports there, and not found any resolution. It's doubtful my suggestions will help, but I'll leave them here anyway, for potential future readers of the topic.

rjrosenbaum, you can open your svg file in any text-editor and change width and height there...