Smart Edit Command
Command Licensing and Default Menu Location
- The Smart Edit command is part of the RPS Data Prep Toolbox
- The command is located on the Data Prep menu ribbon
- The command is located in the Create / Edit menu group
Training Video
The following video shows how to use the Smart Edit command
Command Description
The Smart Edit command provides the ability to break, trim, extend and join lines in a variety of ways, thereby increasing the versatility of TBC but also the productivity of these processes.
You can now edit one or multiple lines at the same time, utilize a reference line for stationing of break locations and apply a clip width around break locations as they are applied. You can also break lines at a crossing line, a crossing defined by 2 points, at intervals along a line or a reference line, at an offset to a line and more.
While trimming / extending lines you can now also trim to intersection and join the lines at the same time, trim single or multiple lines to bounding lines and where appropriate trim both ends to a common boundary line in a single step.
While joining lines you can now also relayer and elevate the lines at the same time. Elevating lines offers a number of methods including Contour, Pad, 2D, Variable Elevation etc. providing dedicated work flows to convert imported PDF Vectors or CAD Linework into 3D lines on the correct layer.
With the new 3D Edit functions added in the April 2024 release you can also Trim / Extend lines to a surface, trim / Extend lines by a distance (Horizontal, vertical or Slope Distance), Break lines at a surface, Trim/Extend and Join lines in 3D with user selectable elevations at the intersection point and more.
New hotkey configurations allow you to navigate the command dialog without having to move focus away from the graphics area.
Command Interface Description
The Smart Edit command dialog looks as follows
Edit Modes
There are currently 3 primary edit modes supported by the Smart Edit command, Break, Trim/Extend and Join. Select the mode that you want to use.
You can toggle between Break, Trim/Extend and Join modes using the B = Break, T = Trim/Extend and J=Join hotkeys.
Enable 3D edit checkbox
Check the checkbox if you want to enable 3D editing. Note that enabling 3D edit can make some mass computations slower than they would be if the 3D edit mode is not enabled. If you are working with 2D data (undefined elevation) or 0 constant elevation lines (including close to 0 elevation) then enabling 3D edit will make little difference in computation times. 3D editing on lines with variable elevations will take the longest times to compute when large numbers of lines are selected.
3D Edit ruleset
Select the 3D editing rules that you want to apply to this program execution. You can define the rules in the RPS Settings command accessed from the header bar command icons in the 3D Edit Settings section. The 3D Edit Rules are described below. The selected rules are grouped into a ruleset that is selected here.
3D Edit ruleset
You can select, Add / Create, Copy, Save and Delete 3D edit rulesets.
Click the 
button to create a new ruleset.
Click the 
button to create a copy of the currently selected ruleset.
Click the 
button to Save the current ruleset
Click the 
button to Delete the currently selected ruleset
Description:
Provide a description for the 3D rule set that you are creating
Lines with Vertical Curves and Vertical Arcs:
When a line that is being edited with Smart Edit contains Vertical Arcs or Vertical Curves, this rule provides the control over how that curve is handled when you break the line somewhere between the start and end of the vertical curve. The options are as follows
- Break the line and the vertical curve at the break point - this will create two vertical curves if the break point is anywhere after the start and before the end point of the vertical curve. The curve geometry for the new curves is computed so that they closely align with the original vertical arc or curve.
- Do not break the vertical curve - this will stop a break being created if you try to select somewhere in the vertical curve / vertical arc element of the line.
- Break at the start of the vertical curve - this will break at the VPC point for the vertical curve, and results in the entire vertical curve being placed into the second line segment resulting from the break.
- Break at the end of the vertical curve - this will break at the VPT point for the vertical curve, and results in the entire vertical curve being placed into the first segment resulting from the break.
Lines with VPIs:
Linestrings can have their vertical locations defined as either 3D nodes (in the horizontal tab of the linestring editor) or VPIs (in the vertical tab of the linestring editor).
