Hello
Inkscape appears to me to be very slow and very complicate to use
I can believe that it must be possible to draw simple lines with InkScape

Unfortunately no option in the interface seems to allow to do that ?

I need an Inscape user interface specialist to help

olibara wrote:I can believe that it must be possible to draw simple lines with InkScape

Indeed it can. You can draw straight lines, curved lines, spiro-splines, spirals--all sort of lines. I recommend you glance over the entire Inkscape guide - http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/ - and this chapter in particular for "lines" - http://tavmjong.free.fr/INKSCAPE/MANUAL/html/Paths.html

Thank you

But I think that if I have to read a book to undestand what should be the basics feature of an application, it means something goes wrong

I do not have to read a book to understand how to enter text in MS Word
I do not have to read a book to draw some shape in Paint, Paint.NET etc ...

But InkSkape UI remain obscure to me

The only tool I have found to draw line is this one


Maybe this is the one but I'm not sure about it's name

This might help:

To draw a freehand line, use this one: (This tool's symbol is a pencil, and they tend to draw lines)

To draw a line that looks like it was made with a calligraphy pen, use this one: (Note, this tool 's symbol is a nib pen, which is typically used for calligraphy)

To draw a straight line (known as a "path" in the vector world) use this one: (Note, this tool's symbol is a pen, which can be used to draw lines as well)

If you were to read the linked to page, you would discover that in the vector world, all objects have a stroke (outline) and a fill (inside). To draw a line, you only want a stroke set, not a fill.

To draw straight lines, select the pen tool then click (not drag) on the canvas where you want the start of the line. Click again where you want the next point of the line. You can keep doing this for as many points as you want. You stop by either clicking on the first point you made (this creates what is called a "closed path") or by hitting enter (which creates an open path). I know there are other ways to stop drawing with the pen tool, but I use enter so it is the only one I remember. Once you stop drawing the segments, the path will be rendered (given a fill and stroke). If you wish to hage it, use the control on the bottom left of the page.

To draw with the pencil or calligraphy tools, click and draw while holding the mouse button down. Letting go stops drawing.

-Rob A>

Btw, welcome to our forums!

[edit] The Anatomy of the Inkscape Window

Guest wrote:But I think that if I have to read a book to undestand what should be the basics feature of an application, it means something goes wrong

Perhaps you've hit a glitch because when it comes to drawing a line, Inkscape has little to no differences to other vector applications like Illustrator, Corel or Freehand. They even have similar icons. In which case, reading some documentation and identifying that Inkscape is not working as it should can go a long way towards fixing the problem.

Keeping in mind that you haven't described any details about what you've tried, it might also be that the opacity for what you are drawing (assuming you have tried using ) is "0" in which case it's not your ability to draw a line that is the problem, but you ability to see it.

You can change the opacity for the select object in the lower left corner of the window. You can view all object regardless of their visible properties by changing the display mode under View to outline.

Thank you all for your patience

What I wanted to do is to draw straight lines between to point by plotting a point and drag a line to anotherpoint I am usualy using cad system as TurboCad
The UI of InkScape is new to me and not so easy to understand (my opinion)

I'm not entirely sympathetic to the "You shouldn't have to read a book" argument. I was going to point the OP at the in-built tutorial.

But I tried that myself, first, and the the Basic tutorial doesn't tell you how to draw a line, straight or otherwise. That's a real problem.

olibara wrote:What I wanted to do is to draw straight lines between to point by plotting a point and drag a line to anotherpoint I am usualy using cad system as TurboCad

So, do you know how to draw a line now? If not, here's yet another resource that explains - http://www.microugly.com/inkscape-quick ... awing-path

olibara wrote:Thank you all for your patience

What I wanted to do is to draw straight lines between to point by plotting a point and drag a line to anotherpoint I am usualy using cad system as TurboCad
The UI of InkScape is new to me and not so easy to understand (my opinion)

...you didn't try hard enough. You probably just started inkscape and want to start working...the very least you can do is to try all the tools at the left panel...then you will know how easy it is to draw straight lines.
It is like a first time photoshop user starting photoshop and instanly want to do red eye removal without getting to know the tools available..

Click on this then click on your first point, then click on the 2nd point , if you want absolute straight line then do not drag or you will get a curve.

I am very impressed with the forbearance and restraint of my fellow Inkscape users in their responses to this question! you have inspired me to new heights of politeness and I will withhold those comments that first spring to mind.

I recommend something that may be new to you:

At the top of the screen is a menu that has the word "Help" at the end.

Click that, then go down to the 4th item called "Tutorials"

Then read them and follow the directions.

I hope this helps you.

If you are sincere, welcome to the forum. However, this seems more like a troll to get email addresses. I have never seen anyone ask a forum how to draw a line.

Is this a bogus post???

Thanks for your concern about possible trolling.

There are no email addresses or requests for such, anywhere in this thread, so not sure how you got onto that idea? Plus, that member made a 2nd and 3rd reply, which nefarious spammers or trollers would probably not wait around to do. If any of us who replied believed this post was intended for a questionable purpose, we would not have made so many sincere replies. In fact, your suggestion for that member duplicates those already posted (please note my signature ).

Beginners are welcome here, even those trying to learn the most basic things, as well as users with all levels of experience.

FYI, all new members'/visitors' messages are moderated before being displayed in the forum (just as I have just approved your message). Please see this topic: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=4632

curious reader wrote:I recommend something that may be new to you:

At the top of the screen is a menu that has the word "Help" at the end.

