Join Tool

The Join tool is almost exactly like PowerCADD's Attach command, with a few important exceptions. The objects that are joined together consist of an ordered, end-to-end group of objects known as a path. Thus, you can combine lines, polygons, arcs, B-splines, Béziers, and splines to form an irregular shape that can have a single fill pattern or color and a single pen pattern, color and dash pattern. (If you join a line to a Bézier, however, the result is a single Bézier.)

Paths are important for several reasons. First, you can create a single 'object'-say a maple leaf consisting of lines, arcs, polygons, Béziers, B-splines and splines-that you can ungroup and individually edit the objects within the group.

Second, when paths are printed or plotted, they are actually treated as a single object. This means that a single line dash pattern is used for the entire object, thus providing an even pattern of dashes rather than the awkward junction you normally get at the beginning of each separate object.

Finally, because they are an ordered list of connected end-to-end geometric entities, paths are very important in Computer-Aided-Manufacturing (CAM).

To join two objects together, press the mouse on the first object and hold the mouse down. Drag to the second object and release the mouse button.

The two objects must have exactly matching ends or the Join tool will not operate on them.

You may join two lines that are directly in line with each other into a single line. If two lines intersect at a point in space, the lines are trimmed or extended as necessary to join them into a polygon.

The Join tool will also connect two Bézier curves into a single object.

Clip Tool

Combine Tool