`Path:simplify` sometimes produces invalid results that cannot be exported

[oborozuk1]

When using Path:simplify, the resulting path may be incorrect and cannot be exported. Here's a minimal reproducible example:

p = Path("m 0 0 b 562 46 739 39 828 36 878 40 977 48 1026.6 52 1088 0 1212 0 0 0")
p:simplify()
p:export()

This raises the error: attempt to index a nil value

[klsruan]

This is because the simplify function doesn't support shapes with bezier curves. The idea of the function is to simplify the points and turn them into curves, so as the shape already has the curves, there's not much point in simplifying it. To fix this, simply flatten the old curves using the flatten function and get new ones in the simplification.

[klsruan]

p = Path("m 0 0 b 562 46 739 39 828 36 878 40 977 48 1026.6 52 1088 0 1212 0 0 0")
p:flatten()
p:simplify()
p:export()

[oborozuk1]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the explanation! Maybe it’d be nice if simplify() gave an error when used on Bezier paths?

By the way, is there any plan for adding documentation?

[klsruan]

It is now possible to identify whether a Path has a curve using the path.hasCurve variable.
The simplifiy method now identifies this automatically and recontrols the curves without the need to call the flatten method.

Regarding the documentation, at the moment I'm extremely busy with work, but I'll take some time at the weekends to write this documentation.