Move node along its path

Migratedcheese from https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/170826
From 2005-08-01 to 2016-09-06!

(Call it a) Summary:

Clarusthedogcow wrote...

While I was working on manipulating quite a few nodes trying to align them to a path, I thought it would be useful if there was a function which did this in Inkscape.

You would need to select a path and a node, and the selected node would automatically be moved to the path. The node would travel the path like it was a rail, with only 1 dimensional movement. Many otherwise difficult tasks then become easy. For example, if I were trying to make a pizza I would:

1. Draw a circle
2. Draw a triangle within the circle with the base facing the outside of the circle (like a pizza slice)
3. Select the one of the vertex bases, alt shift click (or maybe a lock node to path button in the node editing interface) the circle and then move the node to lock on the base
4. Select the other vertex and perform the same operation
5. Select the base of the triangle and make it smooth
6. Do a clone + rotate operation

Now I you would have a decent looking pizza with slices and all. Of course the primary reason for having this feature would not be to make pizzas but rather shapes that are related to the shape of another in only a few vertices (the offset feature would still be useful as it is more geared towards shapes that inherit the flow of many vertices). You could also use this feature like a much more flexible guide: you could make a quick curve to lock to, or even just an angled line.

In addition to this, when multiple nodes are selected they follow the path like a train, keeping the same distance apart that they originally had (sqrt(dx^2 + dy^2)).

Additional Comments:

• 👍 about 20 times, all with varying details

Migrator's Notes:

• Clarusthedogcow's example is just one small use-case of how this feature could be useful.
• No snapping option available to perform this exists (Oh, no! Did I just suggest adding yet another snap option?) 🤯🔫
• Ooh, I hate to mention it for all the drool this'll create...Blender's Slide Vertices.