VPIs can include
- Elevation points (defined by distance along the line and elevation)
- Locations that have their elevations defined by an incoming slope (from the prior 3D location on the line)
- Locations that have their elevations defined by an outgoing slope (to the subsequent 3D location on the line)
- Locations that have their elevations defined by two slopes (from the prior and subsequent 3D locations on the line) that intersect at a computed location. The VPI marker is placed where the user decides to place it, the actual station and elevation of the intersecting slopes is then computed and located along the line.
- Locations that have their elevations defined by a crossing 3D line
- Locations that have their elevations defined by a cross slope from a reference line
This 3D edit rule applies to all of those defined above and excludes vertical curve (parabolic) and vertical arc VPIs.
There are two options that can be selected in this 3D edit rule
- Convert all VPIs to 3D nodes - when this mode is selected, all the above VPI types that are covered by this rule will be converted from VPIs to 3D nodes. Be aware that if a VPI falls in the middle of a 2D arc, that the arc will be split into two separate arcs of equal radius.
- Maintain VPIs position - this leaves the VPIs as VPIs after the command has been executed.
Note that VPIs are defined using distance along the line and elevation / slope. If the line length prior to the VPI changes e.g. as a result of a grip edit, the nodes original location will change so that it retains it’s original distance along the line. This may / may not be desirable behavior. Converting VPIs to 3D nodes mitigate this issue, however 3D nodes e.g. in horizontal arcs make editing arcs harder because you now have two back to back arcs. If you do not plan to grip edit or modify a lines location or path, then leaving nodes as VPIs is the safest bet.
Z options in 3D Join:
When two 3D lines are selected, intersected and joined there will normally be several possible outcomes for how the elevations through the intersection point can be computed and handled. There is no single answer that is always the correct answer, so we give you options as to how you want to compute the Z at the intersection point.
Take a simple example where line 1 is at elevation 100 and line 2 is at elevation 102.4.
- Take the Slope / Elevation from Line 1 (result in example = 100.0)
- Take the Slope / Elevation from Line 2 (result in example = 102.4)
- Take the Mean of the Slopes / Elevations from Line 1 and 2 (result in example = 101.2)
- Take the Highest Elevation from the two lines (result in example = 102.4)
- Take the Lowest Elevation from the two lines (result in example = 100)
- Use a user defined value or select from computed values (result in example would be a pop up dialog that looks as follows and allows you to either enter a value of your choice or to select one of the presented values).
Valid user entries would be e.g.
? undefined (create a slope through the intersect point from the last known 3D location on line 1 to the last known 3D location on line 2).
Any value between the highest and lowest values presented.
Any value that the user sees as an acceptable solution for what they are trying to achieve with slopes and drainage etc.
Join 2D line and 3D line
When a 3D line is joined to a 2D line, the horizontal portion of the line is simple to compute, however the elevation of the intersection point needs to be defined and the extension of the 3D line can be determined by the “Extend Vertical” property of a linestring.
If the Extend Vertical property is set to Yes then the line can be fully determined in 3D by extending the last slope between the last 2 3D nodes of the 3D line to the end of the 2D line.
If the Extend Vertical property is set to No then the line will only be 3D for the portion of the line that is elevated. In the 3D view or Profile view of the line, the portion that is unelevated will not be visible. In the plan view the entire length of the line (both 2D and 3D portions) will be visible.
The elevation of the intersection point can be derived from the 3D line by projecting the slope between the last two 3D locations of the line to the intersection point, or the intersection point can be left undefined or set to a user defined value. If left undefined then the Extend Vertical property if Yes will determine the elevation at the intersection point.
There are three options available in this 3D edit rule
- Make joined line 2D - this sets the entire line back to undefined elevation
- Disable Extend Vertical - the 2D portion of the line will remain 2D until further edits are applied by the user
- Enable Extend Vertical - the 2D portion of the line will now be elevated using the slope between the last two 3D locations of the 3D line.
Corner Case
If the 3D line has its final node set to undefined, and the lines Extend Vertical property is set to No, the final slope of the 3D line is indeterminate. The user has to decide the elevation of the intersection point. Alternatively set the Extend Vertical property to Yes on the line and let that determine the elevation and slope at the end of the 3D line.
