Remove unnecessary groups and layers

[Pfrandsen-users]

First: Thank you for a great tool!

The request:

It seems that many tools that generate reports/output
in SVG add many unnecessary groups (and perhaps
layers). One example is WebLogic Integration which can
export a workflow definition as SVG.

All these extra groups makes it quite difficult to edit
the SVG file.

It would be very nice to have a "simplification"
feature that removes unnecessry groups (and layer) -
like the simplification feature you have for paths.

Alternatively - or in addition - to the simplification
command, it would be very valuable to be able to
remove/delete a group node in the XML editor withouth
removing the contents of the node (like an ungroup
feature in the XML editor).

Regards

Peter Frandsen

[Horkana-users (horkana-users)]

automatically deciding what you consider unnecessary isn't
as easy as it sounds

a flatten layer function is planned (may already be
included, dont have a recent copy of inkscape handy)

see also "Ungroup All"
http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1418223&group_id=93438&atid=604309

this request might be covered already by more specific requests

[Rena Kunisaki (i-am-inuyasha)]

Well, we can be certain that groups of one object are almost always unnecessary. I tend to leave them behind when I cut an object from a group or move it to another layer without realizing it's a group of two.

[jazzynico (jazzynico)]

Partially implemented in Inkscape 0.48, thanks to the Scour output extension, using File>Save As>Optimized SVG (check "Groupe Collapsing" and "Enable Id Stripping").
Only works with groups which have no attribute.