save as .dxf does not handle transformations

[Helmut Fedder]

Motivation:
Small scale photo lithography masks are used in a broad range of scientific application ranging from fundamental research in quantum information science to MEMS. Inkscape is an extremely versatile tool for prototyping such structures. Most lithography plotters require .dxf input.

Bug description:

version: 0.47
platform: linux (ubuntu)

.dxf conversion ignores transformations such as translations, rotations, etc..

To reproduce this bug:

1. draw two or more different looking arcs
2. shift them around
3. save as .dxf
4. import the .dxf in inkscape

-> the arcs are at the location where they were first drawn

It would be really great if someone fixes this bug and makes inkscape a universal tool for lithography mask construction.

Many thanks!

Sincerely,

Helmut Fedder

[su_v (suv-lp)]

Reproduced with Inkscape 0.47+devel r9442 on OS X 10.5.8 and verified with QCad 2.0.5.0:

Moved (or scaled) ellipses have a preserved 'transform' attribute [1] which apparently is ignored when exporting to DXF using 'Save as Desktop Cutting Plotter (R13) (*.dxf)'. If converting the moved arc/ellipse to path it initially still has the preserved 'transfrom' attribute until the path data is rewritten (triggered e.g. by moving or scaling it). The export error is not inherent to shapes (or ellipses) but affects regular paths with preserved 'transform' attributes as well.

[1] bug #233935 “Moves of circle stored in transform Attribute”

[Alvin Penner (apenner)]

yes, this type of bug, not interpreting transform elements, affects a number of different Python extensions, including some of the output routines. There is a bit of a work-around, which I think should normally work: from the menu use:
- Edit->Select All
and then use :
- Path->Object to Path

- then, with all objects selected, force a bit of a translation by selecting the entire group and hitting the up arrow once, and then hit the down arrow to return back to the original position. If all goes well, this should remove the transform elements and the dxf output should work.

[Alvin Penner (apenner)]

- a new output routine to deal with the effects of transform elements has been posted in Bug 600473 comment 6
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/600473/comments/6
- could you indicate whether this resolves the issue for you?
- if there are remaining problems which have not been addressed, would you be willing to file them as separate bug reports?

[su_v (suv-lp)]

Fix confirmed with Inkscape 0.48+devel r9819 on OS X 10.5.8
(refers to changes committed in r9640)

Linking as duplicate to more recent Bug #600473 “dxf save for autocad does not translate correctly”. Please add a comment here and revert the duplicate status if you don't agree and think these are different issues.