Remove unnecessary nodes
When you are working with 3D linework that have multiple 3D nodes along their length, it is quite possible that 2 or more 3D nodes fall on a straight grade. If nodes fall on a straight grade, the lines can be “cleaned” by the removal of the additional 3D nodes prior to computation of the intersection points or break points being calculated.
In most cases, removing additional 3D nodes provides little value to the calculations or the resulting linework, however in some cases e.g. trimming / extending 3D lines at their intersection with a surface model e.g. for piles, drill holes, wick drains etc. we only consider the first and last segments of a line, so if the source line being trimmed or extended has 4 or more nodes (3 line segments), the computation engine may not be able to calculate the trim or extend points being requested. In this case, enable this function with the Clean 3D nodes option. Typically leave this setting with the Maintain 3D nodes option.
OK
Click OK button to save the settings and return to the Smart Edit command
Cancel
Click Cancel to close the RPS Settings without saving the changes made since the last Save execution.
Options
The options displayed provide different methods of either Breaking, Trimming / Extending or Joining lines depending on the Edit Mode selected above. Once the Option is selected, there may also be e.g. Break, Trim / Extend or Join modes within that option - see below.
Break Options
When Edit Mode is set to Break, the following Options are available
- Break - Simple
- Break - Two point crossing
- Break - Intersect line
- Break - Intervals
- Break - At offset
- Break - At surface
Break Modes
When Break - Simple is selected, the following Break Modes are available
- Break - Single - Once
- Break - Single - Often
- Break - Multiple - Once
- Break - Multiple - Often
- Remove segment(s) between two points
Trim / Extend Options
When Edit Mode is set to Trim/Extend, the following Options are available
- Trim/Extend - Simple
- Trim/Extend - Multiple
- Trim/Extend - Intersect line
- Trim/Extend - Distance
- Trim/Extend - To surface
Trim/Extend Modes
When Trim/Extend - Simple, Trim/Extend Multiple or Trim/Extend - Distance are selected, the following Trim/Extend Modes are available
Trim/Extend - Simple Edit Modes
- Shortest end trim/extend
- Longest end trim/extend
- Both ends trim/extend
- Selected end trim/extend
- Forced trim
- Forced extend
Trim/Extend - Multiple Edit Modes
- Shortest end trim/extend
- Longest end trim/extend
- Both ends trim/extend
- Forced trim
- Forced extend
Trim/Extend - Distance Edit Modes
- Trim
- Extend
Both ends checkbox - check this to trim or extend both ends of the selected line
When trimming or extending a line by a distance, the slope of the line has an influence on the trim or extend amount. You can select that the entered trim / extend distance is a
- Horizontal distance - extends the line by a slope distance in the plane of the first or last segment of the line computing using the slope angle and the horizontal distance entered.
- Vertical distance - extends the line by a slope distance in the plane of the first or last segment of the line computed using the slope angle and the vertical distance entered…
- Slope distance - extends the line in the plane of the slope of the first or last segment of the selected line by the slope distance entered.
Join Options
When Edit Mode is set to Join, the following Options are available
- Join - Simple
- Join - Keep First
- Join - Keep Second
- Join - Mean
- Join - Keep Shortest
- Join - At Intersect
Join Modes
In all of the above Options, the following Join Modes are available
- Manual
- Single
- Multiple
Break Edit Modes
When you break a line in TBC it creates two or more separate lines each with a new internal serial number.
In the TBC standard break command this means that it retains the selection of the part of the line before the break (in terms of increasing station) and deselects the second part of the line (because it is a new line with a unique serial number). If you wish to break the line in several locations, this typically means that you have to select the line then break it, and then select the line again and then break it etc. on a repeat pattern. Also, very often you want to break lines at specific stations in relation to a reference line or alignment, for each break point you need to use the right click COGO functions at two levels to break the line at a defined station.
We wanted to provide you with a set of tools that are more efficient and effective that have broader capabilities for editing your data.
Break - Simple
The Break - Simple option provides access to several Break Modes. The Break Modes have been optimized for increased productivity on common break workflows. The Break Modes including the following
Break - Single - Once
Single refers to a single line and Once refers to the number of breaks i.e. One break per selected line. In this mode the workflow is select the line, break it here, select the line, break it here etc. in an alternating pattern. This is similar in operation to the TBC Break command.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Select Line
Select the line that you wish to break
Station / Distance
Select the break location graphically or enter a station / distance along the line value for the break location.
