1.5-dev: Copy and pasting breaks down objects and converts them into paths

jvhemmer
2026-04-02T13:39:18Z

#### Summary:

Copy and pasting objects (like text, paths with tip arrows) breaks the object down into its components, and they are converted into paths. For example, the text "asd" after pasting becomes 3 separate objects, "a", "s" and "d". A path with an arrow becomes the path and the arrow tip separately. Copy-pasting a rectangle with a gradient fill makes the same shape with a flat color. Does not happen when duplicating or cloning the objects.

#### Steps to reproduce:

- open Inkscape
- select "Text Tool"
- click somewhere on the page
- type some text (e.g., "asd")
- use escape to exit text edit mode
- select the text
- copy
- paste

#### What happened?

The pasted text was split into separate objects for each letter: "a", "s" and "d". Also, the letters become paths.

#### What should have happened?

The paste object should be the same as the original. The text should remain text and not become multiple paths

Sample attachments:

![bug.svg](/uploads/0eef29f8591314c5bd64097861a6c2f6/bug.svg){width="425" height="600"}

![20260402-1335-45.1989315.mp4](/uploads/5d4e67fdc9cc42160b19bf26539aa4e7/20260402-1335-45.1989315.mp4){width="453" height="600"}

#### Version info

```
Inkscape 1.5-dev (8754ac5, 2026-03-16, custom)

Compile (Run)
GLib version: 2.86.3
GTK version: 4.20.3 (4.20.3)
glibmm version: 2.86.0
gtkmm version: 4.20.0
libxml2 version: 2.15.1
libxslt version: 1.1.45
Cairo version: 1.18.4 (1.18.4)
Pango version: 1.56.4 (1.56.4)
HarfBuzz version: 12.3.0 (12.3.0)
Poppler version: 25.12.0

OS version: Windows 11 25H2
```