IntelliTrim

Used to simultaneously trim, extend or cut multiple elements.

The cutting elements or elements to which you can extend other elements are lines, line strings, ellipses, arcs, curves, shapes, complex strings, complex shapes, text nodes, and cell headers.

Elements that can be cut or trimmed are lines, line strings, curves, arcs, ellipses, shapes, B-spline curves, complex strings, and complex shapes.

The only elements that can be extended are lines, line strings, complex chains that end with a line or line string, and b-spline curves.

Tool Setting	Effect
Quick Mode	Operation: Trim — If on, elements are trimmed. Extend — If on, elements are extended. Cut — If on, elements are cut. (You will not actually see where the element was cut until you select it.)
Advanced Mode	Operation: Toggling between Trim and Extend in Advanced Mode causes all intersections and extension points to be recalculated and displayed. Trim — If on, elements are trimmed. Extend — If on, elements are extended. Cut — Dimmed if Advanced is selected.
Select Elements to Trim	If selected, each element that is identified is designated as an element to trim (or extend).
Select Cutting Elements	If selected, each element that is identified is designated as a cutting element.
Selection Set	Designates selected elements, by default, as: Elements to Trim Cutting Elements

To trim (or extend) multiple elements

Select the elements to trim or the cutting elements.

Select the IntelliTrim tool.

If the tool setting Selection Set is set to Elements to Trim, the selected elements are highlighted.
If Selection Set is set to Cutting Elements, the selected elements are highlighted and dashed.

If the selected elements are the elements to trim, identify each cutting element.
or
If the selected elements are the cutting elements, identify each element to trim.
All potential cutting points are shown as small dots.

When done identifying elements, Reset.
The proposed results of the operation are displayed. The trimmable elements remain highlighted to indicate the tentative nature of the display.

If the results are satisfactory, Reset to accept them. Otherwise, continue with step 6.

For each element whose trim or extension result is not as you desire, enter a data point on the element on or near the part of the element you wish to keep. When entering these guide points, you need not be concerned about “inside” and “outside” (because the cutting elements do not have to be connected or closed).
For each element to trim, the series of entered guide points is evaluated and the part of the element that is closest to the closest guide point is kept. Every time the element crosses a cutting element, it is cut.

When done modifying the results, Reset.

Alternative Method — To trim (or extend) multiple elements

Select the IntelliTrim tool.

Identify each element to trim.

When done identifying elements, Reset.

Identify each cutting element.

When done identifying elements, Reset.
The proposed results of the operation are displayed. The trimmable elements remain highlighted to indicate the tentative nature of the display.

If the results are satisfactory, Reset to accept them. Otherwise, continue with step 7.

For each element whose trim or extension result is not as you desire, enter a data point on the element on or near the part of the element you wish to keep. When entering these guide points you need not be concerned about “inside” and “outside” (because the cutting elements do not have to be connected or closed).
For each element to trim, the series of entered guide points is evaluated and the part of the element that is closest to the closest guide point is kept. Every time the element crosses a cutting element, it is cut.

When done modifying the results, Reset.


Trimming multiple elements. Top Left: Identify the elements to be trimmed (points 1-4), with a Reset to finish. Top Right: Identify the cutting elements (points 5-6), with a Reset to finish. Proposed cutting points appear as small dots. Bottom Left: Reset to display the proposed result. Bottom Right: Reverse the result of any incorrect cuts by entering a data point near the part of the element that you wish to keep (point 7). Reset to finish.


Extending multiple elements. Top Left: Identify the elements to be extended (points 1-5), with a Reset to finish. Top Right: Identify the cutting elements (points 6-8), with a Reset to finish. Proposed cutting points appear as small dots. Bottom: Reset to display the proposed result. A further Reset completes the operation.

Key-in: TRIM MULTI

At any point while designating elements, you can switch between identifying elements to trim and identifying cutting elements by selecting the appropriate radio button in the Tool Settings window. If the focus is on one of the radio buttons, you can select the other simply by pressing <space bar> or the Reset button.

To change an element from an element to trim to a cutting element, or vice-versa, simply reidentify it with the corresponding radio button selected. It is possible — and in some cases efficient — to select both the elements to trim and the cutting elements prior to selecting IntelliTrim and then reidentify those elements whose designation is wrong.

If an element cannot be either extended or trimmed, it is deleted under the following condition: there is a cutting element directly between the closest guide point and the element; otherwise the element is not modified.