Is it possible to create a dash-dotted line on iPad

[PavloB]

Seems like the desktop version can create a line like this: -•-•-•. That is because it has 4 dash modifiers

But the iPad version has only 2 modifiers. Does it mean I can't create a dash-dotted line then? I've only managed to create lines like • • • and - - -

[PavloB]

I've actually managed to draw a dash dotted line by duplicating the curves and then playing with the phase, width, and gap.

But this is so much pain in the neck to do such a SIMPLE thing.

If it really can't be done the usual way in the app yet, please please add support for it

Edited September 29, 2021 by PavloB

[Lee D]

You can create a dashed line using the Pen or Pencil tool and then the available options/adjustments on the Stroke panel. However it doesn't have all of the same options as the desktop versions do, this may be improved in the future.

[Alfred]

39 minutes ago, Lee D said:

it doesn't have all of the same options as the desktop versions do

That’ll be a ‘No’ in answer to the original question, then.

You can combine a dashed line with a dotted line via the Appearance Studio, or by adjusting a duplicate line as the OP has done, but either method involves a lot of trial and error (mostly error!) to get the spacing and phasing right. An extra pair of dash/gap controls would be a huge improvement.

[PavloB]

10 minutes ago, Alfred said:

That’ll be a ‘No’ in answer to the original question, then.

You can combine a dashed line with a dotted line via the Appearance Studio, or by adjusting a duplicate line as the OP has done, but either method involves a lot of trial and error (mostly error!) to get the spacing and phasing right. An extra pair of dash/gap controls would be a huge improvement.

These are my settings. All the values should be set relatively to the dash and gap size.

The phase of the dots should be half the gap of the dashed line. The gap of the dotted line should be equal to size + gap of the dotted line.

[PavloB]

1 hour ago, Lee D said:

You can create a dashed line using the Pen or Pencil tool and then the available options/adjustments on the Stroke panel. However it doesn't have all of the same options as the desktop versions do, this may be improved in the future.

I'm not glad that the answer implies this situation is OK. It's really not.

Even free apps like vectornator have this feature, let alone other paid apps . Given the fact I've figured out how to do it manually, it's clear to me, as a software engineer, that this feature would consume, at most, a week of 1 person's work, but most realistically - one day.

Sorry for being emotional about it, but this is really not good. The app costs $22 and yet doesn't have this ...

Edited September 30, 2021 by PavloB

[NotMyFault]

Another alternative (to achieve this and any even more complex pattern) could be creating own brush for this purpose, and use brush as stroke. I did this once to create a special decorative pattern for the edge of a guitar.

[DM1]

On 9/30/2021 at 11:05 PM, PavloB said:

The app costs $22 and yet doesn't have this .

Wow…$22! That is cheap for such a powerful application. I guess if we want ALL the desktop features we may need to pay the equivalent desktop price. Seems fair?

[PavloB]

On 10/2/2021 at 3:46 AM, DM1 said:

Wow…$22! That is cheap for such a powerful application. I guess if we want ALL the desktop features we may need to pay the equivalent desktop price. Seems fair?

What seems fair is adding at least those things that all free alternatives have. Even for PC

[Paul Mudditt]

@DM1Wow, wonder when this changed, the iPad used to be able to do this, it was hard to find in that the three options used to slide to the left and reveal the other dot dash options.

[Paul Mudditt]

@DM1@Lee D @Alfred
 

There definitely appears to be a UI bug, it is now extremely difficult BUT POSSIBLE to reveal the other options, but I had to fiddle around to get the menu to slide, so here is a dot dash example, created on iPad.

Edited October 4, 2021 by Paul Mudditt
Screen recording added

[DM1]

8 minutes ago, Paul Mudditt said:

the iPad used to be able to do this, it was hard to find in that the three options used to slide to the left and reveal the other dot dash options.

Yes, I think you’re right Paul. There was once the ability to slide that field across. Tbh I can’t recall when the change occurred, 1.8 maybe? Was it when they introduced arrow heads etc. I rarely used it and hadn’t even noticed a change! 

[DM1]

Gotta tap and drag in just the right spot!

8 hours ago, PavloB said:

What seems fair is adding at least those things that all free alternatives have

Seems it was there all along. Check out Paul’s post above. Activation is a bit hit and miss though.

[Paul Mudditt]

1 minute ago, DM1 said:

Gotta tap and drag in just the right spot!

Seems it was there all along. Check out Paul’s post above. Activation is a bit hit and miss though.

I know really hard to do now, definitely a new bug likely associated with an iPadOS15 change.

[NotMyFault]

2 hours ago, Paul Mudditt said:

I know really hard to do now, definitely a new bug likely associated with an iPadOS15 change.

Not related to iOS 15, same on 14.8

This is the most evil UI element spottet so far in Affinity.

• invisible
• absolutely no indication of hidden UI element
• Almost impossible to activate even if you know that its there
• Automatically self-hiding, so you need go through every time again and again
• Stroke studio completely absent in help

Even more evil that AltGr key for creating Compound on Windows.

[PavloB]

2 hours ago, Paul Mudditt said:

@DM1@Lee D @Alfred
 

There definitely appears to be a UI bug, it is now extremely difficult BUT POSSIBLE to reveal the other options, but I had to fiddle around to get the menu to slide, so here is a dot dash example, created on iPad.

You. Are. A God. I was trying to do this before but didn't succeed. Thanks sooo much

[Alfred]

2 hours ago, Paul Mudditt said:

@DM1Wow, wonder when this changed, the iPad used to be able to do this, it was hard to find in that the three options used to slide to the left and reveal the other dot dash options.

 

2 hours ago, Paul Mudditt said:

There definitely appears to be a UI bug, it is now extremely difficult BUT POSSIBLE to reveal the other options, but I had to fiddle around to get the menu to slide

Thanks, Paul. I thought I remembered being able to get the menu to slide but I convinced myself that my memory was playing tricks on me!

[Alfred]

4 hours ago, NotMyFault said:

Stroke studio completely absent in help

It isn’t actually absent, it’s here, and it even mentions the second pair of Dash and Gap values (without, of course, telling the user the secret of how to access them).

[DM1]

9 hours ago, Alfred said:

It isn’t actually absent, it’s here, and it even mentions the second pair of Dash and Gap values (without, of course, telling the user the secret of how to access them).

Help file extract: 

The third and fourth values, again called Dash and Gap, are displayed by scrolling the Dash pattern section. These will introduce a more complex dash pattern by setting different lengths for a secondary Dash - Gap pairing.

It does give some clues😂

 

[Alfred]

8 hours ago, DM1 said:

It does give some clues😂

It tells you what action is required (“scrolling the Dash pattern section”) but neglects to describe how to achieve that. I don’t regard this as “telling the user the secret” — and I suspect you don’t, either!

[DM1]

40 minutes ago, Alfred said:

I don’t regard this as “telling the user the secret”

Lol, Top Sectret, Need to know only, and users obviously don’t need to know! 😉
Seriously though, I suspect that users should be able to simply scroll sideways anywhere in the dash pattern row (I think that’s how it used to be), but the updates have drastically reduced the active scrolling area. Definitely a bug and a poorly worded description of how to activate the feature. At the very least the existing description should mention scrolling sideways within the row.