Richer text layout features

[Irisson]

Though Inkscape is not primarily a text
layout/publishing program (such as openoffice or
scribus) adding a little more text layout features such as:
- bulleted/numbered lists (even if they are not dynamic)
- collumns
- space between paragraphs
would make flowed text awesome.

[Sprat (sprat)]

I also would like some richer text editing features, but
with some more options ;)

At least the default text editing should be supported :
stroke, underlined, justified, small caps, exponent,
sub-exponent. I know this could be achieved manually, but
this is very counterproductive IMO.

And maybe some teX like syntax to enter formulas... But I'm
just dreaming here ;)

Anyway, keep up the good work!

[Prokoudine (prokoudine)]

In SVG 1.1 only underline, overline, line-through and blink
decorations:

http://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/text.html#TextDecorationProperties

Small caps is also supported ('font-variant' element).

I would add request for 'letter-spacing' and 'word-spacing'
elements as well:

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Upping priority of this one. I also would love to see
additional text features such as bulleted lists. Inkview is
great for doing presentations, but creating a presentation
without easy bullet lists is more challenging than it should be.

These things may not be available in SVG though, but perhaps
they can be done via an Inkscape extension.

[Bug Importer (bug-importer)]

Publishing is naturally also about text formatting. Fields
with controlled text overflow as well as a numbering schema
for controlled stepping through fields with the tabulator
key, for example, are a must for easy development of
publishings like schema-based price lists or catalogues.

[dcberg (david-sipsolutions)]

Originator: NO

Hey just want to add indents and tabstops to the list of required things
for text editing ;)
Only because I would have liked to have them a minute ago.

[Bug Importer (bug-importer)]

How about superscript and subscript?

[Theboblet (theboblet)]

Originator: NO

Text is so often tightly integrated with 'graphical' elements, that I
think it's essential to be able to change character, word & line spacing.

[Rincewind (armin-bayer)]

I also would like to add a bit more weight to the question of text formatting. I use Inkscape regularly for generating schematic drawings or scientific posters (comparable to bug #171498 (sf1553935)). My colleagues usually take CorelDraw since it has been used ever since the foundation of our institute. I think Inkscape is much more powerful in drawing capabilities than Corel or at least the handling is much more intuitive. But I have to admit that the text formatting is much more advanced in Corel. As long as this is the case there is no chance that I could convince my colleagues to switch to Inkscape also.

I tried the 0.46pre0 release and hoped that the text tool had improved but the changes to that during last years Google SoC were obviously more internal. Is there a chance that the text edit capabilities improve in the next version? I would code it myself but unfortunately I am not able to and I don't have the time to learn it.

My wishes to text editing would be (just in consent with the others):
- generating tab stops (either global in page coordinates or local within each text box): left, centered, right
- numbered or bulleted lists (the input of special characters via unicode works fine but is too complex for day-to-day use)
- superscript and subscript
- paragraphs with more than one column

If it's not to ungrateful I would hope for something comparable to the Corel text tools. Nevertheless - you are doing great work!!! Thank you all for that!

[Rincewind (armin-bayer)]

I just had an idea how to realize at least left handed tab stops. Wouldn't it be possible to snap the text cursor to vertical guide lines or to the grid when pressing the tabulator key? I am very curious about the outcome of enhanced text features...

[Brendan (brendanarnold)]

I second these features.

Specifically it is not possible to create super/subscripts in flowed text the usual way (i.e. selecting, making smaller and using the up arrow keys to raise/lower). You have to create a separate text object and position it in place. If the flowed text is adjusted this means that all the super/subscripts ave to be adjuested manually too.

I am a little annoyed because I have just printed an A0 size poster having forgot to do this twice!

[Megan (mjmcderm)]

I'd like to see some of these things implemented as well. In fact, I'd be willing to pay money for them.

