Trim and Extend
Trim removes the part of a path on one side of an intersection. Extend lengthens a path to reach another object.
Trim and ExtendTrim and Extend are two complementary click-based editing tools in the 2D editor. Trim removes the portion of a path segment on one side of an intersection, while Extend lengthens a path endpoint until it reaches the nearest crossing line. Both tools use automatic boundary detection — nearby lines act as cutting edges or targets without any pre-selection, so you simply hover to preview and click to apply. Use them together to clean up overlapping construction lines, close open corners, and align bed edges precisely to property boundaries.
Two tools in one panel
Activate Trim or Extend
Open the Modification tool group in the left toolbar and select either Trim or Extend. The tool sidebar appears on the right with a help popover (the ? button) that shows an illustration and tips. Both tools are purely click-based — there are no numeric parameters to configure.
Hover to preview what will change
Move your cursor over the canvas. With Trim active, the segment portion that would be removed highlights in red as you hover over it. With Extend active, hovering near a line endpoint shows a green dashed preview of where the extension will reach. Check the preview before clicking to confirm it matches your intent.
Click to apply the trim
While using Trim, click on the highlighted red segment to remove it. The cut happens exactly at the intersection with the nearest crossing line — the remaining segment stays intact. Nearby lines serve as automatic cutting boundaries so you do not need to select them first.
Click to apply the extension
While using Extend, click near the endpoint of the line you want to lengthen. The line grows in the direction of the endpoint you clicked until it meets the nearest intersecting boundary. If the target boundary is not directly in the path of the line, the extension will not fire — reposition the boundary or hover from the other endpoint.
Continue editing or finish
Both tools stay active after each operation so you can trim or extend multiple segments in sequence without reactivating. When you are done, press Escape or click a different tool to deactivate.
Draw long construction lines across your plan to establish alignment, then use Trim to cut them back to exactly the lengths you need. This is faster and more accurate than measuring each segment individually.
Trim and Extend work on open paths (lines and polylines). Closed shapes such as rectangles and polygons must be converted to open paths before they can be trimmed.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Escape | Finish / deactivate tool |
Frequently Asked Questions
Trim is not removing anything when I click. What is wrong?
Trim requires at least one other line to cross the segment and act as a cutting boundary. If nothing intersects the segment, there is no defined cut point. Draw or extend a crossing line first, then retry Trim.
Extend is not reaching the target line.
Extend only stretches in the direction the line is already heading from the endpoint you click. If the target boundary is not in that direct path, no intersection exists and the extension will not fire. Try hovering from the other endpoint, or reposition the target line so it lies in the line's forward direction.
Do I need to select the cutting boundaries before using Trim?
No. All nearby lines on the canvas act as automatic cutting boundaries. Just hover over the segment you want to remove and click — Trim figures out the intersections for you.
Can I trim segments inside a closed polygon?
Closed shapes (rectangles, circles, polygons) cannot be directly trimmed because they have no open endpoints or free segments. Use the Path Break tool first to split the closed shape into open path segments, then use Trim as normal.
What is the difference between Trim and the Delete key?
The Delete key removes an entire selected entity from the plan. Trim removes only the portion of a segment beyond an intersection, leaving the rest of the line intact. Use Trim when you want to shorten a line rather than delete it completely.