Hi Friends,
Let's say I have 2 simple subpaths of one compound path:


And I want to use the Pen tool to join them, by clicking first on node #1, and clicking again on node #2:


After clicking on node #2, the tiny square at node #1 disappears, but not at node #2:


And when I switch back to the Node tool, there is still a single node at node #1. But at node #2, we have 2 end nodes, directly on top of each other, rather than another single node:


Is this expected behavior? Or shouldn't the 2nd single click, on the tiny square at node #2, Join the nodes (like at node #1), rather then just end the line at the beginning of the next (which actually creates a new node)?

Thanks for your help

Good question. I've tried to figure out why it's designed that way, but I cannot see that this behaviour could have any advantage in respect of workflow.

Well you can click and drag or click to continue a path but as far as joining it to another node the pen tool doesn't do that - unless it's for closing a path - even if it's a subpath. But you can't use the closing a path behaviour of the bezier tool to connect a subpath to another subpath because each of the paths that make up the compound path are remaining open.

Try this, maybe what I am saying might make sense - Make a compound path of two unconnected line segments. You have a path with four nodes. Click with the B tool on one of the nodes. You have begun to continue the path. move the pointer to one of the nodes in the unconnected subpath. you get the option of clicking to close the path. But this is incorrect because clicking here will not close any paths, so if you do, it just creates an additional node in the path, overlapping the node that was there.

If instead you click on a node to continue a path, make a node somewhere (so as to create a triangle - you don't have to, but it makes things easier to see) and then move the pointer to the other node in the same subpath you get the same option of clicking to close the path - only this time since it is actually closing a path it does not create an additional node.

I guess the message does not differentiate between compound and simple paths and maybe it should.The node tool is really what you want for joining two non endpoint nodes.

No, I'm only talking about compound paths or subpaths. As far as I know, the only way to connect separate simple paths, is with snapping. Here are 2 simple paths:

There are no tiny squares for the Pen (Bezier) tool. However, if you use snapping (nodes and handles to cusp nodes), you can use the pen tool, and the click on node #1 continues that path. A single click on node #2 does not end the path, but a double-click on node #2 has the exact same effect as in my original message -- and extra node, right on top of node #2. And then can then be joined with the Node tool (Join).

That makes sense that there's an extra node, because the double click should create an end node. But in my example, it only takes a single click to "close and finish the path". It just makes sense to me that there should not be that extra node, which requires then the Node tool to Join the 2 remaining end nodes. Otherwise, why does the single click "close and finish the path", but still add the extra node?

In my simplistic example in the original message, using the Node tool and "Join selected endnodes with new segment", absolutely is the best solution. But the problem I'm having, is that I might have drawn several corner nodes in between the 2 paths I'm connecting. Like so:



Yes, I see what you're saying, that using the pen tool to close a path, does not result in an extra node, or require the extra step to join the 2 end nodes. I just can't understand why it only works to close a closed path, and not to join 2 subpaths. I think maybe it should. Does anyone know any good reason why it should not? Maybe I'll report to Launchpad?

I just can't understand why it only works to close a closed path, and not to join 2 subpaths. I think maybe it should. Does anyone know any good reason why it should not?

I think it's working properly now, although the message 'click to close and finish' is deceptive when you are editing a compound path and needs to be changed. But I don't want (especially now, with LPE accepting only single paths so complex compound paths are often necessary as an intermediate step) to not be able to draw with the bezier tool so several points are aligned but not connected.
Another issue with changing the current behaviour is the impossibility of having Y shaped bezier lines, i.e. connecting to a non endpoint node - if I understand it correctly.

Thanks druban.
Would you mind stating this differently? I don't understand what you mean.

But I don't want (especially now, with LPE accepting only single paths so complex compound paths are often necessary as an intermediate step) to not be able to draw with the bezier tool so several points are aligned but not connected.

Are you saying that you specifically want or need the extra node, in your workflow, for some reason?

I'm not asking about a "Y path". I just think that if a single click on node #2 ends the segment, it should automatically join to that node, just like it does in the closed path.

Same as or related to Bug #168155 in Inkscape: “Pen/pencil: nodes from different subpaths can't be connected”?

Wow, ~suv!
And I did search. Apparently I was not using the right words.
I will add a comment to that bug.

Thanks for your help