Remove side symmetrically in Inkscape

Question

I wish to draw a rectangle with no fill, but only a stroke. I would like to erase a certain portion of one side, going out from the middle. I have attached a picture of what I would like to obtain at the end:

I know how to make the box in Inkscape, but I haven't figured out how to remove the part in the middle such that it looks symmetric. Does anyone know if it is possible to achieve this latter feature in Inkscape?

Answer 1

These are the steps to create a box with a symmetrical opening in Inkscape:

Cut out method

1. Draw two boxes, one for the resulting end box, another for defining the opening.

   

2. Select both objects and choose Object - Align and Distribute... to align to the Center on vertical axis (choose another axis for opening on the sides), relative to "Biggest object":

   

3. Cut out the small object from the big object with Path - Difference.

4. Enter Edit path nodes mode to select four inner nodes:

   

5. Delete the segment between these nodes (make sure you had not set the node edit mode to preserve shape):

   

   

Working with nodes

Another approach is working with nodes. This will not let you define a fixed width of the object in the way a second box allows but it is also fit to create a symmetrical opening.

1. Create close box.
2. Select Path - Combine to break nodes.
3. Select two nodes in Edit node mode.

4. Insert new node two (or more) times.

   

5. Select Object - Align and distribute.

6. Select all nodes on base line.

7. Choose Distribute nodes horizontally for symmetry.

   

8. Select nodes between opening.

9. Delete segment between two selected nodes.