How to translate an SVG group by a percentage of the viewport

Question

I have an svg <rect> that is in a <g> (group) and I would like to scale it and then translate it by a percentage of the viewport. Most everything in svg allows the specification of units through a ridiculous number of options; e.g. px, em, %, ex, pt, pc, ... However it seems that the number specified in the translation is only pixels.

Thing is that if I have to go back and recalculate the pixel values for the translation, then my svg becomes resolution dependent. Then me, you and everyone would get sucked into a paradox. You can see why I'm a little concerned.

<svg>
  <g transform="scale(1, 1) translate(0, 0)">
    <rect x="45%" y="25%" height="50%" width="10%"/>
  </g>
</svg>

http://jsbin.com/ubeqot/1/edit

Answer 1

Stick the <g> element in an inner <svg> element and add x and y attributes with percentage values to the inner <svg> element to translate it.

<svg>   <svg x="10%" y="20%">     <g transform="scale(1, 1)">       <rect x="45%" y="25%" height="50%" width="10%"/>     </g>   </svg> </svg> 

If you want the scale to apply first you would put the <svg> element inside the <g> instead.