Hi,

Hopefully this is something easy to do, but I can't find the function. In Inkscape, is there a way to do commands (stretch and offset especially) where you input a numerical value instead of dragging things with the mouse?

-Jeremy

jscook55 wrote: In Inkscape, is there a way to do commands (stretch and offset especially) where you input a numerical value instead of dragging things with the mouse?

menu 'Object > Transform…' -> 'Move' and 'Scale'

See also: "Positioning and Transforming » Transformations: Transforms with the Transform Dialog" in the Inkscape manual.

Thanks so much for the reply! This should work nicely. Is there a way to do that with the inset/outset command? Wouldn't that be more or less the same thing?

For that matter, is there a way to draw lines etc with a numerical input? For example, say I wanted to draw a line from point 100,100 to 500,500.

jscook55 wrote:Is there a way to do that with the inset/outset command?

The path inset/outset distance can be set in 'File > Preferences > Steps'.
For dynamic/linked offsets, you can adjust the offset amount numerically in 'Edit > XML Editor' (select and edit the attribute 'inkscape:radius').

jscook55 wrote:For that matter, is there a way to draw lines etc with a numerical input? For example, say I wanted to draw a line from point 100,100 to 500,500.

Not really - though your example could be easily done by snapping to the grid.

In general, positioning nodes and defining geometric dimensions while drawing shapes or paths is done with snapping to grid, guides or other node snap targets while or after drawing the objects. Only the rectangle tool has options to numerically enter or edit the width / height of the current rectangle.

The pen (bezier) tool will display the distance from the last created node in the status bar, as well as the angle (relative to the x-axis). The angle can be constrained by pressing 'Ctrl' (within the pen tool context).

There is "workaround" in the node tool to position "new" nodes numerically: once you have an initial path (e.g. a straight line with two nodes), switch to the node tool and select one of the end nodes. Use the keyboard shortcut 'Shift+D' to duplicate the selected end node, and enter the new coordinates in the controls bar. (Note: if you duplicate a start or an end node in the node tool, the selected one will always be the new start or end node and extend the path when moved to a new position. If the duplicated node is a mid node, it will be inserted in path direction, but the original node stays selected. Use 'Tab' or 'Shift+Tab' to select the next (or prior) node in path direction).

Of course you can always edit the position of an individual node numerically in the node tool (after having drawn the path), or drag the selected node on-canvas with the mouse to snap it to the grid and/or precisely positioned guides (double-click a guide to open a dialog which allows to position a guide numerically).

Thanks!