Attributes Bug?

**Ned Addie** · 15 August 2007, 06:53 AM

In xxp3.2, with the option 'Give new object most recent attributes' ticked, I can't draw a line segment with no width. It's automatically set a to .67px black line. I can draw a closed shaped with no line width, but not an unclosed line segment. This behavior is true for the freehand and shape editor tools, but not for the pen tool.

I can draw a no-width line segment with 'gnomra' unticked, but I need it ticked.

I tested this on two machines, with my customized install and a raw install, and this behavior is consistent. In xx1.1 I didn't have this limitation. I won't go into the details of why this is important to me, but it's essential to my drawing method.

Is this behavior a bug? Is there a reg hack which will allow me to draw a line segment with no width, with 'gnomra' ticked, using both the freehand and shape editor tools?

Ned Addie

**Xhris** · 15 August 2007, 02:44 PM

I think this was intended and not a bug. I think Xara felt it was unintuitive for new users who had gnomra set to draw shapes that had invisible lines, and that it might confuse people. I don't know if you can change it back to the old behaviour.

**amoore** · 15 August 2007, 03:39 PM

For anyone who's as confused as I was:

gnomra = "Give new objects most recent attributes"

**Egg Bramhill** · 15 August 2007, 06:25 PM

gnomra - Thank's Allison, I was to afraid to ask!

**amoore** · 15 August 2007, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Egg Bramhill

gnomra - Thank's Allison, I was to afraid to ask!

That term must be really scary, then.

I imagine there's not much that frightens you.

**a4hire** · 15 August 2007, 06:52 PM

I have experienced the same problem. Sounds like another case of making changes so Xtreme would be more like another program.

**Ned Addie** · 16 August 2007, 12:00 AM

Xhris and a4hire both suspect the behavior I described is intended to help out new users. I'm also suspicious -- but if Team Xara was really 'iipnufail' (interested in protecting new users from an invisible line) why wouldn't this 'iipnufail' extend to invisible empty shapes, invisibility via the pen tool, and the 'don't give new objects current attributes' mode? The lack of consistency gives me hope that it is a bug, or at least behavior which can be remedied.

I've been transitioning from xx1.1 to xxp3.2, and have had to track down and un-change various (undocumented!!) changes which are detrimental to how I work -- iow, I was fortunate to find hacks for 'TransparencyBecomesCurrent', 'LoadCurrentAttributes', and 'Freehand end hit-detect'. Give me invisible lines, and I can finally close my stalwart, but mouse-zoomless, xx1.1 for good.

Ned Addie

**Xhris** · 16 August 2007, 02:58 AM

There are a few things like this that seem inconsistent in the new version logic. I personally now feel that correcting for invisible lines etc. may not be the right thing to do. With GNOMRA not set by default, and thus as the users choice, the user will be aware of the fact that line thicknesses of 0 on closed shapes will mean line thicknesses of 0 on unclosed shape (lines). Or perhaps the line attribute of a closed shape should be distinct from the attribute of a line stroke. Hopefully the logic will be addressed in future versions (if enough people complain).

Another problem (perhaps - which is also a fix for you) is to feather a line and GNOMRA will remember, allowing you to draw invisible lines. (GNOMRA BTW is a legitimate acronym; it wasn't just made up.)