On Mon, 2005-01-24 at 09:40, Michael Ross wrote: > Hello, > > New guy here. Not a programmer. But would like to contribute. > > I came to Dia because Visio is no fun and I couldn't see how to add to > the stencils. I am a convert and I would like to learn what I can > about the creation of shapes. The docs that are available on shape > creation are skimpy, and that might be a place where I can help out. > Since I can't program I am probably a good person to produce > instructions that a "lay user" could follow. > > But I need to get a really good grip on the creation and management of > shapes. > > In looking at the shape files and sheet files themselves I can see how > to add and delete connection points and similar things. But if the is > a more organised way to learn about the format and syntax for these > files I would like to know about it. I have tried a number of changes > that seemed like they should work and gotten crashes to the system at > start up. That tells me right away that trial and error in learning > to make shapes could be arduous and not time efficient.
The format is SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics). It is a W3 standard. I have looked at several references/specifications and decided that I needed a graphics concepts/overview to make it easier to put the pieces together. > > I started looking in the archives and that is too much. I did notice > that Alan Horkan has been working the shapes beat for years (that is > why I copied you Alan). Alan, et al, are there some notes, mailing > list threads, tutorials, etc. that you all can steer me towards? > > I thought I would start out slow and try to make a rectangle with a > text box in it (like the Jackson Domain shape). I wasn't successful. > That seems like something anyone trying to make a new shape should be > able to do. > > Once that is accomplished it would be good to know how to manipulate > the line style and thickness. How does one manipulate the location of > the text and generally how does one handle the Cartesian coordinates > of entities and connection points. How is the shape properties dialog > box put together? How does one make a proper .png file and control > the size of it for display in the palettes? And so on... Try investigating the menus and possibly the dia source tree. > > If you all will spend time with me to figuring this out, I am willing > to try and capture the experience for posterity. I > > It is also, possible that I have no business trying to do this at all. > You all can let me know about that - I can take it. > > > Michael Ross > ================================= > Cycling in Central North Carolina > Linear LWB, Greenspeed GTO, BikeE CT > _______________________________________________ > Dia-list mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list > FAQ at http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/faq.html > Main page at http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia ________________________________________________________________________ david email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: (631) 224-1244 _______________________________________________ Dia-list mailing list [email protected] http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/dia-list FAQ at http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia/faq.html Main page at http://www.gnome.org/projects/dia
