On Wed, Sep 26, 2012 at 3:43 PM, Phil Fisher <phil.fis...@ipaccess.com> wrote: > Hi > I am new to dia but very familiar with the use of such software in general. > However, I am have found the following _possible_ issues using 0.97 (and yes > I am aware that 0.97.2 exists but for various reasons its immediate use is > not possible here). Can someone indicate what I might be doing wrong or > whether there is a genuine issue? > > 1) when creating a line from the toolbox, once added onto diagram, I tried to > edit it (by changing its size - length - and its position). I selected the > object and green and red handles appear one at each end. When I try to pick > up the handle and move it, first the handle jumps to the centre of the > nearest object (a box here) and then second time, both handles coalesce to > one and I cannot do anything. How do I do normal things with this object > (line)? >
Line (L) can connect to connection spots on other objects or can remain unconnected. If you connect the line to a specific connection port then it will remain there and behave somewhat strangely. It is better to drag the tip of the line to the center of the connecting figure so that it "auto" connects. This way when you move either object it will automatically adjust the connection point as you would expect. > 2) when I create a grouped object, it is not possible to re-size that object > no matter what aspect ratio property it is. Is this a restriction (since I > can re-size a box)? > AFAIK grouped objects don't scale and this is a limitation. Many other extensions don't scale either (e.g. UML) so you have to scale the page instead. Most other objects do scale but it's not always consistent. Maybe someone can explain this better. Dia is a very powerful and practical _diagram_ tool but it's not a full featured, or general purpose vector drawing program, nor do I think it's meant to be. It is meant for day to day repetitive and practical work, mainly by using the templates. It was originally inspired on Visio but has long moved away and it's more powerful in some things and less powerful than Visio in others. People who have used Visio would probably find Dia limited but others would quickly understand it's value proposition. For example, we use the UML module extensively, everything from Use cases to the actual class diagrams that in turn generate the DDL to create the DB schema (by means of dia2code). Our class diagrams even create the database dictionary in DocBook tables that we transform using XSL and an XML parser, so we can keep our docs always in sync with our code. So, if you are looking for a powerful tool to integrate to your business model for the long term and be able to tweak it to your needs, especially if the information is to be transformed into something else, the Dia is the tool for you. If you are looking for a general purpose vector editor, then you should probably be looking at Inkscape or something along those lines. Best, -- Alejandro Imass > TIA > > Environment details: Windows XP Pro SP3, dia V0.97, 3GB RAM, Pentium 4 CPU > 2.8Gz, installed from MSI package, running as a non-admin user under an AD > domain login. > > -- > Phil Fisher > > > > > > This message contains confidential information and may be privileged. If you > are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender and delete the > message immediately. > > ip.access Ltd, registration number 3400157, Building 2020, > Cambourne Business Park, Cambourne, Cambridge CB23 6DW, United Kingdom > _______________________________________________ > dia-list mailing list > dia-list@gnome.org > https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list > FAQ at http://live.gnome.org/Dia/Faq > Main page at http://live.gnome.org/Dia > _______________________________________________ dia-list mailing list dia-list@gnome.org https://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list FAQ at http://live.gnome.org/Dia/Faq Main page at http://live.gnome.org/Dia
