Inkscape

Precise Drawing of a Straight Line BEZIER?

Asked by isnb

I know how to draw a straight line using the Bezier tool (Ctrl+F6). But the problem is that my bloody MOUSE is simply not accurate enough to let me select the exact starting point.

Some other tools with which I am familiar, let you type in the coordinates numerically. I couldn't find such option in InkScape.

Is it possible at all, in InkScape, to type in the coordinates numerically?

If so, how do I do that?

Thanks!

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isnb (member57140223) said : 		#1

Ah! I think that I found how. Not directly, but works for me for now. Here is how:

1. First sketch (as crudely as the bloody mouse dictates) whatever line/path/shape.
2. The select the 'Edit Paths by Nodes' tool (F2)
3. Then, click each node, and at the top toolbar enter X and Y coordinates.

That's it. :-)

If you have other methods, please let me know.

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isnb (member57140223) said : 		#2

Solved (ad described above).

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pbhj (pbhj) said : 		#3

You might want to use a grid (say 1mm) and enable "snap to grid" and set the "snap always when closer than" to the highest value (in the document properties). That means the mouse will jump to the closest rounded point whenever you move it.

You can actually enter a path numerically too. If you start your path then, with the path selected, choose to "view and edit the XML tree" - this brings up the XML editor. You can enter you path points as the value of the attribute "d". Just enter the raw numbers for the X,Y position at the end of the list that's there. There are no separators between the coordinate pairs. You'll probably see some entries like "M 17.716535,7.0865921 141.73228,95.669269 230.31496,166.53541", here M I think is the start point, C entries are for curved sections showing the handle positions from what I can tell, others are just the points of your line.

HTH

pbhj