Hello, everyone.
I have imported a file from CAD software that has several hundreds of lines that visually create shapes but are disjointed.
My question: is there a fast way to select lines that represent a face and join them so that they can be filled?
Please see the attached sketch for a better explanation.
Every file has hundreds of lines and joining them one by one is not an option.
I'd prefer to select all the lines of a face, somehow join them, fill the shape, go to next shape etc.
Any help appreciated.
The short answer is no. It rather depends on the complexity of the shapes as to whether it is quicker to redraw them from scratch, or joining each shape to the next individually, which can be quite fiddly. I'm assuming that the example you have posted is not what you actually want to join, as that would be a simple task.
Bob.
18 February 2017, 08:23 AM
handrawn
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
Bob - it's worth the OP trying ivan's old tip for filling un-enclosed shapes, but it comes with a qualification that their may be the odd issue later on depending what you do
to try: - manually join one of the unenclosed shapes and fill - select this and all of the other unenclosed lines - then press control+J
no guarantees... use a duplicate file to test
18 February 2017, 08:46 AM
handrawn
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
just done a quick test and I rather think there may be issues with the filling if there are several gaps
me i'd use illustrator, or inkscape maybe, both of which have gap tolerant filling which xara does not; but even then, the more gaps, the more fiddly it may become
18 February 2017, 11:29 AM
Albacore
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
Why not lock your CAD layer, make a new layer, then trace over your shape as it is at the most 6 control points it will only take seconds to do F4 (Shape Editor Tool).
18 February 2017, 10:46 PM
Egg Bramhill
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
Here's a method that works well for fairly straight forward lined drawings but how well it could be done from a cad file with 100's of lines, without the original file, I couldn't say. I doubt it's up to it, but worth a try ;)
19 February 2017, 12:17 PM
Thanasis Siozos
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
Yes! That's it, it works. Thank you very much Mr Egg Bramhill and thanks for the elaborate video!
19 February 2017, 12:19 PM
Thanasis Siozos
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
@iamtheblues Yes the shapes are more complex. Thanks for the reply.
19 February 2017, 12:20 PM
Thanasis Siozos
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
@Albacore that would be like recreating the entire CAD drawing not an option. Thanks for the reply.
19 February 2017, 12:21 PM
Thanasis Siozos
Re: Joining thousands of lines to whole shapes
@handrawn Didn't know how to do it in inkscape but thanks for the pointer.