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Old 02-21-2017, 10:12 AM
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Kugelfang Kugelfang is offline
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tedious tabs in Inkscape...

When making tabs in Inkscape I create a square, move it to the edge of the shape where I want a tab and then edit the nodes to size and shape the tab.

Anyone aware of an easier way? Are there any plugins that allow you to, say, select a line (or preferably an edge of a polygon) and automatically create a separate tab shape from it?

Might be an interesting plugin to write if there isn't anything already existing. Hmmmm...

TIA

--jeff
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Old 02-22-2017, 06:40 PM
hornswoggler hornswoggler is offline
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This is something you can do without scripting:

1. With the "Draw Bezier Curves..."-tool draw a straight line along the edge of your part where you want the tab to be. Make sure "snap to cusp nodes" is enabled. That way the line will be precisely placed.
2. With this new line still selected, go to "Extensions"\"Modify Path"\"Add nodes...". Select division method "by number of segments". Pick a number for the segments: (The higher the number of segments the more rectangular your tab will be. 7 seems to be a reasonable choice for medium length tabs.) Hit "apply", then close the dialog box.
3. Click on the "Edit path by nodes" tool (or simply hit F2). Now select the line and you will see it has additional and equally spaced control points. Select all of these except the two end points and move them in unison. You can use the arrow keys. Ta-dah! You've made a trapezoidal tab! (Admittedly, it has a few unnecessary control points - but who cares?)

This method may sounds long and complicated but once you know what you are doing it is probably as fast as modifying a rectangle. The true improvement is that the edge of the tab will always be parallel to the edge of the part no matter what the orientation of the part may be.

Best
Hornswoggler
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Old 02-23-2017, 08:29 AM
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airdave airdave is offline
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I don't know exacctly how it works in Inkscpae,
but in Corel I just draw my tabs.

Straight Line tool...click, click, click, and click.
4 points, drawn in the shape I want.
Its a Glue tab...so it doesn't have to be shape perfect.

I usually start along the face/edge of the part, draw that line first,
then draw out the rest of the Tab, with angled ends, and a parallel outer edge.
Quickest way I know to make a Glue Tab.

If I have multiple Tabs to do, I copy and paste the first Tab,
and adjust as necessary.
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Old 02-23-2017, 09:11 AM
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Kugelfang Kugelfang is offline
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Quote:
... If I have multiple Tabs to do, I copy and paste the first Tab,
and adjust as necessary.....
Yeah, that's pretty much what I do now. It's repetitive, though, so I was looking for possible shortcuts. I've suffered through carpal tunnel so any avoidance of repetitive motions is a good thing in my book. That... and I'm lazy.

Thanks, Hornswoggler, I'll take a look at that method.

--jeff
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Old 02-23-2017, 09:30 AM
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airdave airdave is offline
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It doesn't matter what Inkscape or drawing shortcuts you come up with.
You still have to click that left mouse button, and that is your repetitive task.
Only way to get around that, is stop using a computer.

Trick is to learn the shortcuts and extra functions of your software.
Inkscape must be similar in having built in tricks and functions.
I have become very used to using the side Dockers in Coreldraw for many cut and paste functions.

For example, I can create a duplicate object, but mirrored, and flipped...
and recreate it multiple times, with specific spacing, or at varying angles...
all with one click.
Because these types of functions are already available if you have the right Docker Windows at the ready.

I keep a set of Dockers on the right of my workspace.
One does a set of Object transformations. (About 6 functions)
I have a Docker for creating inside and outside Contours.
One for turning vector corners into rounded corners.
And I have one Docker for Combining/Intersecting/Trimming multiple shaped objects.

I've also gotten used to many of the Tool flyouts and various tricks already built into Coreldraw that create certain things.
Like perfect circles or drawing arrows and stars.
Learning how to preset line thicknesses and colour fills before you start drawing can come in handy.
Saves going back over work to change things.
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