Scaling issue workaround?

[Egg Bramhill]

I understand what you're saying Mikey, but that odd scaling is not a function of Xara vectors, web or print document. It's down to the creation software

[Rik]

Tell you what I've found.
(Unless someone else has found it already!)

If I marquee select everything (which includes the eyes), then things perform the way they should.
But...
If you simply select the drawing (which is grouped), then you get the problem feklee is talking about.

[Xhris]

I know this has been discussed in the forum before, but I don't find the thread anymore. Anyhow:

When I scale an object horizontally or vertically, then individual parts are moved, not scaled. This is, of course, not what I want. I figured that I can press Alt when using the handles, and then scaling is back to normal. However, when entering dimensions manually, then the issue persists.

What is the workaround for Xara's scaling oddness?

Interestingly, I've just updated my course discussing this web feature. It is known as "group squashing" (also search help file) and applies only in web documents. When a group is stretched/squashed, it is not done so affinely like would happen in print documents; instead the constituent objects aren't stretched and only their positions are changed. Apparently, the rationale for this is that in web documents, when stretching/squashing headers or footers eg in mobile site variants, it's more useful for this kind of squashing behaviour. As you've discovered, you can Alt-toggle to revert back to affine scaling. Alternatively, you can use a print document or permanently turn this off by setting the registry entry Dragging\EnableGroupSquash to 0.

[mikeymopar]

Interestingly, I've just updated my course discussing this web feature. It is known as "group squashing" (also search help file) and applies only in web documents. When a group is stretched/squashed, it is not done so affinely like would happen in print documents; instead the constituent objects aren't stretched and only their positions are changed. Apparently, the rationale for this is that in web documents, when stretching/squashing headers or footers eg in mobile site variants, it's more useful for this kind of squashing behaviour. As you've discovered, you can Alt-toggle to revert back to affine scaling. Alternatively, you can use a print document or permanently turn this off by setting the registry entry Dragging\EnableGroupSquash to 0.

WHAT? were you on holiday a couple of weeks ago when this "issue" with web document was discussed >HERE<?
heh
registry entry now edited and it's beautiful. web doc all stretchy again like all the other docs/design templates.
thx Xhris!

[Acorn]

This has been a useful example document to experiment with.

With the shapes all selected (marqueed), click on one of the edge control points and hold it down.
Now look at the status line, which describes (tersely) the variety of effects the meta-keys contribute.

Drag the object to extend it.
Still with the control held down, press the Ctrl, Shift & Alt keys to discover the effects.
Don't hold these keys down before holding the control point.

I don't think any of this depends on it being a prin or web pages; simply in web-land the Alt selection has been pre-selected.

Regarding the OP's request on how to do the above, entering values into the control boxes, the simple answer is you can't.
The workaround is to understand the above and to zoom the work area large enough to allow finer pointer movement to get to the required width.

Acorn

[feklee]

Sorry for my late reply. I appreciate all your suggestions!

I can get it to work correctly if I hide/lock the annotation layer, select the group and ungroup it, then either dragging it to 1000 or entering 1000. You can apply 'Soft Group' to keep stuff together after the ungroup command.

Did you create this in XDP!! or with Rhino? I'm curious because I also work with Rhino 3D.

Yes, I created the floor plan with Rhino. Thanks for the suggestion with the soft group, which does work!

Attachment 110052
The walls are made up of many shapes, […]

Blame it on Rhino’s Hatch command.

Thanks for the video. It’s a nice summary of the issue!

Only I disagree that it’s an issue caused by the Rhino. 3rd party software cannot change the way Xara’s scaling algorithm works.

ah-ha. it's also a "web" document which is known to have issues stretching things horizontally only. if you change it to "print" then you can select the group in page and layer gallery and it'll properly stretch everything by just the middle handle too.

I wrote earlier that I unsuccessfully tried Print document, but that must’ve been a mistake. Now, after changing to that document type, scaling works as expected.

It is known as "group squashing" (also search help file) and applies only in web documents.

Thanks for mentioning the term! In fact I remembered that when I first encountered the feature, and – as I wrote – I did experiment with changing document type, but I must’ve done something wrong.

With the shapes all selected (marqueed), click on one of the edge control points and hold it down.
Now look at the status line, which describes (tersely) the variety of effects the meta-keys contribute.

Never realized that, another awesome feature in Xara!

[Acorn]

A really excellent TGer response back. I'm glad you've bottomed out your issues.

Yes, Xara have developed some very feature-rich applications.

I know they use JIRA Issues for tracking their development and bug fixes.
Where they are lacking is incorporating User Stories to help position the behaviours of their products.

A template of a User Story would be very simple: As a <type of user>, I want <some goal> so that <some benefit results>.

If TG Posters thought in this way too, a lot of real value in the responses would go to better understanding of our much-loved applications.

Acorn

[Fred C]

Blame it on Rhino’s Hatch command.

What Hatch did you apply; I'd like to try to reproduce the glitch in Rhino?
TIA

[feklee]

What Hatch did you apply

Solid

[Fred C]

Thanks. I'll try it this weekend, time permitting.