Hello,

New with Inkscape. Looks great so far! I experimented with various features and I am unable to "path" (as in use the function "Object to path") text and objects. I am using a MB pro, mavericks, latest version of Inkscape.

The status updater at the bottom of the Inkscape window reveals that it recognizes objects and text I select, but simply says "no object to path" when I press "shift+control+c". This is obviously a bit frustrating. As previously stated, I am new with Inkscape, but this problem is not isolated to this svg which makes me think: Is there something more to "object to path" than selecting an object and pressing "object to path"? If not, has anyone had a similar issue?

Thanks for your time.

Andrew

Welcome aboard!

It may be confusing, but the indicator bar telling "no object to path" appears even when you have selected an object which is already a path.
In that case, after pressed Ctrl+Shift+C once.

More than that, texts after converting to paths, will become a set of grouped paths -characters- together.
Why? Because long texts would result in too many nodes in one path, which can produce rendering glitches.
In case you are after one single object,
once converted the text to path, ungroup characters (Ctrl+Shift+G) and combine them together (Ctrl+K).

Good luck!

i never understand the difference between an object (like a rectangle or a circle) and a path
why arent all rectangles and circles automatically paths ?

a rectangle has only 4 nodes, so it cant be the same reason as for text, Lazur gave...

Rectangles and circles have special properties that keep their shape rectangular and circular. They have special handles for controlling those properties. E.G. Height, Width, Diameter.

Deep down they actually are paths, but that is locked and hidden, so you don't accidentally mess up a lovely circle or make a side of a square sloping. Until you need it that is. when you can just convert it to a path.

Geometric shapes are different elements in the svg codes.
Here is the specification's part on it,
Paths are in another chapter.

It may seem that inkscape has it's rectangles stored as paths with 4 or 8 nodes, but actually that's just implementation of the renderer.
Like, in the devbuild versions, the circle element is added,
and, there a simple object to path action adds more nodes to it than four, based on accuracy?
Haven't experienced with it.

But you can also try the connector tool, which looks like a simple path, though it is a polyline technically.