Hi everyone. I'm getting more comfortable with Inkscape but I have a couple of questions.

(1) Is it okay to use locked guides to set my margins and bleed rather than inputting numbers for those same things/setttings? Is there a significant difference or consequence to doing this? Or is this perhaps a case of there's more than one way to do the same thing in Inkscape? See attached screen image. (For some background, I use guides and grids for snapping. I don't know if you can snap to a margin or bleed line.) 

(2) There are lots of ways to "save" files in Inkscape. There's save, save as, save a copy, save a template, and export. I get save (that's to save as I'm going and working along) and save as (to rename a file I'm working on, like when opening a template so I preserve the template) and save a template is so I don't have to keep making new documents with my preferred stuff/settings.

I'm trying to understand the differences between save as, save a copy, and export and the instances in which one is better or more appropriate to use than the other.

When I'm working or practicing with Inkscape, I always save/save as *.svg

However, eventually I'll need to use a different file extension (like PDF) and that's where I'm trying to figure out if there is a significant difference between save as, save a copy, and export. (I will need to convert text to paths and I will need to set PPI.)

Thank you in advance for any light you can shed on these topics.

P.S. I am using Inkscape 1.3

P.P.S. Also the nuance between document and page when saving

(1) Bleed and Trim marks are important for commercial printers. Margins are layout tools for you. None of these have any significance in svg. They're just more non-printing lines. Do whatever you like, or whatever your print shop expects.

(2) [Save] updates an existing file, retaining the current file name/type. If there's no existing file, Inkscape defaults to [Save As].

[Save As] creates a new file on your disk, with a new file name/type, and sets these for the active document. For example, you opened a pdf file and you want to save your work in svg format.

[Save a Copy] also creates a new file on your disk, with a new file name/type, but doesn't change the active document. For example, save a pdf test copy but don't change the file type of your svg master document.

(PS) Me too!

(PPS) A document is a container for everything you see on the canvas, and everything you don't see (patterns, symbols, clones, filters, etc.). A page is a region of the canvas used for printing or for rendering in a web page.

Thanks for the info, esp with (1) and the (PPS)

Is "exporting" used often in Inkscape? I'm just wondering if different small menus (or none at all) pop-up when choosing say 'save' or 'save as' verses 'export.' 

In Inkscape, is the outlined rectangular area the actual page? And the document includes both canvas and page? I've kind of gotten the idea that the canvas can just be a place where you can let "things" hangout that you either will or won't move onto the page (the outlined rectangular area).

I'm just trying to get the terminology/vocabulary down properly so that I am communicate clearly. But I think I've just confused myself again!

edited: to remove emoji

The various saving methods apply to the entire svg document. [Export] gives you additional options to save parts of your document. For example, you can export only the currently selected shapes, or export a specific rectangular area of the canvas, or export each layer to a separate file.

The initial rectangular outline you see when you create a new drawing is the default page. Just to confuse you, Inkscape recently acquired the ability to create multi-page documents.

Thank you for the additional clarification. Right now I'm just saving as *.svg but eventually I will have to export the page (outlined rectangular area).

Thank goodness, at least at this point in time, I don't need to create multi-page documents because, you're right, that would confuse me!