I am trying to create a border around text that can automatically update if I change the text. It will be used in a flow chart where there will be many of these text objects with bounding boxes. I followed the instructions from the stack exchange solution by Billy Kerr https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/136385/text-at-the-center-of-a-rectangle-in-inkscape . This method works well for making one dynamic box around one text object. But generating many of them seems just as clunky as other methods I've found online.
I have a few follow up issues/questions that I have not been able to find answers in any of the inkscape documentation, this forum, or general internet search. The attached screenshot shows the steps plus the issue I'm having.
1) The text object with LPE bounding box cannot be copied and pasted correctly, even if they were grouped before. The new bounding box is still linked to the original text object, not the new text object. Changing the original text object affects all of the boundary boxes. Changing the new text objects (copies) doesn't affect their boundary box.
2) What does the "Select Original" option do for the LPE Bounding Box? How does it work? (It's the other option to "Link to path in clipboard) It seems to do nothing. I have been unable to find any documentation or tutorials regarding how to use the LPE Bounding Box despite searching for at least an hour.
I am using Inkscape 1.0.1 on Fedora 32. Inkskape was installed using Fedora's DNF package manager.
Coming to Inkscape from other applications, the behaviour of clones and links often seems quirky. Your pasted text object is identical to the original, as expected, but your pasted rectangle poses a problem. Should it link to the original text (an exact duplicate) or to the pasted text (a modified duplicate)? The developers chose the first option. It's unambiguous, pedantic, and I suspect simpler programming.
You must now link the pasted rectangle to the pasted text instead of the original text. Select and copy [ctrl+c] the pasted text. Select the pasted rectangle and go to the LPE dialog [ctrl+shift+7]. Link the Bounding Box to the clipboard path (the pasted text object). Now the pasted rectangle will adjust its size as you type.
Aside: I thought this might look nicer with a small margin between the text and the rectangle. Inkscape crashed immediately when I added a linked offset [ctrl+alt+j] to the rectangle. I tried again with the Offset LPE and it works perfectly.
Fair enough. Now that you point it out, it certainly makes more sense that the box copy would be an identical copy, including the same links to the original text object. Resetting the link is an easy workaround. Thanks!
I agree adding LPE Offset makes it look much nicer. I didn't include it to stay true to a minimum working example. 😎
Any thoughts on how the "Select Original" option works or links to more info on it? (2nd question in original post).
After some experimentation I think I understand it. The source object and the linked object have the same bounding box, so it's not obvious which one is selected. "Select Original" transfers the selection from the linked object to the source object so you can edit it. In your case the selection moves from the rectangle to the text object.
Beginners' Questions How to use Bounding Box LPE (Live Path Effects)?
Inkscape.org
I am trying to create a border around text that can automatically update if I change the text. It will be used in a flow chart where there will be many of these text objects with bounding boxes. I followed the instructions from the stack exchange solution by Billy Kerr https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/136385/text-at-the-center-of-a-rectangle-in-inkscape . This method works well for making one dynamic box around one text object. But generating many of them seems just as clunky as other methods I've found online.
I have a few follow up issues/questions that I have not been able to find answers in any of the inkscape documentation, this forum, or general internet search. The attached screenshot shows the steps plus the issue I'm having.
1) The text object with LPE bounding box cannot be copied and pasted correctly, even if they were grouped before. The new bounding box is still linked to the original text object, not the new text object. Changing the original text object affects all of the boundary boxes. Changing the new text objects (copies) doesn't affect their boundary box.
2) What does the "Select Original" option do for the LPE Bounding Box? How does it work? (It's the other option to "Link to path in clipboard) It seems to do nothing. I have been unable to find any documentation or tutorials regarding how to use the LPE Bounding Box despite searching for at least an hour.
I am using Inkscape 1.0.1 on Fedora 32. Inkskape was installed using Fedora's DNF package manager.
Thank you
Coming to Inkscape from other applications, the behaviour of clones and links often seems quirky. Your pasted text object is identical to the original, as expected, but your pasted rectangle poses a problem. Should it link to the original text (an exact duplicate) or to the pasted text (a modified duplicate)? The developers chose the first option. It's unambiguous, pedantic, and I suspect simpler programming.
You must now link the pasted rectangle to the pasted text instead of the original text. Select and copy [ctrl+c] the pasted text. Select the pasted rectangle and go to the LPE dialog [ctrl+shift+7]. Link the Bounding Box to the clipboard path (the pasted text object). Now the pasted rectangle will adjust its size as you type.
Aside: I thought this might look nicer with a small margin between the text and the rectangle. Inkscape crashed immediately when I added a linked offset [ctrl+alt+j] to the rectangle. I tried again with the Offset LPE and it works perfectly.
Fair enough. Now that you point it out, it certainly makes more sense that the box copy would be an identical copy, including the same links to the original text object. Resetting the link is an easy workaround. Thanks!
I agree adding LPE Offset makes it look much nicer. I didn't include it to stay true to a minimum working example. 😎
Any thoughts on how the "Select Original" option works or links to more info on it? (2nd question in original post).
After some experimentation I think I understand it. The source object and the linked object have the same bounding box, so it's not obvious which one is selected. "Select Original" transfers the selection from the linked object to the source object so you can edit it. In your case the selection moves from the rectangle to the text object.
Ah! I get it. I thought that was supposed to be an alternative way to link objects.
Clicking "Select Original" on a copy of a LPE Bounding Box makes it obvious that the copy is still linked to the original text too.
Thank you. I think that resolves everything.