The SVG Interface, what is a sodipodin:namedview

https://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/Inkscape_SVG_vs._plain_SVG

Please correct any of this it may be wrong

The <sodipodi:namedview> element is a part of the SVG metadata that Inkscape uses to store document-specific settings and preferences. These settings include information about the display, zoom level, grid visibility, and window dimensions, among other things. This element is not part of the standard SVG specification but is used by Inkscape to maintain a consistent user experience across sessions.

Key Attributes of <sodipodi:namedview> and Their Functions

• id: A unique identifier for the named view, typically set to "base".

• pagecolor: The background color of the page in the Inkscape document.

• bordercolor: The color of the border around the page.

• borderopacity: The opacity of the page border, where "1.0" is fully opaque.

• inkscape:pageopacity: The opacity of the page itself within the Inkscape document.

• inkscape:pageshadow: The shadow size of the page.

• inkscape:zoom: The zoom level of the document.

• inkscape:cx and inkscape:cy: The x and y coordinates of the center of the viewport.

• inkscape:document-units: The units used in the document, e.g., mm for millimeters.

• inkscape:current-layer: The ID of the currently selected layer.

• inkscape:document-rotation: The rotation angle of the document.

• showgrid: A boolean value indicating whether the grid is shown (true) or hidden (false).

• inkscape:window-width and inkscape:window-height: The width and height of the Inkscape window.

• inkscape:window-x and inkscape:window-y: The x and y coordinates of the Inkscape window's position on the screen.

• inkscape:window-maximized: A boolean value indicating whether the window is maximized (1) or not (0).

How Inkscape Uses <sodipodi:namedview>

1. Document Appearance and Settings:

   • The <sodipodi:namedview> element stores settings related to the appearance of the document, such as background color, border color, and opacity. This ensures that when a document is opened in Inkscape, it retains the same look and feel as when it was last edited.

2. View and Zoom Management:

   • The zoom level and center coordinates (cx, cy) help Inkscape remember the last view state of the document. When reopening the document, Inkscape restores the view to where the user left off, maintaining the same zoom level and viewport center.

3. Window and Interface Layout:

   • The window size and position attributes (window-width, window-height, window-x, window-y) ensure that Inkscape restores the window to the same dimensions and position on the screen as when the document was last saved. This provides a consistent workspace layout for the user.

4. Layer Management:

   • The current layer attribute (current-layer) tracks which layer was selected when the document was last saved. This allows users to pick up their work exactly where they left off, without needing to reselect the layer they were working on.

5. Grid and Page Layout:

   • The grid visibility (showgrid) and page layout attributes (pageshadow, pageopacity) control the appearance of the grid and page shadow, aiding in design and alignment tasks within Inkscape.

Example Usage in Inkscape

When you open an SVG file in Inkscape, the application reads the <sodipodi:namedview> element to set up the document environment as per the saved preferences. Any changes made during the editing session, such as zoom level adjustments, grid visibility toggles, or window resizing, are updated in this element when the document is saved.

By storing this metadata directly within the SVG file, Inkscape ensures that all user-specific settings and preferences are preserved across sessions, providing a seamless and personalized editing experience.