Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Here's a triple-threat tip: If you accidentally trim or extend the wrong ob-
ject and you're still in the TRIM or EXTEND command, type
U
and press Enter to
undo the most recent trim or extend. You can switch between TRIM and EXTEND
without exiting the command by holding down the Shift key for the other tool. And
finally, if you find yourself with a remnant that won't trim because it doesn't cross
the cutting edge, type
R
(for eRase) and press Enter to erase it without leaving the
TRIM command.
The example in Figure 11-7 shows trimming to a single cutting edge, in which the end of
each trimmed line gets lopped off. Another common use of the TRIM command is for
trimming out a piece of a line between two cutting edges. In the two-cutting-edges scen-
ario, TRIM cuts a piece out of the middle of the trimmed line. The default option for se-
lecting cutting edges or boundaries is ALL, which works well in this scenario. Pressing
Enter to accept the default option selects all objects in the drawing as a cutting edge if
you're in the TRIM command, or a boundary if you're in the EXTEND command.
The LENGTHEN (LEN) command provides other useful ways to make lines, arcs,
and polylines longer (or shorter). You can specify an absolute distance (or
delta
) to
lengthen or shorten by, a percentage to lengthen or shorten by, or a new total length.
Look up the LENGTHEN command in AutoCAD's help system for more information.
As I describe in Chapter 10, LENGTHEN is now an option on the new Grip
pop-up menus on lines and arcs. To display the menu, just hover your mouse
pointer over an endpoint grip on either of those object types or over one of the
new triangular grips on an elliptical arc and click Lengthen.
Break
The BREAK command isn't what you use before heading out for coffee. (AutoCAD
doesn't have a command for that yet, but I keep hoping.) It's for creating gaps in lines,
polylines, circles, arcs, or splines. BREAK also comes in handy if you need to split one
object into two without actually removing any visible material.
