• Trim

Trimming in 2D

One of the handy features available in ArchiCAD is trimming. One can cut off unneeded portions of Walls, Lines, Arcs etc., split them in two pieces or extend them to another element. It can also be used to create Hotspots at the real or imaginary intersection of Elements. This is done by CTRL-clicking (on Windows) / CMD-clicking (on Mac OS) elements on the Floor Plan. However, what ArchiCAD does will depend on several factors, including the number and types of elements selected and the Tool activated when the CTRL/CMD-click occurs. The following will explain exactly what is done by ArchiCAD in each different case.

1. Arrow Tool is the currently activated Tool:
   
   If there are no elements selected, then CTRL-clicking on any element will trim that portion of the clicked element to the closest intersection point in both directions. For example, CTRL-clicking on the Wall at Point 1 in the above example will trim the Wall between its two intersections with Lines 2 and 3. If there are any elements selected, then ArchiCAD will consider only the selected elements for possible intersection with the CTRL-clicked element. If you select line 3 above, then CTRL-clicking on the Wall at point 1, the whole left of that Wall from its left endpoint to its intersection point with line 3 will be trimmed. But if you CTRL-click the selected element, it will trim it like no elements are selected. For example, if you select line 3 and CTRL-click it at point 3, its segment between line 2 and the upper side of Wall 1 will be trimmed. This is working so because this is the only selected element, meaning that there are no other elements selected that could be considered as possible cutting lines for trimming, in which case all other elements are considered when trimming is done.
   

2. Selected Element's Tool is the currently activated Tool in the ToolBar: If there are no elements selected, then CTRL-clicking on any element will give the same result as if you were using the Arrow Tool. If one element is selected, CTRL-clicking the element will not result in any trim action. CTRL-clicking on any other element will split in two the selected element along the CTRL-clicked element, if the two actually intersect, or the selected element will be extended to their imaginary intersection point, in case they do not intersect. If several elements are selected, these will be split in two along the CTRL-clicked element if they intersect with it, or the selected elements will be extended to their imaginary intersection point with the CTRL-clicked element, in case they do not intersect. For example, in the below example, Wall 1 and Line 2 are selected. The selected Tool can be either the Wall Tool or the Line Tool. CTRL-clicking Line 3 at point 3 will split both Wall 1 and Line 2 along Line 3. CTRL-clicking Line 4 will extend both Wall 1 and Line 2 to their imaginary intersection point with Line 4.

3. Currently activated Tool is one other that of any selected elements: If there are no elements selected, then CTRL-clicking on any element will give the same result as if you were using the Arrow Tool. If one element is selected, CTRL-clicking the element will not result in any trim action. CTRL-clicking on any other element will create a Hotspot at the intersection of the selected and the CTRL-clicked elements, if the two actually intersect, or Hotspots will be created at their imaginary intersection point, in case they do not intersect. If several elements are selected, Hotspots will be created at the intersection of each with the CTRL-clicked element if they intersect with it, or Hotspots will be created at their imaginary intersection point with the CTRL-clicked element, in case they do not intersect. For example, in the same above example, with Wall 1 and Line 2 selected, let us say the selected Tool is the Fill Tool. CTRL-clicking Line 3 at point 3 will create Hotspots at the intersections of the reference line of Wall 1 and Line 2 with Line 3. CTRL-clicking Line 4 will create Hotspots at the imaginary intersection points of the reference line of Wall 1 and Line 2 with Line 4.

Notes:

• With the Arrow Tool and the selected Elements' Tools, the CTRL-clicked element gets modified (split, trimmed). With other Tools selected, the CTRL-clicked element is the one doing the splitting/trimming.

• When a construction element (specifically Walls and Beams) is trimmed/split/extended, it is done so along its ReferenceLine. Where its reference line intersects the other element is the point where the operation occurs. When the CTRL-clicked element is the operator element, its clicked edge is taken into account. So a Line can be split by the Reference line side of a Wall or its side opposite to its Reference line side.

• Linear elements (Straight Walls, Beams, Lines, Arcs etc.) can be trimmed/split and trimmed to, but Polygonal elements (Fills, Roofs, Slabs etc.) can only split/trim by their edges. For this you may use the Split command of the Edit menu.

Trimming in 3D

• See:

• Trim to Roof command

• Trim Zone command

• Solid Element Operations

• Category2dDrawing, MenuCommands