User Guide
User Guide
User Guide

Create Complex Chain

Use it!

Used to create a complex chain — an open complex element that is formed from a series of open elements (lines, line strings, arcs, curves, and open B-spline curves ) that can be manipulated as if it were a single primitive element. The resulting complex chain takes on the active element attributes regardless of the attributes of the component elements.

Tool SettingEffect
Method

Sets how elements are added to the complex chain:

  • Manual
    • — Each element is manually identified.
  • Automatic
    • — After the first element is identified, and accepted, if endpoints of additional open element(s) are within the Max. Gap distance of each other, they are included automatically. Where there is a choice of two or more elements (at the endpoint of an element) then the process lets you choose to either Accept the highlighted element, or Reset to see the alternative(s).
Max(imum) Gap

The greatest allowable distance between elements when the Method is Automatic.

If zero, only elements that connect (have a common endpoint) can be added.

Simplify geometry

If on, connected lines are added as line strings. If you identify only connected lines, the tool produces a primitive line string element rather than a complex chain.

To create a complex chain manually
  1. Select the Create Complex Chain tool.

  2. Set Method to Manual.

  3. Identify the first element to include in the chain.

  4. Continue to identify elements to add to the chain.
    If they are not already connected, the elements are connected as they are identified.
    see footnote 77

  5. Reset to complete the complex chain.

To create a complex chain automatically
  1. Select the Create Complex Chain tool.

  2. Set Method to Automatic.

  3. Identify the first element.

  4. Accept to automatically include other elements that are within the Max Gap distance. If a fork is found, where more than one element is within the Max Gap distance, the message “FORK – Accept or reset to See Alternate” displays in the status bar.

  5. Enter a data point to accept the highlighted element
    or
    Reset to highlight an alternate element. Continue to reset until the desired element highlights.

  6. Accept to complete the complex chain. Creation of the chain ends automatically if there are no elements within the Max. Gap.

    Create Complex Chain with Method set to Automatic. After entering data point 2, the top element in the fork was highlighted (top). To highlight the alternate path, a Reset was entered (bottom).

      

Key-in: CREATE CHAIN [MANUAL | AUTOMATIC]

To convert a complex chain back to its individual components, use the Drop Element tool.

It is best to create complex chains from elements that share common endpoints.

To draw a complex chain of connected arcs and line segments with one tool, use the Place SmartLine tool in the Linear Elements tool box.