Files: Output

Introduction

File output, especially as SVG, is getting quite complicated. Here is a proposal to restructure the process. The primary changes are:

• Separate lossless vs. lossy outputs.
• Move SVG lossy outputs to a dialog (accessed from selecting ".svg" as file type).

In addition, there is some minor regrouping of menu items.

Inkscape's Current File Menu: New New from Template... Open... Open Recent -> Revert Save Save As... Save a Copy... Save Template... ------- Import... Export PNG Image... Import Clip Art... ------- Print... ------- Clean up document ------- Document Properties... ------- Close Quit

Proposed Inkscape File Menu: New New from Template... Open... Open Recent -> Revert ------- Save Save As... Save a Copy... Save Template... ------- Export [Overwrite] Export As... Export PNG Image... ------- Import... Import Clip Art... ------- Print... ------- Clean up document ------- Document Properties... ------- Close Quit

Gimp's File Menu: New... Create -> Open... Open as Layers... Open Location... ------- Save Save As... Save a Copy... Revert ------- Export [Overwrite] Export As... Create Template... ------- Print... Send by Email... ------- Properties ------- Close View Close All Quit

File Menu Discussion

File Open Block

"Revert" remains here (in contrast to Gimp's structure) as it can be seen as a file open operation.

Save Block

This section, following Gimp, handles only lossless saves. The major complaint when Gimp moved to this model was the extra steps needed to replace an imported file. This was remedied by the "Overwrite" menu entry. The "Save Template..." entry remains in this block as (I believe) there is no data loss in creating a template. No choice of file type is offered in the dialog popped up by the "Save As...", "Save a Copy...", and "Save a Template..." menu entries.

Export Block

This block adds the new "Overwrite" menu entry. The "Export As..." opens the existing "Save As..." dialog which will be modified so that there is only one entry for saving SVG. Upon selecting SVG as the format, the user will be presented a dialog with various output options (like the PDF dialog), see below. As export to PNG is a common operation, it has a dedicated menu entry.i

Kiel hackfest: Suggestion to move SVG export to Save As menu.

Import Block

The "Export PNG Image..." entry is moved to the Export block.

SVG Export Discussion

This is probably the biggest change. Right now, when selecting to save a file, one is offered the following SVG choices:

• Inkscape SVG
• Plain SVG
• Compressed SVG (*.svgz)
• Compressed Plain SVG (*.svgz)
• Optimized SVG (*.svg)
• Compressed Inkscape SVG with media (*.zip)
• Layers as Separate SVG (*.tar)

Adding the possibility to export SVG 2 to SVG 1.1 adds another set of options. Rather than enumerating all the possible combinations, it would be better have one entry for SVG and then in the dialog that is popped up, offer the user a set of options to choose from (much like the PS or PDF dialogs):

• SVG 1.1
• Plain SVG
• Optimized
• Compressed
• With Media
• Separate Layers

A less radical suggestion would be to keep the distinctions based on file endings:

• SVG (*.svg)
• Compressed SVG (*.svgz)
• With Media (*.zip)
• Separate Layers (*.tar)

and then in the dialog only include:

• SVG 1.1
• Plain SVG
• Optimized

(Question, why do we use *.zip with media and *.tar with layers?)