There are two ways to export the pictures you create in SnipSVG: You can save them directly as files that you can use in other programs, or you can use the powerful tool to transfer your pictures directly to other programs in a number of unique ways.
Cross-platform clipboard sharing between macOS and Windows
On Mac computers you can run Windows in a virtual machine platform like Parallels or VMware Fusion, although Parallels is currently the only mature option for Macs using Apple Silicon processors (M1 and above). On the current version of Parallels the ARM version of Windows 11 runs very well, with excellent compatibility with the huge majority of 32-bit and 64-bit x86 apps as well as native ARM apps.
Parallels has a shared clipboard that allows you to copy and paste images, text and source code between macOS and Windows. It also allows you to configure your Windows system so that you can save files to the Windows file system directly from macOS.
Document Mac programs with Help+Manual® on Windows
This feature makes it possible for you to document both Windows and Mac programs together with SnipSVG and our
Help+Manual documentation authoring suite. You run Windows under Parallels on your Mac with Help+Manual® and SnipSVG, and the Mac version of SnipSVG on the Mac. You can then share your Mac SnipSVG images directly to your Help+Manual® project as files or via the Clipboard.
The regular function in the file menu will automatically save the current picture in the default format you have chosen in your preferences. The function in the File menu displays a unique dialog allowing you to save a copy of your current picture in a variety of different formats. The dialog also directly explains the features of each format.
See Save Formats for details of the available formats.
1.Choose the format you want to use.
2.Click on in the Folder: field to select the folder to save in.
3.Enter the file name in the File Name: field and click on to save. |
The Share tool in the toolbar provides a range of options for exporting and sharing the current picture in a variety of formats. It is designed to make it as easy as possible to use the pictures created in SnipSVG, both directly and in other applications.
Supported image formats
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These are the standard bitmap formats for use in general applications. PNG and JPG are compact and can be used directly in HTML pages. BMP is uncompressed and lossless and is normally only used in graphics programs.
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Universal vector format, in which all elements like callouts and shapes have the same quality at all zoom settings. Can be used directly in HTML pages.
When copied to the clipboard, SnipSVG saves a copy of the SVG with the mime format image/svg+xml. Microsoft Word, for instance does recognize the format and neatly inserts a true SVG image. However, very few other programs understand SVG as clipboard format.
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Useful for using in word processors. SnipSVG creates an RTF file with an embedded PNG image.
Word on the Mac can handle these files but neither TextEdit nor Pages can display or paste an RTF file with embedded images. To edit or display regular RTF on macOS without Word you need a more capable editor such as Bean (https://www.bean-osx.com).
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Generates an HTML file with an embedded SVG image, or HTML code with an embedded SVG image in clipboard mode.
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This is a special clipboard-only format for sharing directly with Help+Manual® documentation projects. It is also supported for sharing directly from the Mac version of SnipSVG to Help+Manual® projects when you have Help+Manual® running in a Parallels virtual machine on your Mac.
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Sharing modes
The Share tool in the toolbar has three modes, which can be used for different purposes. See further below on this page for details on sharing your SnipSVG pictures with each mode.
Share to Clipboard mode
Copies the current image to the Clipboard so that you can insert it directly in another program.
Share to File mode
•Opens a save dialog and asks for the file name.
•Stores and remembers the chosen export folder.
•Copies a link to the file to the Clipboard.
After saving the file you can then use the Clipboard link to insert it in another application.
Share to Temporary File mode
•Creates a temporary file in the format you have chosen.
•Copies a file copy link to the file to the Clipboard.
•When you then select Paste, for example in Windows Explorer or the Mac Finder, it inserts a copy of the file in the current location.
•All temporary files are deleted automatically when you close SnipSVG. |
Clipboard mode supports all formats (see above), including the special H+M format for sharing directly with Help+Manual® documentation projects.
Cross-platform sharing
All the clipboard formats can be shared between macOS and Windows when you are running Windows in a virtual machine on macOS. This means you can paste the picture directly in a program in the other operating system. This is generally the most efficient way to share your pictures between Windows and macOS.
Procedure
1.Open the tool in the toolbar and first choose the file format in the lower part of the dialog.
2.Select your options, if applicable.
3.Select Copy to Clipboard.
4.Switch to the other application and paste.
Options
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HTML and H+M formats only.
Includes a scaling attribute that makes the image expand to the width of the page or container (e.g. a table cell) where it is inserted.
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RTF, HTML and H+M formats only.
If your image contains numbering tags, this inserts a table under the image with the tag numbers in the left column and the tag tooltips in the right column. You can enter tooltips for tags in the pane at the bottom of the formatting panel on the right.
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Exporting as a file supports all formats except the special H+M format, which is clipboard only. This sharing mode is essentially the same as the option in the menu, but with one important difference: It also copies a link to the saved file to the clipboard. You can then use this link in other programs to reference the saved file.
Cross-platform sharing
Saving files in the other operating system's file system and links to files between a Windows virtual machine and macOS will not work unless you have configured your hosting system such as Parallels to provide full integration of the file systems of both operating systems.
Procedure
1.Open the tool in the toolbar and first choose the file format in the lower part of the dialog.
2.Select your options, if applicable.
3.Select Export as File.
Options
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HTML and H+M formats only.
Includes a scaling attribute that makes the image expand to the width of the page or container (e.g. a table cell) where it is inserted.
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RTF, HTML and H+M formats only.
If your image contains numbering tags, this inserts a table under the image with the tag numbers in the left column and the tag tooltips in the right column. You can enter tooltips for tags in the pane at the bottom of the formatting panel on the right.
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This unique sharing mode requires a little explanation. It is like exporting to file, but it allows you to put the file anywhere you want after sharing. It does this by copying the file after sharing. You can then paste it anywhere you want after sharing, allowing you to choose the location. The temporary file is then deleted automatically when SnipSVG is closed, so that you only have the inserted copy.
Cross-platform sharing
This is not supported in this mode. This is because the shared clipboard between macOS and Windows only supports images and text.
Procedure
1.Open the tool in the toolbar and first choose the file format in the lower part of the dialog.
2.Select your options, if applicable.
3.Select Save Temporary File.
4.Switch to your file manager and paste the file in your desired location.
Some programs also support inserting files in this mode. If in doubt, give it a try.
Options
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HTML and H+M formats only.
Includes a scaling attribute that makes the image expand to the width of the page or container (e.g. a table cell) where it is inserted.
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RTF, HTML and H+M formats only.
If your image contains numbering tags, this inserts a table under the image with the tag numbers in the left column and the tag tooltips in the right column. You can enter tooltips for tags in the pane at the bottom of the formatting panel on the right.
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