Inkscape hangs with "save as" PNG export

Hi Bryan,

to export to PNG, you need to use the File > Export PNG image functionality. The dialog allows you to export the page, a selection, or an arbitrary area.

'Save as... Cairo PNG' will give you a Cairo PNG file that only supports a subset of the PNG file format's functions. It shouldn't be used at all if you don't know exactly what it does, and explicitly want that.

The latest version is Inkscape 0.92.1 - this is the version you are using?
For me, on Ubuntu 16.04, Save as... Cairo PNG works (although - if you really want to use it - I'd recommend 'Save a copy....' instead. Save as... will also lose all the vector data in the file, when you next want to edit it....)

Can you have a look into the bug reports section, to see if your issue is represented there?
https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape

Kind Regards,
 Maren

I am using Inkscape 0.92.1. The problem has persisted with this version as well as its predecessor. I completely uninstalled Inkscape, then reinstalled it. The problem persisted with no change. My recollection is that PNG export worked fine until I upgraded to the previous version (my recollection is not to be trusted at a 100 percent level).

I don't see my issue in the bug section. The closest matches relate problems with larger files, but this problem occurs for me with a 1 dpi image (just verified the behavior moments ago--0.45 dpi, in fact). Size, in this case, does not appear to matter. On the export PNG menu, as soon as I hit "Save As..." it highlights blue and Inkscape hangs. Inkscape then won't terminate without using Program Manager, as described above.

With the reinstall, I'm also getting the message that my xml preferences file is unusable. But the problem with exporting PNG files predated this behavior.

Okay, I should have thought of this before: I'm using a wonky keyboard which may be causing the problem. I will test with a spare keyboard to see if the the keyboard is the problem.

My apologies in advance for wasting your time if the keyboard is the culprit.

Meh. The problem isn't the keyboard.

Mmh.
As for the preferences file, you can rename the file you find indicated at
Edit -> Preferences -> System: User config. Then Inkscape will create a new one.

As for the saving (glad you're using the export to PNG image dialog):
Can you make a screenshot of your export dialog settings? There is no 'Save as...' button in that dialog, so I'd like to know where it goes wrong. Do you mean the 'Export as...' button, maybe?

Please upload the screenshot and an SVG image where this happens for you to a file or image hosting service, and link to it in your next comment here. (No email attachments please, they do not work!)

Also please indicate:
- which Inkscape file you used for installation (exe? msi? portable? 64bit? 32bit?)
- where you installed Inkscape
- if your home directory is in a standard location on your computer, or on a different drive, perhaps.

I suspect that perhaps Inkscape is looking for your home directory in a place where it does not exist...

Kind Regards,
 Maren

D'oh--you're right, I meant "export as."

I've clipped images of the dialog box before and after clicking the "export as" button ... but I'm not sure how to go about uploading the images here.

I used the executable install for Windows, 64 bit.

Installed to c/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs

The home directory stuff is near the boundary of my computer literacy ... but this is the default location in the "export as" window:

C:\Users\Bryan\path10.png

Thank you, Bryan, this is good info. Also the slash orientation in the path is correct.

Does the folder C:\Users\Bryan\ exist on your system? Is it a local folder (i.e. on the harddisk on the computer that you are sitting at)?

What happens if you do not use the 'Export as...' button at all, but just Export? Does Inkscape export a picture to the indicated location?

Maren

Using the "Export" button saves a PNG file to the specified location on the C: drive.

Confirmed with a test just now.

So, it seems this issue could already be known:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/1663999

Can you subscribe to the report and listen to any updates?

Also, can you please answer the remaining question from comment #5:

- which Inkscape file you used for installation (exe? msi? portable? 64bit? 32bit?)

Kind Regards,
 Maren

That bug shares some resemblance to what I'm experiencing. I suppose trying to apply the recommended fix will tell the tale. Sure, I'll subscribe and look over the details.

As described above, I installed the 64 bit version of Inkscape for Windows using the executable file option.

If that isn't what ended up installing then I was somehow misled by the instructions (3x).

Sorry, I overlooked the .exe hint! Let's wait what Eduard has to say.

Hi Bryan, could you try to download the 7z version of Inkscape 0.92.1 (extract into an empty folderI and then run inkscape.exe from there?

Also I think you did not try to reset preferences yet as suggested by Maren in comment #5?
An easy way to do so:
* open an Explorer window
* copy "%appdata%" (without quotes) into the location bar and hit enter
* you should no be in a folder where an "inkscape" folder can be found
* rename this folder to e.g. "inkscape.bak" (you can revert this later to restore your preferences)

Thanks for the responses offering assistance and explanations.

Eduard,

1) Uninstalled Inkscape
2) Downloaded 7zip file (windows 64-bit)
3) deleted contents of old Inkscape folder, including the old & invalid preferences file
4) Unzipped 7zip file
5) Ran Inkscape.exe
6) Opened test image (SVG) referred to in my previous message
7) Opened "Export PNG image" menu
8) Attempted "Export as"
9) Inkscape froze, in line with descriptions above (closed with Program Manager)

I have yet to try applying the fix described in the bug report Maren linked.

@Bryan, just to be safe:
When you write
>3) deleted contents of old Inkscape folder, including the old & invalid preferences file"
which folder(s) did you delete?

You mentioned above
>I used the executable install for Windows, 64 bit.
> Installed to c/ProgramData/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs
That's highly unlikely! (This is probably the location of the shortcut).
The actual installation directory is something like "C:\Program Files\Inkscape"

Eduard,

**which folder(s) did you delete?**

All the contents. I have far from a photographic memory, but the folder names strongly evoked functions of the program, along the lines of textures, palettes.

**That's highly unlikely! (This is probably the location of the shortcut).**

Ah--good call. I think I tracked the file location by right-clicking it from the start menu. With the file download and extraction I described via the numbered list, I do not have Inkscape installed as such (no folder in Program Files). I'm just running the executable file.

Using file explorer I found all kinds of Inkscape-related relics, including a bunch of files from February with .mo suffixes.

Should I find and trash all the relics and try a fresh install?

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