Hi there, hope everyone is well!
I am new at this but can draw a basic pattern, manipulate a pattern, add seam allowances, grainlines and labels. I export the layout but whenever I try to open the saved file, it gives me an error. I updated my program to the latest version and printed the pattern but cannot save it and send it. Am I missing something important?
Regards Elizabeth
The error: File exception.
Parsing error file C:/Users/27845/seamly2d/layouts/TESTNEWPATTERNSEAMLY2D_layout.pdf in line 1 column 1
If I miss something, please assist me.
Thanks so much
Elizabeth
Hello and welcome to the Seamly forum, @Alfonsie12
You won’t be able to open a PDF in Seamly. You need to go to that folder and open the file in Adobe Reader. From there, you’ll be able to print it or send it to a projector.
Welcome Elizabeth…
As @Grace has pointed out you can’t open a pdf in Seamly2D. It only opens *.sm2d Seamly2D pattern files.
You can however skip the (pdf) export and print directly from Seamly2D once a layout is generated by using the File->Print menu items:
Or you can use the File->Preview menu to Preview the layout before printing. This is a tiled PDF preview:
Hi Douglas Thank you for your reply. I could print my pattern directly for Seamly2D and I am so excited about it, it looks perfect! I struggle to get the layout saved to used later. I tried to export the layout as (*.svg) but it gives me an error: (File exception. Exception Couldn’t get version information) or a png file gives me: (error occurred while parsing Parsing error file C:/Users/27845/seamly2d/layouts/… .pngline1column1) or ppm (error occurred while parsing, ppm in line 1 column 1). I don’t seem to be able to open any layout for later use or to send.
Hope you can help me? Kind regards
Elsabe
Currently we have no way to save a “layout”… you just have to load a pattern and recreate the layout.
My suggestion would be to export from Piece mode.
@Grace may chime in with more suggestions here.
As for the errors:
You’re trying to load an SVG or PNG into Seamly2D… Seamly2D can only load sm2d pattern files. You can export as an SVG, PDF, PNG or whatever, but you need to use another application to then print. PDF’s usually require at minumum the Adobe Acrobat reader, while formats like SVG can be used in Inkscape, Illustrator, Corel, etc.
Depending on what you are trying to do, it may be best to save this file as it is, to use later. Then save the file to a different name to develop a new pattern based on the original draft.
For instance, if this pattern is your base pattern and you are printing it to test if the base pattern is true, then correct anything that needs to be corrected until you get your perfect fit, it will become your Master Pattern. Later you may wish to draft a blouse from your Master Pattern, so you’ll open your Master Pattern, save it as Blouse Pattern and develop your blouse.
In the meantime, the Master Pattern will remain with all of its pattern pieces in exactly the same way that you last closed it, so there’s really no need to save it in any other format nor to try to open any other format in Seamly.
If you do export the pattern pieces as SVG, you’ll need Inkscape, Illustrator or CorelDraw to open the SVG.
If you export the pattern pieces as PDF, you’ll need a Adobe Reader or some other PDF software to open the PDF.
If you make changes to your SVG or PDF, they won’t happen in Seamly, you’ll need to make the changes in Seamly for them to happen.
I hope this makes it all a little clearer 
Thank you so much for the good advice! It is much clearer to me now, I will certainly try this and keep you updated!
I really appreciate your swift feedback!
Kind regards
Elizabeth