The line will be broken and the command focus returns to the selection of the next line to be selected.
Note:
If you wish to use a reference line / alignment for stationing, use the Break - Multiple - Once mode (see below).
Video Demonstration
Break - Single - Often
Single refers to a single line and Often refers to the number of breaks i.e. Multiple breaks per selected line. In this mode the workflow is select the line, break it here, break it here, break it here etc. This allows you to break the selected line in multiple locations with a single click per break point. You can also copy and paste station values for break locations from Excel or Notepad etc.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Select Line
Select the line that you wish to break
Station / Distance
Select the break locations graphically or enter station / distance values along the line for the break locations. As you enter or select each station value it is added to the table for reference. You can right click in the table area to Paste values from the clipboard (copy from Excel / Notepad) or to Add values, Import values from a spreadsheet, Delete values, or Clear the table and start over.
When you click Apply the line will be broken at the selected locations and the command focus returns to the selection of the next line to be broken.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking a line in multiple locations, the segments of the line and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next line will also clear the highlights.
Note:
If you wish to use a reference line / alignment for stationing, use the Break - Multiple - Often mode (see below).
Video Demonstration
Break - Multiple - Once
Multiple refers to a one or more lines and Once refers to the number of breaks i.e. One break of all the selected lines. In this mode the workflow is select the lines, break them here, select the lines, break them here etc. in an alternating pattern.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Reference line checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to define the break points for the lines selected at stations along a reference line rather than along the lines themselves.
When checked, select the reference line or alignment.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break
Station / Distance
Select the break location graphically or enter a station / distance along the line(s) for the break location.
The line(s) will be broken and the command focus returns to the selection of the next set of lines to be selected.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in a single locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - Multiple - Often
Multiple refers to a one or more lines and Often refers to the number of breaks i.e. Multiple breaks of all the selected lines. In this mode the workflow is select the lines, break them here, here and here etc.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Reference line checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to define the break points for the lines selected at stations along a reference line rather than along the lines themselves.
When checked, select the reference line or alignment.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break
Station / Distance
Select the break locations graphically or enter station / distance values along the lines for the break locations. As you enter or select each station value it is added to the table for reference. You can right click in the table area to Paste values from the clipboard (copy from Excel / Notepad) or to Add values, Import values from a spreadsheet, Delete values, or Clear the table and start over.
When you click Apply the lines will be broken at the selected locations and the command focus returns to the selection of the next line to be broken.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - Remove segment(s) between two points
In this mode you will create a gap in the line between two clicked locations along the line(s). You can carry out this operation on a single line or multiple lines and you can utilize stationing from a selected reference line if required. You can also apply the clip width to the break points and that will clip 50% of the clip width at both ends of the gap that you create between the break locations.
In this process the command flows as follows. Select the line(s) that you want to break, select break point 1, select break point 2, execute the breaks and removal of the segments between the two break points on all selected lines, return to line selection to start a new process. Execution is automatic on selection of break point 2.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Reference line checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to define the break points for the lines selected at stations along a reference line rather than along the lines themselves.
When checked, select the reference line or alignment.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break
Station / Distance
In this mode, the command is expecting two break points to be selected on the line prior to execution. Execution is automatically applied on selection of break point 2.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - Two point crossing
In this mode you can break multiple lines at a crossing line defined using two points. This saves having to create the crossing line in order to execute the break process.
The flow of the command is as follows. Select the line(s) to break, select point 1 and point 2 for the definition of the crossing line, execute and return to selection of lines to break for the next execution. Execution is automatic on selection of point 2 of the crossing line.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break
Point 1
Select point 1 of the crossing line. You can use TBC Snaps to snap to points or line nodes in the usual manner.
