file saves with file types that are written in python have missing object or misplaced objects (dxf and hpgl)

problem is in 0.47 version. did not test in other versions

bug 60473 seems like same problem

sounds similar to Bug 585021.
could you try this procedure:
- Edit->Select All
and then use :
- Path->Object to Path
- then, with all objects selected, force a bit of a translation by selecting the entire group and hitting the up arrow once and then hit the down arrow once to return to the original position. If all goes well this should remove the transform elements from the diagram.

When I use this method I get the attached .dxf file which I think contains all the required elements.

Thanks for your response and suggestion:
results are as follows: all objects are exported and displayed correctly

I find it to be unacceptable to require my customers to convert objects to paths to get it to work correctly. Not only does it make the text string uneditable, it requires that the user operating my machine to know how to use the program. I am trying to make the user interface very simple for operators of my new machine. Most I am willing to make the operator of my machine do is open file and run an extension.

I want to create a new extension that makes a copy of the file, and then automatically convert it to paths and then move it as you described, then output it to a file. However, I can't find the document or the inkscape object model. Best I have found so far is:
http://inkscape.modevia.com/doxygen/html/ObjectTree.php

I have been programming for 35 years and have written plugins for adobe illusrator and coreldraw. There has to be a way to control the application from a python script.

Can you point me to the correct website or example that might allow me to write the code.

probably the best source of information is the directory \Inkscape\share\extensions

- a new output routine to deal with the effects of transform elements has been posted in Bug 600473 comment 6
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/600473/comments/6
- could you indicate whether this resolves the issue for you?
- if there are remaining problems which have not been addressed, would you be willing to file them as separate bug reports?

test file for for output with dxf or hpgl save.

Your new fix fixes misplace objects in dxf output for support types.

It does not fix text output
it does not fix rectangle output
if does not address same problem in hpgl output

If you want to support rectangles I found some buggy code in pathmodifier for converting a rectangle to a path. Here is my corrected code.

    def rectToPath(self,node,doReplace=True):
        if node.tag == inkex.addNS('rect','svg'):
            x =float(node.get('x'))
            y =float(node.get('y'))
            try:
                rx=float(node.get('rx'))
            except:
                rx=0
            try:
                ry=float(node.get('ry'))
            except:
                ry=0
            if rx == 0 and ry != 0:
                rx = ry
            if ry == 0 and rx != 0:
                ry = rx
            w =float(node.get('width' ))
            h =float(node.get('height'))
            d ='M %f,%f '%(x+rx,y)
            d+='L %f,%f '%(x+w-rx,y)
            d+='A %f,%f,%i,%i,%i,%f,%f '%(rx,ry,0,0,1,x+w,y+ry)
            d+='L %f,%f '%(x+w,y+h-ry)
            d+='A %f,%f,%i,%i,%i,%f,%f '%(rx,ry,0,0,1,x+w-rx,y+h)
            d+='L %f,%f '%(x+rx,y+h)
            d+='A %f,%f,%i,%i,%i,%f,%f '%(rx,ry,0,0,1,x,y+h-ry)
            d+='L %f,%f '%(x,y+ry)
            d+='A %f,%f,%i,%i,%i,%f,%f '%(rx,ry,0,0,1,x+rx,y)

            newnode=inkex.etree.Element('path')
            newnode.set('d',d)
            newnode.set('id', self.uniqueId('path'))
            newnode.set('style',node.get('style'))
            nnt = node.get('transform')
            if nnt:
                newnode.set('transform',nnt)
                fuseTransform(newnode)
            if doReplace:
                parent=node.getparent()
                parent.insert(parent.index(node),newnode)
                parent.remove(node)
            return newnode

    the problem with 'text' svg elements and 'rect' svg elements can be dealt with by selecting these objects and appyling the menu item Path->Object to Path.
    The ideal solution would be if this menu functionality could be called or executed from inside a Python script. However, I do not know how to do that, I do not believe it is possible at the moment.
    Perhaps this could be proposed as a GSoC project someday, since there are quite a number of Python scripts that experience exactly the same problem, this is not unique to the .dxf output routine.

I don't think you have to convert text to path or rectangles to path in autocad before you save a file in dxf format. A what happens if you want to change the size or roundness of the rectangle after you print it. Or maybe you want to change the font face.

- attached is a new version of hpgl_output.py.
- this version adds support for transform elements in the same way as the dxf output (comment 7)
- as usual, any testing would be welcome...

sorry, found a bug, here is a better version :

committed to bzr rev 9689

@Alvin - would you consider it save backporting the HPGL export fix for transformations to the 0.48.x branch so that the latest improvements get released with 0.48.1?

The changes are in revision 9689 (transformations, bug #600472).

backported to inkscape 0.48.x in r9721

follow-up report for <rect>:
Bug #657289 “[dxf export] add support for basic SVG shapes like <rect>”
<https://bugs.launchpad.net/inkscape/+bug/657289>