For me priorities would be:

1. GUI for kerning (letter spacing, if you prefer) and baseline shifts; make sure these (and line spacing!) are in the text toolbar.
2. Paragraph spacing separate from tracking
3. Eydropper copies font formatting (see <a href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/170256">bug #170256</a>)
4. Indents and bullets
5. A way to convert an inline text box to block form (this might be possible, I just can't find out how to do it)

I use inkscape primarily for website mock-ups so it would be really helpful if it could do at least what I can do in HTML or mimic it in some way (e.g. you don't have paragraph spacing in HTML but you add margins to accomplish the same thing).

I would put in $50 for these changes - anyone else want to contribute? What would it take to get this done?

[Brendan (brendanarnold)]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Megan <email address hidden>
Date: Fri, Oct 3, 2008 at 2:41 PM
Subject: [Bug 171141] Re: Richer text layout features
To: <email address hidden>

I'd like to see some of these things implemented as well. In fact, I'd
be willing to pay money for them.

For me priorities would be:

1. GUI for kerning (letter spacing, if you prefer) and baseline
shifts; make sure these (and line spacing!) are in the text toolbar.
2. Paragraph spacing separate from tracking
3. Eydropper copies font formatting (see <a
href="https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/170256">bug
#170256</a>)
4. Indents and bullets
5. A way to convert an inline text box to block form (this might be
possible, I just can't find out how to do it)

I use inkscape primarily for website mock-ups so it would be really
helpful if it could do at least what I can do in HTML or mimic it in
some way (e.g. you don't have paragraph spacing in HTML but you add
margins to accomplish the same thing).

I would put in $50 for these changes - anyone else want to contribute?
What would it take to get this done?

--
Richer text layout features
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/171141
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of the bug.

Status in Inkscape: A Vector Drawing Tool: Confirmed

Bug description:
Though Inkscape is not primarily a text
layout/publishing program (such as openoffice or
scribus) adding a little more text layout features such as:
- bulleted/numbered lists (even if they are not dynamic)
- collumns
- space between paragraphs
would make flowed text awesome.

[JiHO (jiho)]

On 2008-October-03 , at 09:41 , Megan wrote:

> 1. GUI for kerning (letter spacing, if you prefer) and baseline
> shifts; make sure these (and line spacing!) are in the text toolbar.

I don't know what you mean by GUI but this is already settable without
resorting to the XML editor: ALT + Arrows in the text will kern and
sub/super script the following letter or selection.

> 5. A way to convert an inline text box to block form (this might be
> possible, I just can't find out how to do it)

Create a rectangle then "text into shape" from the text menu. This
won't be a true flowed text but it will behave the same (and may
actually be more in line with the SVG spec)

[Megan (mjmcderm)]

JiHO,

1 - GUI = Graphical User Interface (don't have to remember the keyboard shortcuts, and can adjust units directly to keep consistency with other elements)

5 - that looks like it might work, thanks for the tip. In the version I have (0.46) it says "flow into frame" not "text into shape". It still doesn't seem to allow you to enlarge the box though.

[JiHO (jiho)]

On 2008-October-03 , at 12:08 , Megan wrote:

> 5 - that looks like it might work, thanks for the tip. In the
> version I
> have (0.46) it says "flow into frame" not "text into shape". It still
> doesn't seem to allow you to enlarge the box though.

yeah sorry, I said that from the top of my head without looking at the
menu.
it should allow you to edit the "frame" though, and text should
reflow in the new shape. Try with the node tool to be sure to actually
select the frame, not the text.

[Zakmck73 (zakmck73)]

I think these features are made very desirable by the existence of JessyInk (http://code.google.com/p/jessyink/). If it was easy to edit bullet/numbered lists in Inkscape, as well other features like: indent management, text size increase/decrease (keeping the proportions), many people would install JessyInk and start using Inkscape as their presentation tool, switching from LibreOffice or PowerPoint. As it stands right now, that's just not possible and one has to look at Prezi as an alternative.