Can't open any files - what I am doing wrong?

[JamieB]

ok pretend I'm stupid with computers (oh wait - I really am!!! )...

I've tried downloading these files that people link in here... as well as files from that Open clip art library someone posted. I CAN'T OPEN ANY OF THEM IN SCAL! I just get an error message with a red X and it says, unable to open the project file.

can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?????

thanks!

[ChristineH]

When you open SVG files you have to go to "file", then import, then open them that way, not sure if that's the way you are opening them, but wanted to try to help.

[sboz]

Jamie,

I will try to lower your frustration level a bit:

It sounds like you are using SCAL to "Open" a .svg file. Apples and oranges are being mixed up here.

An .svg file is an element (a graphic). After you have downloaded an .svg file you can "Import" it into SCAL, you don't "Open Project" with an .svg file, you "Import".

Now that should solve your immediate problem....

As far as designing a page: After you have 'imported' all the .svg files you want on your virtual page, you 'File-Save Project As' and save it with a name you choose and where you want to save on your computer. After closing out your 'project', to re-open it you go 'File-Open Project' and find the project your just saved, or, you can go 'File-Open Recent Project'.

Now, if you just want to preview .svg files that are being posted you must have Inkscape (a free program) installed on your computer. Once Inkscape is installed, close it, find a message on the message board with a .svg file posted, 'right click' on your mouse on the .svg file name and tell it to "Open with" and choose Inkscape. An Inkscape screen will pop up showing the .svg file you just clicked on. You can also set your 'file associations' within your computers operating system to automatically open all .svg with Inkscape then you don't have to go through the 'open with' steps I outlined above.

Hope this helps!

[JamieB]

thanks! that helped for the most part. I still can't open (or import) those files from that "library" someone posted. well, I can import it, but all I get is an empty box.

but this was a huge help already!!!

[sboz]

Jamie,

Glad I could help! This is all so new to so many of us I sometimes feel we are all walking, hand in hand, to the first day of kindergarten!

Now, as to the reason you can't view the files from the library you mentioned: When you download the file either put that file in a pre-existing folder when you can find it later or create a new folder for that file. (I think the file was 'zipped' (compressed) so, if it was, you will have to 'unzip' it first.)

The library you mentioned consists of a main directory followed by many subfolders. You have to click on the subfolders before any of the .svg files are accessible.

So, if you want to open these images within SCAL, you have to:
1.) make sure the file is 'un-zipped'
2.) open SCAL
3.) within SCAL go to "File-Import", navigate to the library's main folder, click on a subfolder, and then click on one of the .svg files
4.) the image will open up and will be very tiny so grab the lower right corner and drag it diagonally down and to the right

Now, doing it as outlined above is a very slow and tedious way to view these files. There is a faster way to view many images at a time by using a nifty .svg file viewer called Renesis Player (which someone else on this list kindly shared with us). I can walk you through using Renesis later, but right now I just want to know that you "can do it" using the 4 steps I outlined above.

Does this help you more? Remember, we are all walking to kindergarten together here!!!

Come back to this thread with your results of the 4 steps I just gave you and then I can walk you through using Renesis.

Shari
(whose "s" key is sticking so pardon any missed "s's" in my message - I think I have a donut crumb stuck under my 's'.......!!!!) (We, or I for sure, NEED a spell checker on this message board!)