Hi folks, new to the discussions.
I have been using open office/LibreOffice Draw for some time, to put together figures and plates for scientific publications. I am having a drawing problem and hopefully someone will have an answer.
I often draw insect structures for insect keys to help identify them. To make the structure symmetrical, I often will trace over half the structure using the ‘curve’ tool, copy the line I drew, flip it horizontally, and then place the nodes close together… voila, an entire structure. If I simply want a line drawing, I can group the objects and I’m done. However, if I want to fill the object with a color, I have to join the nodes to make a single object. I have been trying to do this by selecting two nodes to join and then using ‘Shapes’ - ‘Combine’, however, the join doesn’t occur at the nodes I selected. For example, lets say I drew a half circle, copied it, flipped horizontally, and tried to join the two nodes at the top of the circle…the program has been joining the top of one half of the circle to the bottom of the other half. I wish I could show you what is happening, but hopefully my long-winded explanation makes sense. Any help appreciated.
Works for me provided both half-drawings have some overlap. You have to be very careful because bits of line “outside” of the global figure (forming kind of “hair”) will also be used to close the shape. Then you’ll have unexpected additional lines creating “butterflies”. The crossings will be taken into account to compute the “inside” of the shape and you end up with some “outsides” in the middle of the hull. It is strange but mathematically correct.
Next filling the shape with colour is not done with the paint bucket. you must use Format → Area.
If it still does not work for you, mention OS name and exact LO version; and attach a sample file with your two symmetrical half shapes.
Here LO 26.2.5.2 under Fedora 44 (Linux 7.1.8) with KDE Plasma desktop
‘Combine’ seems to be the wrong proceeding.
I selected the two shapes (should be hairlines) ➜ then
- ‘Connect’ the shapes (menu Shapes or right click Shapes …)
- ‘Close object’ (right click; sometimes also in menu Shapes displayed)
- Format line/area
Version: 26.2.5.2 (X86_64) Build ID: 620(Build:2) CPU threads: 2; OS: Linux 5.15; UI render: default; VCL: gtk3 Locale: de-DE (de_DE.UTF-8); UI: en-US Ubuntu package version: 4:26.2.5.2-0ubuntu0.22.04.1~lo1 Calc: threaded
@Grantler: though its works with Combine as per OP, your procedure avoids the glitches introduced by the overlapping “spikes” disturbing the in-out computation. It is then safer and far more superior.
Hi all,
I have attached a screen shot when using "Shapes’-‘Connect’. I am trying to join the nodes at positions 1 and 2. Each time I do use ‘connect’, it joins the nodes diagonally, so at nodes 2 and 3.
Even if I move the two objects close together, I still get the same thing happening. The weird thing si, it used to work, I just can’t figure out what changed?
I am running Windows 11 Home, version 25H2, OS-Build 26200.9168; and Libre Office Version 26.5.2 (x86_64)
Can you please a Draw ODG-file with the problem upload here?
Hi folks, so the problem continues, however, might have found a work around. If the ‘connect’ or ‘combine’ fails to join the nodes properly the first time, it seems to work if I move both objects to a different area of the work sheet.
Hi, why don’t you use Freeform Line, Filled for drawing?
You’ll have a closed, filled shape then. This can easily be mirrored and merged, see short animation:
Hi all,
Please find attached an draw.odg file that is showing the problem.
What I did was:
I used the ‘curve’ tool to draw a line polygon, using the guidelines to tell me where center was.
I copied the polygon, flipped it horizontally.
I moved the copied polygon so that it was very close to the original.
In point edit mode, I selected the two top corner nodes of each polygon.
Then tried both ‘combine’ and ‘connect’, but both functions resulted in the joins between the two polygons selecting the wrong nodes for joining.
Lucky Muller, the reason I use the ‘curve’ function is that I am tracing photographs of insect parts, so that I can see the edges of the objects being traced. I can try the freeform line and see what happens.
Thanks to everyone that has had suggestions, I really appreciate it.
Node_test.odg (8.9 KB)
- select both shapes
- choose menu Shape - Connect
- select and delete the former first (or last) node of each shape
@beetleguy
I selected both Bèzier curves, (menu Shape) connected them and then they were a new object and could be filled. The point was that there was no distance between them.
After I had separated the two original shapes I connected them; they connected at the upper two points - see screenshot.
Then I had to close them. Now I did not find the close action in the properties (or menu Shape) but only in the tools Edit Points. It’s a bit weird.
Today on Windows 10:
Version: 26.2.5.2 (X86_64)
Build ID: cd7284b4cbbfeb507e630c1aac019f4157393acb
CPU threads: 2; OS: Windows 10 X86_64 (build 19045); UI render: Skia/Raster; VCL: win
Locale: de-DE (de_DE); UI: en-US
Calc: threaded
HI all, I think Grantler found out what my problem was.
When I drew the original polygon, I would extend both the first and last node to the center guideline.
After I copied, pasted, and moved the polygon into position, both the top and bottom nodes were very close together.
I tried leaving a gap between the nodes of the bottom of the polygon, as in Grantler’s picture, and now everything works.
Thanks everyone for the help!
Cheers,
Beetleguy