Re: Why do I always get warning pop-up after adding a shape?

[Chris G <cl isbd net>]

On Tue, Jan 11, 2011 at 09:46:56PM +0100, Hans Breuer wrote:
> At 11.01.2011 19:23, Chris G wrote:
> > After I export a diagram as a .shape file and then add it into one of
> > my collections of shapes (using the Sheets and Objects window) then
> > whenever I open dia I get an warning pop-up box saying:-
> >
> >     Several object-types were named diagrams - xw.
> >     Only first one will be used.
> >     Some things might not work as expected.
> >
> > (of course the xw changes according to what I have called the shape)
> >
> > Am I doing something wrong when I export the shape or is there something
> > wrong with dia's handling of shape export?
> Probably the former, i.e. if you export your shape file to Dia's
> standard shape search path and again "import" it to Dia via Shapes
> and Object dialog you'll end up with two version leading to the
> above message.
I'll check things out, maybe I should store the .shape file in /tmp when
I export it and then bring it in from there.

> > While I'm at it I have yet to be able to export a shape that actually
> > works as intended, the .png file doesn't show the shape properly and the
> > shape often seems to lose its colour properties and so on.  It all seems
> > a bit flakey.
> Sounds like you are expecting too much.
>
> 1) with any non trivial shape it is usually necessary to edit the
> created PNG to make it detectable with 22x22 pixels.
OK, that's not incredibly important as it's only what shows in the shape
selection window isn't it.


> 2) you are expected to edit the generated shape file for best results.
> E.g. if by "losing it's color properties" you mean losing the
> ability to modify the shape colors in the diagram you should adapt
> the concrete colors in the shape file with symbolic names, see:
>
> http://git.gnome.org/browse/dia/tree/doc/custom-shapes#n143
Well what happens with my simple "two lines and an arc" shape is that
it often is totally invisible when I try and use it so it's either
transparent or white even though the diagram I stored as a shape was
three black lines.  The .png file shows up as a white line too.

I'll go and try all this out, thank you!

-- 
Chris Green