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Manual / Modify

TRIM, EXTEND and EXTRIM

Cut lines at intersections (TRIM), extend lines to an edge (EXTEND), and trim everything at a closed boundary (EXTRIM).

What it does

Command Alias Meaning
TRIM TR Click the segment of a line you want to remove. The program cuts it automatically at the intersections with other lines
EXTEND EX Click near the end of a line. The line extends to the nearest edge
EXTRIM – Trims every line at the edge of a selected closed shape. EXTRIM = trim the inside, EXTRIM Outside = keep the inside and trim the outside

Where to find it

  • Ribbon: Draw › Modify › Trim (submenu: Trim, Extend, Stretch, Trim at a Boundary (EXTRIM), Break, Join, Lengthen, Align, Explode, Bring to Front, Send to Back)
  • Command line: TRIM (Alias TR)

TRIM steps

  1. Type TR and press Enter.
  2. Click each segment you want to remove (or hold the mouse button and drag across several segments, like a Fence).
  3. Press Esc to finish.

Before TRIM: lines crossing in a grid
Before TRIM: lines crossing in a grid

After TRIM: the overhanging ends are removed, leaving a rectangle
After TRIM: the overhanging ends are removed, leaving a rectangle

EXTEND steps

  1. Type EX and press Enter.
  2. Click near the end of the line you want to extend.
  3. Press Esc to finish.

EXTRIM steps

  1. Select the closed shape that acts as the boundary (rectangle, circle, closed Polyline).
  2. Type EXTRIM (trim the inside) or EXTRIM O (trim the outside).

Note: EXTRIM cuts Line/Polyline objects at the intersection. Circle, Arc, and Text objects are deleted only if they lie entirely on the side being removed.

Try it: Cloud night-light panel

The front panel of a cloud-shaped night light. Three circles and one line become a soft cloud outline with nothing but TRIM clicks.

  1. Circles: C 0,0 25, C 35,12 30, C 68,0 22. Press Esc after each one.
  2. Base line: L, -25,0, 90,0, Esc.
  3. Type TR and press Enter. Click every arc piece below the base line (7 pieces). You can also hold the mouse button and drag across several pieces to trim them in one stroke.
  4. Click the 4 short arcs inside the cloud, where the circles overlap. Press Esc.

One clean cloud outline remains: three bumps on a flat base.

Cloud outline trimmed from three circles and a line
Cloud outline trimmed from three circles and a line

Challenge: Add a crescent moon cut-out: C 38,22 6 and C 41,24 5. Then use TR to click the part of the big circle inside the small one, and the part of the small circle outside the big one.

See also