I've been trying to Import Jpegs (drawing scans) onto Inkscape , but none of the files on my libraries are recognized. I read the different types of files that are compatible with importing on Inkscape in the manual, but it wasn't really clear. I'm new on Inkscape and to online "vectors" and such, so I don't really understand the Inkscape lingo. I've tried reading the definitions but even those aren't clear to me. Is this even possible to do?
If anyone could help clear this up for me that would be great.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

I couldn't explain the hows and whys, and technical stuff. But I know that I've imported JPGs into Inkscape, without any problems. Usually you would use File menu > Import. But I think if you try to open something like a JPG, that Inkscape can't open, Inkscape will try to import it. So either Import or Open should work.

When you say that none of your files are recognized, does that mean you're getting an error message? What does it say exactly?

I don't know.....I guess if you could provide a JPG that you're having trouble with, we could try it ourselves. Personally, I would only be able to try importing. Other members might be able to troubleshoot.

Also, I'm not sure if it matters, but it might help to know your operating system and Inkscape version

I usually just drag-an-drop bitmaps into the Inkscape window rather than using Import or Open. It should amount to the same thing, but it might be worth trying that.

Inkscape tends to open high-resolution scans at quite a large size. If the drawing you're importing is just outlines, it's possible that it's loading okay but at a large size, centred on a white part of the page. Try zooming out to see if that's the case. If so, select your image and scale it while holding CTRL to maintain the aspect ratio.

I'll try your suggestions, thanks for the feedback!

I'm on the latest version of Inkscape currently. When I say "the files aren't recognized", I mean that when I click open or import and go to my libraries folder, none of my files show up. I changed the search from "all Inkscape files" to "All files" but still nothing happens. It's just an empty folder

Ooooh, ok, I understand now.
If you either copy one of the files in the library, and paste it into just a regular folder (like in My Pictures, if it's Windows) and then open Inkscape, can you locate it in the regular folder? I only have a very general understanding of libraries, with no practical understanding at all. But I have the impression that the library is somehow different from a regular folder. Uuummm.....ok, I have the impression that a library is kind of a database, or like a database, rather than just a folder full of files. Maybe Inkscape somehow can't read the library?

Well, you should probably wait for someone who knows more about libraries to help with this. It's really out of my realm of understanding, as far as a library relates to Inkscape. I'll bet Xav knows

brynn wrote: I'll bet Xav knows

I'll bet he doesn't!

What operating system are you using? And when you say "library" are we just talking about a folder called library, or something provided by the operating system, a network server or some other thing that might make it behave differently to a normal folder.

Can you open the JPEGs in a web browser? A bitmap graphics program like Photoshop or The GIMP? (if so, try saving them as PNG files to see if Inkscape fares any better with them then). Could you attach one here so we can see whether or not there's a problem with the JPEGs themselves?

Libraries—new in Windows 7—make it easier to find, work with, and organize files scattered across your PC or network. A library brings your stuff together in one place—no matter where it's actually stored . Fromhttp://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/products/features/libraries The bottomof the page has some links on FAQs... Did you install Inkscape with an installer program, or just unzip a folder and start using it?

Oh, well at least I feel better, not being to only one who needs more info. It sounds like we need to know more about your library.

Library as druban suggests, such as My Pictures in Windows, those are the plain old folders that I was talking about. If you can put the image in one of those, you should be able to see it with Inkscape Open or Import dialogs. But I think we're not even sure of your operating system yet.

There's another kind of library, often shortened to "lib" which I think of as kind of a database which programmers use. That's what I thought you meant. But I guess we need more clarity

Wow thanks everyone! I finally got it to work using your suggestions! The only problem now is learning to use Inkscape............thanks again!