Click that, then go down to the 4th item called "Tutorials"

Then read them and follow the directions.

There's no tutorial which tells you how to draw a straight line. Really. I looked.

Let me start by saying that I didn't want to use your software. I wanted to use Autocad 2009 or Google sketchup however, my friends flaser machine uses this software, so i thought what the hell. I'm an amateur draftsman and this software should be easy.

After 2 hours I still cannot draw a ****ing line. What this software is is exactly why people flee open source and why the linux revolution has not taken place. It's completely counter intuitive. People start drawing by drawing a line. Watch a child draw at some point using Microsoft paint. I'm not supposed to pour over the help file just to draw a line.

The line command needs to be on left hand side above the square.

Also, when importing Autocad files .... there is no option to bring the file in inches. This is annoying.

EDIT - I did figure out how to draw a line, but not a line of a set length.

Well, I suspect that you're not interested in having your questions answered. But I will say that Inkscape is NOT a cad or autocad, or any kind of drafting software. It's not supposed to work like those programs (duh).

The "line command" is either the Pen tool or the Pencil tool. Do you see these icons: (Pencil tool), (Pen or Bezier tool)? (Actually many Inkscape tools can draw lines, of one kind or another.)

Here's how to draw a straight line:
1 - Open Inkscape.
2 - Engage the Pencil tool.
3 - Place the mouse/pointer over the canvas.
4 - Click once.
5 - Move the mouse/pointer to where you want the line to end.
6 - Click once.
7 - As soon as you release the mouse, you will see the line.

The Pen tool is slightly more complicated, because you have to double-click to end the line.

Both of these tools, like all Inkscape tools, have many settings and many options for modifying the line that you draw. You can look in the manual under Pencil tool or Pen (Bezier) tool to find instructions.

And I would suggest that if you need a tutorial to figure out that tools called "Pen" and "Pencil" might draw lines, you'll not do well with Inkscape, or any graphics program. And if you don't like open source programs, then don't use them!

Edit
I just noticed darker4308's edit. There's not a measuring tool in Inkscape yet. I think it's expected with the next major version release (0.49). For now, you have to draw the line, and then use other tools to adjust the length. However, if the line isn't perfectly vertical or horizonal, it's not possible to set a length. (Well, you could do it if you know the right math and geometry.) (Or perhaps it could be done in the XML editor?? I'm really not sure.)

Perhaps it's understandable how some people are disappointed with Inkscape. Because it rivals the abilities of other quite mature, and well, really state of the art graphics software, it seems in some ways not to measure up. But I always like to remind them that Inkscape has not yet released a version 1.0. For as sophisticated as Inkscape has become, it is still quite early in its development!

darker4308 wrote:Watch a child draw at some point using Microsoft paint.

I find Microsoft Paint to be really frustrating to use, and Inkscape quite satisfying! I can only imagine what that says about how messed up I must be! JK

darker4308 wrote:After 2 hours I still cannot draw a ****ing line.

The frustrating thing is that you haven't provided any information that could be used to improve Inkscape. If the developers are reading this, they know you don't know how to draw a line, but they don't know why. Is it because you can't identify the correct tool by its icon? Do you know the tool, but don't know how to use it?

Everyone has used Inkscape for the first time, but only a few have expressed problems figuring out the basics. We all come in with different experiance. I've used all the other significant Vector software, and AutoCAD and Sketchup, prior to using Inkscape. I didn't have an issue with the basics of Inkscape, but that's not to say you shouldn't have. But knowing why is the only way something can be done about it.

4seasons wrote:Click on this then click on your first point, then click on the 2nd point , if you want absolute straight line then do not drag or you will get a curve.

Double click on the second point to end. That is, click once on the first point and double click on the second for a straight line. To create a poly-line: click on each point but the last; double click on the last.

Oh man, I was about to reply something that druban (read above) would not be proud of... hehehe and then I realized this post has 2 years old and the OP is probably having fun insulting some other software in some other forum.

I wonder, can't we make this a sticky on how not to request help?

For me it was the ability to draw a dead horizontal line that I was looking for, but I found the answer on a different forum post:

"If you hold Ctrl you can restrict the angles of the lines (I think you can change it in Preferences but the default is 15 degrees), this way it's very easy to draw vertical and horizontal lines. "

Though it would have been handy to have this function on the tooltip, I understand there's lots on there already.

Ric

zricmo wrote:Though it would have been handy to have this function on the tooltip, I understand there's lots on there already.

Once you start drawing (with for example) it does get mentioned (briefly) in the status bar at the bottom of the window. As a general rule it's a good idea to keep an eye on the status bar - there is a lot of useful, context sensitive information that gets shown there.

For me it was the ability to draw a dead horizontal line that I was looking for, but I found the answer on a different forum post:

"If you hold Ctrl you can restrict the angles of the lines (I think you can change it in Preferences but the default is 15 degrees), this way it's very easy to draw vertical and horizontal lines. "

Though it would have been handy to have this function on the tooltip, I understand there's lots on there already.

Ric

One very nice feature of the is that you can choose one of these options (circled in red below)in the control bar.
The first one makes all of your lines straight, but of free angles (you can still constrain with ctrl when drawing) and the other one makes them all true horizontals and verticals. You can also switch back and forth between them while drawing a single path.