Extending and shortening of objects

You can extend and shorten only regular lines and arcs. When you extend or shorten a line or an arc, EngView applies the action either by using a fixed distance or to the nearest point of intersection with another object.

To extend a line

  1. Do any of the following:

A contextual edit bar appears above the graphical area.

The Extend contentual bar
  1. Consider your situation:

Extend to the nearest point of intersection with the nearest unselected object

  1. Ensure that dL is empty and no objects are selected in the graphical area.
  2. Point to the half of the line segment that you want to extend.

If there is at least one object lying on the line's extension path, EngView extends the line to the first intersection point. The distance between the line's end and the intersection point appears in dL.

Line extended to the nearest point of intersection
  1. Click to fix the extension.

Extend to the nearest point of intersection with a selected object

  1. Select the object to which you want to extend a line.
  2. Press the Use Selected button Click to extend to a selected object and ensure that dL is empty.
  3. Point to the half of the line segment that you want to extend.

EngView extends the line only if it has a point of intersection with the selected object. Any points of intersection with unselected objects are ignored.

Extend the line by a distance

Extend by a fixed length

  1. In dL, type a positive value for the distance by which you want to extend the object, and then press ENTER.

Nothing will take place that you can see on the screen.

  1. Rest the mouse pointer over the half of the line that you want to extend.
Extend or shorten a line by a distance
  1. Click to extend.

Shorten by a fixed length

  1. In dL, enter a negative value for the distance by which you want to shorten the object, and then press ENTER.

Nothing will take place that you can see on the screen.

  1. Rest the mouse pointer over the half of the line which you want to extend.
  2. Click to fix the extension.

Extend by a manually set distance

  1. Ensure that dL is empty and that no objects lie on the line's extension path: (1) Click the half of the line that you want to extend, (2) release the mouse button, and then (3) move the mouse in the direction that you want.

A projection of the extended line appears following the movement of the pointer.

Extended/shortened line
  1. Click to fix the extension.

NOTE: You can use this procedure also to shorten a line: (1) Click the line, and then (2) Move the mouse pointer along the line.

Extending collinear lines

When you are working with a pair of collinear lines, you can swiftly extend one of them to the other one, thus merging the two into a new line.

  1. Take two collinear lines. We'll extend the lower line to meet the upper one.
Two Collinear Lines

The lower line will become longer and meet the upper one.

  1. On the Transformation tab, click Extend.
  2. Position the mouse pointer over the line that you want to extend to the second one.

NOTE: Notice the small horizontal end marker. It indicates where the extension will end.

Extension Line

The extension line reaches up to the upper line, and it is there that it will meet it when you click.

  1. Click the line. This extends the lower line to meet the second line, and the two merge into a single line.

TIP: You can draw the extension yourself and decide how long you want it to be. In Step 3, hold down CTRL, and start moving the mouse pointer along the line. Notice how that the extension line moves as you move the mouse. Choose how long you want the extension to be, and then click to fix it. See the following image.

Free Extension Line

Move the mouse to choose the length of the extension.