Point 2
Select point 1 of the crossing line. You can use TBC Snaps to snap to points or line nodes in the usual manner. The command execution occurs on clicking this location.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - At intersect line
In this mode you will be breaking the selected line(s) at the point at which they cross a selected line. The flow of this command is as follows. Select the line or lines that you wish to break, select the crossing line, execute and return to the next set of lines selection. The execution of the command is automatic on selection of the crossing line.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break
Select intersecting line
Select the line that you wish to break the selected lines along. Execution is automatic on selecting the intersecting line.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - Intervals
In this mode you can break one or more lines at even intervals along each line or at even intervals along a reference line (provides stationing). The flow of the command is as follows. Enter the break interval e.g. 25’, select the line or lines that you want to break, execute the break process and return to the entry of a new interval for the next line selection. The interval value is retained for each execution cycle, you can press Enter to accept it or overwrite the value and press Enter.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Reference line checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to define the break points for the lines selected at stations along a reference line rather than along the lines themselves.
When checked, select the reference line or alignment.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break.
Interval
Enter the value for the break interval required. If the reference line checkbox is active, the interval is computed along the reference line and applied perpendicular to the reference line to all of the selected lines. If the reference line checkbox is deactivated, the interval is computed along each of the selected lines individually. Press Enter or Apply to execute the break process.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Break - At offset
In this mode you can break one or more lines at their intersection with a line offset from a selected intersection line. The flow of the command is as follows. Select the lines to break, select the intersecting line, enter the offset to the intersecting line, execute and return to the next set of lines selection.
Clip width checkbox
Check this checkbox if you wish to create a clipped gap around each break point
When checked, enter the desired Clip width. The clip width is split 50/50 either side of the break point.
Select Line(s)
Select the line or lines that you wish to break.
Select intersecting line
Select the intersecting line that will have the offset applied to it for the break locations.
Offset
Enter the offset value for the intersecting line. Press Enter or Apply to execute the break process.
Clear Highlights button
On breaking multiple lines in multiple locations, the segments of the lines and the break points will be displayed using the RPS line highlights - you can click the Clear button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights.
Video Demonstration
Trim/Extend Edit Modes
In the Trim / Extend edit modes, we have provided you with a more comprehensive set of trim / extend functions that have a more efficient and productive workflow.
We have also integrated processes to save you additional steps to complete a task, for example when you want to trim/extend two lines to their intersection point, you will very often also want to join them together so we give you that option.
Also it is very common to want to select a bounding line and then select the line to trim/extend and then select a bounding line and then select a line to trim/extend in a repeating process.
It is also extremely common that you want to trim off or extend the shortest end, however zooming in to see the shortest end to trim it and then zoom back out again to make the next selection can be extremely time consuming - hence we added the ability to trim the shortest, the longest or the selected end as options.
Trim/Extend - Simple
when you select this option you have several modes that you can select depending on what you are working on. The modes are as follows
- Shortest end trim/extend
- Longest end trim/extend
- Both ends trim/extend
- Selected end trim/extend
- Forced trim
- Forced extend
Shortest end trim/extend
In this mode you can trim or extend the end of a selected line that is the shortest element with respect to the bounding line i.e. if the line is 100’ long and divided by the bounding line, and one end is 99.5’ and the other 0.5’ then the 0.5’ end of the line would be trimmed off, regardless of where on the line you select. This saves you having to zoom in tight to select the short end and then zoom out again after each execution. If the selected line is short of the bounding line, the line will always be extended to its intersection with the bounding line.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of trim or extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line trim or line extend function is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command, when checked it will assume that you are trimming / extending multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to trim / extend that you want to select the bounding line for each selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the trim / extend function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to trim / extend. On selection the line will automatically be trimmed or extended. The shortest end of the line that overhangs the bounding line will be removed, or the selected line will be extended to close the shortest gap between the selected line and the bounding line.
Note that if the selected line is drawn inside a closed polygon or within the bend of a horseshoe shaped line that the shortest end is always the shortest gap or the shortest overhang of the bounding line.
