can't create anything 0.47 (WinXP Pro)

[Christopher]

After installing 0.47, I'm unable to create anything in the program. I've tried uninstalling then reinstalling and I also tried uninstalling then deleting all Inkscape folders (Program files and Documents and Settings) followed by reinstalling. After installing, I can select tools, but I can't create anything with them.
I'm using a Wacom Intuos 4 tablet with the tablet mouse, so I also tried using a USB mouse, but no change.
No problems with 0.47 on my home computer.(running Ubuntu).

[ScislaC (scislac)]

Have you properly configured your tablet in File>Input Devices?
Also, is there a fill or stroke set? Is Opacity higher than 0?

[Christopher (cnewell74)]

As It turns out, it is a problem with the tablet. I can click and select items from toolbars and menus, but Inkscape won't recognize input with the tablet mouse or stylus. The part that confused me previously was the fact that I tried the USB mouse with the tablet mouse sitting on the tablet. I could move the pointer as normal, but if the tablet mouse is in place, I get nothing. When I remove the tablet mouse, I can use the USB mouse to create objects.
So, the question now becomes how to configure the tablet. I could at least draw with the same tablet in 0.46, even though it didn't recognize it properly. When I open File>Input Devices, I can't change anything (with the USB mouse), so there's no way to configure my tablet.

[ScislaC (scislac)]

Christopher,

If you can bring up the Input Devices dialog, can you navigate it with your keyboard (Tab to move fields, Arrows to change options, Spacebar to activate items)?

If it shows no devices in the dialog, please make sure your shortcuts for Inkscape have the same values as mentioned in this comment, then launch from your updated shortcut and try again:
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/490448/comments/5

[Christopher (cnewell74)]

I have my work computer at home right now, where I use my Graphire 3. Interestingly, I can create with this tablet, but when I try to choose input devices, it tells me there's nothing present (as it did with 0.46). When I was at work, I was able to select and activate all items within the dialogue, but I couldn't select different options from any of the drop-down menus. I didn't try to use the keyboard, but I couldn't make any changes even with the USB mouse--which did allow me to create objects.

I should be clear. With the Intuos 4, I could move the cursor around the screen, and I could select and activate menus, toolbar items, and even tools. When I tried to use them in the drawing area, I got no reaction from Inkscape. I couldn't even click and drag with the pointer tool to create a selection marquee. (My guess is that all the rest is handled by Windows, but the drawing area is handled by Inkscape, which seems to have a hate-on for my tablet.)

Thanks for the suggestion regarding the shortcut. For the Graphire tablet, it doesn't make a difference; it's never recognized. With the Intuos tablet, I only used the shortcut with 'share' so it looks like that comment won't help.

[Christopher (cnewell74)]

After playing with the input devices dialogue, I was finally able to change a couple of options using the keyboard. Many of the drop-downs won't let me change them, despite the fact that multiple options are present. Sometimes when I close the dialogue and reopen, I can change different options than the previous time.
I still can't use the pen to draw anything, but I can use the tablet mouse to draw--although whatever I draw is offset, by differing amounts, and in different directions, depending on the Intuos' display toggle. When I set the display toggle to encompass both monitors, the drawing is offset to the right and down slightly. When I set the display toggle to the monitor where I have Inkscape, it offsets to the left and slightly down.
Clearly, I have to do some research on properly configuring my tablet.

[Christopher (cnewell74)]

I'm now further along than before. After looking at other posts, I set the mouse to 'switch tool based on tablet device" in File> Inkscape Preferences. I'm able to select the tablet pen/stylus -->and I have it working (including pressure)!<-- I can't get the tablet "puck"/mouse to work properly, however. It would be very nice if there were a simple guide to setting up a tablet, instead of having to search multiple places to find things others have tried. Even better, it would be nice if Inkscape simply recognized the device.

I think I can close this bug report, since it's not a "bug" but simply a tablet configuration issue. The issue that started this report is resolved. The bigger issue of using Inkscape with my tablet is not solved, since I can't use the tablet mouse, requiring me to dust off and reconnect my USB mouse. Thanks for your help. If you can direct me to some good resources for properly configuring my tablet, I would appreciate it.

[jazzynico (jazzynico)]

Confirmed on Windows XP, Inkscape 0.47 and 0.48.1. The default configuration doesn't activate the tablet stylus and eraser, and the core pointer doesn't draw anything.
Half-fixed in 0.48.2. Inkscape draws things, but other issues make it unusable anyway.
Completely fixed in the trunk, revision 10957. And maybe in the 0.48.x branch (further tests needed).

[jazzynico (jazzynico)]

Fix also confirmed in the branch.