As there was a request recently about FOSS and DTP, it occurred to me that many people might not know that some software has some particularly useful but maybe not immediately apparent features. This post is intended to stimulate others to post hints and tips about their favourite apps. (if learners contribute they can use it as evidence for their ITQ qualifications)

Inkscape allows text flow inside objects. This means that you can create a simple template for a page layout such as a newspaper. Create the columns by drawing rectangles, use the align and distribute tools to get them just where you want and then use Alt-W to establish the text flow pattern between the columns. Delete the text and save the file and you have a newspaper page template for text flow between columns that can be used by others.

There is an explanation of text flow in objects in the Inkscape Manual (The Inkscape on-line manual is very good). There are a stack of Inkscape tutorials on You Tube for Inkscape. Some links on the INGOT site or search You Tube directly. I didn't see any specifically on text flow in columns though. Making a You Tube tutorial on how to do basic DTP in Inkscape and blogging the process would be a good project for a learner to do for their Gold INGOT because it is contributing to the community and they will cover quite a lot of the assessment criteria for the ITQ in the process.

PS I just tried to upload the example Inkscape file but .svg is not included in the allowable file types. Given its the W3C standard for vector graphics I think we should support it.