Clear Highlights button
On trimming / extending lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Longest end trim/extend
In this mode you can trim or extend the end of a selected line that is the longest element with respect to the bounding line i.e. if the line is 100’ long and divided by the bounding line, and one end is 99.5’ and the other 0.5’ then the 99.5’ end of the line would be trimmed off, regardless of where on the line you select. If the selected line is short of the bounding line, the line will always be extended to its intersection with the bounding line.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of trim or extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line trim or line extend function is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command, when checked it will assume that you are trimming / extending multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to trim / extend that you want to select the bounding line for each selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the trim / extend function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to trim / extend. On selection the line will automatically be trimmed or extended. The longest end of the line that overhangs the bounding line will be removed, or the selected line will be extended to close the longest gap between the selected line and the bounding line.
Note that if the selected line is drawn inside a closed polygon or within the bend of a horseshoe shaped line that the longest end is always the longest gap or the longest overhang of the bounding line.
Clear Highlights button
On trimming / extending lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Both ends trim/extend
In this mode, both ends of the line will be trimmed or extended to their intersection with the bounding line. Note that if the line has multiple intersection points with the bounding line it will trim or extend the first or last segment of the selected line to the intersection point with the bounding line.
Note: There can be ambiguous situations with this function, if you are not getting what you need to happen, undo and use the Forced Trim or Forced Extend or Trim/Extend Selected End modes instead.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of trim or extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line trim or line extend function is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
If you want to be able to trim/extend any length enter a high value like 100,000 here.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command. When checked it will assume that you are trimming / extending multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to trim / extend that you want to select the bounding line for each selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the trim / extend function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to trim / extend. On selection the line will automatically be trimmed or extended. If the end of the line overhangs the bounding line it will be trimmed. If the end of the line falls short of the bounding line it will be extended. The trim / extend location will also be computed to a projection of the bounding line if the two lines do not physically intersect. If there is only one intersection of the two lines, then that single trim / intersection will be executed.
Clear Highlights button
On trimming / extending lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Selected end trim/extend
In this mode you will select the end of the line that you want to Trim or Extend. The line end is determined by the selection point on the line i.e. which half of the line that is selected.
The flow of the command is as follows. Select the bounding line and then select the end of the line that you wish to trim off or extend to meet the bounding line. Depending on whether or not you check the Keep bounding line checkbox dictates whether or not you select a bounding after each line trim / extend or not.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of trim or extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line trim or line extend function is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
If you want to be able to trim/extend any length enter a high value like 100,000 here.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command. When checked it will assume that you are trimming / extending multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to trim / extend that you want to select the bounding line for each selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the trim / extend function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to trim / extend. Pick the line by clicking on the end of the line that you want to trim or extend. By picking the end, we mean pick a location on the line that is in the half of the line that you want to trim or extend. On selection the line will automatically be trimmed or extended. If the end of the line overhangs the bounding line it will be trimmed. If the end of the line falls short of the bounding line it will be extended. The trim / extend location will also be computed to a projection of the bounding line if the two lines do not physically intersect. If you select the wrong end of the line and an intersection cannot be found with the bounding line, no Trim or Extend will take place
Clear Highlights button
On trimming / extending lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Forced trim
The Forced Trim mode is your last resort if the other modes are not doing what you require. In this mode, the command will only consider a trim of the selected line to the bounding line at the end of the line that you selected. If the end of the line cannot be intersected with the bounding line by trimming the end of the line, the trim will not be executed. If the end of the line selected overlaps the bounding line, then it can and will be trimmed to the bounding line.
The flow of the command is as follows. Select the bounding line, select the line to be trimmed at the end that you want to trim off (in the correct half of the line that requires trimming), execute the trim and then select the next bounding line and line to be trimmed. If the Keep bounding line checkbox is enabled, the command will repeatedly request a line to be trimmed and will execute on line selection.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of trim or extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line trim or line extend function is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
If you want to be able to trim/extend any length enter a high value like 100,000 here.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command. When checked it will assume that you are trimming multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to trim that you want to select a bounding line for each trim line selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the trim function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to trim. Pick the line by clicking on the end of the line that you want to trim. By picking the end, we mean pick a location on the line that is in the half of the line that you want to trim. On selection the line will automatically be trimmed. If the end of the line overhangs the bounding line it will be trimmed. If the end of the line falls short of the bounding line no trim will be executed. The trim location will also be computed to a projection of the bounding line if the two lines do not physically intersect. If you select the wrong end of the line and an intersection cannot be found with the bounding line, no Trim will be executed.
