[scribus] Difficulty with Lines

[Owen]

On Thu, 28 May 2009 10:10:34 -0700
Jessica Evans <jessica at lunula.com> wrote:

> Scribus 1.3.3.12 on Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> So far I've used Scribus for two edition of my 12-page newsletter,
> and I've noticed some things that are hard to deal with, or possibly
> bugs. I'm not an experienced open-source user so I hope starting
> here, rather than trying to figure out how to open bug reports, is
> ok. 
> 
> So, one thing I need to do a lot (really really a lot)  is generate 
> simple vertical and horizontal lines to demarcate columns.  I have
> found this to be weirdly difficult with Scribus.  With other graphics
> and D.P. applications I've been able to press the Shift key while
> drawing a line to constrain the line to be either horizontal or
> vertical.  This doesn't work with Scribus.  The only way I can get a
> line to be truly horizontal or vertical is to:
>  * Create a guide & turn on snap to guides
>  * Start the line and end the line near the guide
>  * Pull one end of the line to the guide
>  * Pull the other end to the guide
>  * Repeat a few times until the line is really actually straight.
> 
> I don't know why the guide doesn't fully constrain the points at the 
> ends of the line...I seem to need to pull the line past the guide in
> one direction, at both ends, several times, to really get the line
> totally vertical or horizontal.
> 
> Second Issue: Can't Lengthen Lines
> I simply cannot lengthen/shorten a line without changing the angle or 
> changing the location of the line.
> 
> Once I have a vertical or horizontal line I want to be able to mouse 
> over until it is the 2-way arrow, signifying the line will be 
> lengthened/shortened rather than either:
>  * moved (4-way angle)
>  * or changed in length and angle (angled arrow.)
> 
> It is extremely difficult to get the 2-way arrow to appear at all,
> but if I view the document at 400% I can usually get it.  However,
> the action is always as for the 4-way arrow. Even when the icon is
> the 2-way arrow, the line just moves, it doesn't stay in place and 
> lengthen/shorten with the mouse action.
> 
> Any help/advice much appreciated...I have to generate horizontal and 
> vertical lines many many times for each edition I produce.




Hi,

Bit late coming into this, but snapping to grid works for me. (snapping
to guides does not work all that well, if at all)

You can just draw down a grid line if you want. Adjust x, y and
height/width then to suit


Owen