Resize node selection to 0 width and height does not work

[Aristonaut]

Steps to reproduce:

1. Create a curve with a bunch of points.
2. In the "Transform" window, change the width or height to 0 and hit enter.
3. No change will occur.
4. Typing anything that would result in 0, like "[width] * 0" also will not work.

Expectation: The width and height should be able to be set to 0, allowing the user to combine two points at the center point.

Result: The width and height cannot be set to 0.

Workaround: Turn on transform mode in the top bar. Adjust the handles manually till the width and height are close to 0, then drag one point to snap to the other. (There may be an easier way, but I can't seem to find it.)

[MikeTO]

Hi @Aristonaut and welcome to the forums.

IMO this isn't a bug but the way it's designed and many programs operate this way, preventing you from setting a shape's width or height to 0 numerically but allowing you to do it visually with the size handles. For example, Photoshop displays an alert box telling you that the minimum width (or height) for a shape is 1px and then sets the value to that. But Photoshop also lets you change the shape to zero width or height by dragging the size handle.

Microsoft's apps work the way you want but I think Serif is in good company with its current approach. The reason apps don't let you set width or height to 0 is that your curve or polygon is then just a line, and a bad complicated line at that.

[Aristonaut]

It makes sense to not allow scaling to 0 for entire objects, as then it just disappears. When selecting some nodes, though, you enter a whole different situation that's closer to 3d software than raster software, like photoshop. It is commonplace in 3d programs to scale a selection of nodes down to 0 to co-locate them. It's a quick way to make a deco style divergence.

[MikeTO]

17 minutes ago, Aristonaut said:

It makes sense to not allow scaling to 0 for entire objects, as then it just disappears. When selecting some nodes, though, you enter a whole different situation that's closer to 3d software than raster software, like photoshop. It is commonplace in 3d programs to scale a selection of nodes down to 0 to co-locate them. It's a quick way to make a deco style divergence.

Oh, you want to do this to nodes and not the entire curve. In that case it would be cool if changing the width or height to zero was a way to align them. Of course you can do this with the Align control, too.

[Aristonaut]

The align tool does not work here, as once they are aligned on one axis, the handle for the other axis disappears. There is then no way other than moving handles to co-locate them on the remaining axis.