Clear Highlights button
On trimming lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Forced extend
The Forced Extend mode is your last resort if the other modes are not doing what you require. In this mode, the command will only consider an extension of the selected line to the bounding line at the end of the line that you selected. If the end of the line cannot be intersected with the bounding line by extending the end of the line, the extension will not be executed. If the end of the line selected has a gap between it and the bounding line, then it can and will be extended to the bounding line.
Max trim/extend
You can define the maximum amount of extend that can be used by the command e.g. if you enter 5’ here, any line extend function that is greater than 5’ it will not be executed.
If you want to be able to extend any length enter a high value like 100,000 here.
Keep bounding line checkbox
This is a flow control for the command. When checked it will assume that you are extending multiple lines one at a time to the same bounding line. When unchecked it will assume that for each line that you want to extend that you want to select a bounding line for each extend line selection.
Select bounding line
Select the line that you want to use as the bounding line for the extend function.
Select line
Select the line that you want to extend. Pick the line by clicking on the end of the line that you want to extend. By picking the end, we mean pick a location on the line that is in the half of the line that you want to extend. On selection the line will automatically be extended. If the end of the line overhangs the bounding line it no extend will be executed unless there is an additional extend line intersection that can be found. If the end of the line falls short of the bounding line the line extension will be executed. The extend location will also be computed to a projection of the bounding line if the two lines do not physically intersect. If you select the wrong end of the line and an intersection cannot be found with the bounding line, no line extension will be executed.
Clear Highlghts button
On extending lines, the bounding line will be highlighted in the RPS secondary highlight color and the selected lines in the primary highlight color using the RPS line highlights (Click Here for more details). You can click the Clear Highlights button to clear the highlights once you have reviewed the results. Clicking the next set of lines will also clear the highlights. To change the highlight colors use the RPS Settings command from the header bar commands.
Video Demonstration
Trim/Extend - Multiple
when you select this option you have several modes that you can select depending on what you are working on. The modes are as follows
- Shortest end trim/extend
- Longest end trim/extend
- Both ends trim/extend
- Forced trim
- Forced extend
Trim / Extend - Intersect Line
The following video shows how to use the Trim / Extend - Intersect Line function
Trim / Extend - Distance
The following video shows how to use the Trim / Extend - Distance function
Trim / Extend - To Surface
The following video shows how to use the Trim / Extend - To Surface function
Keyboard Shortcuts
The following keyboard shortcuts are available for use while using this command
- B = Break Mode selection
- T = Trim/Extend Mode selection
- N = Start a new loop process (return to start of execution sequence)
- Up and Down Arrows = Change the Options control
- Left and Right Arrows = Change the Sub Mode control
- Enter = Apply in most scenarios, note that Enter will not work in multi station data entry controls
- Tab / Shift Tab = Move between fields in the dialog
- F1 = Help
- WASD = Pan Screen Up, Left, Down, Right
- Q and E = Rotate screen clockwise / anticlockwise by 15 degrees
- Shift Q and Shift E = Rotate screen clockwise / anticlockwise by 30 degrees
- Ctrl Alt Q or Ctrl Alt E = Reset Screen Rotation to North up
Header Bar Commands
The following commands are available to use from the header bar of the Smart Edit command. These allow you to rapidly hop between commands that are commonly used at the same time as the Smart Edit command.
- Help
- RPS Settings
- Convert to Linestring
- Quick Line
- Takeoff Lines
- Multi Offset Lines
- Insert Line Segment
- Smart Join
- Clip Lines
- Offset Line
Apply
When you tap apply, the Smart Edit command will execute and ready itself for another selection set and repeat process execution. If you do not want to make a second selection and repeat the process tap Close to finish the process.
Close
Closes the command without further execution.
New
Starts a new loop process i.e. it returns you to the first step of the command execution loop process
Use Case Videos
The following videos show the use of the Smart Edit command in a work process context
Feedback and Enhancement Requests
If you would like to provide feedback on the use of the Smart Edit command or to request enhancements or improvements to the command please click Reply below.