Overview
The Straighten Polyline tool simplifies editing complex polylines by replacing a portion of the curve between two user-selected points with a straight line segment. Whether you’re working with closed or open polylines, this tool offers a quick way to flatten, simplify, or realign portions of geometry—without redrawing from scratch.
This tool is ideal when a polyline must be partially simplified, realigned, or reshaped by straightening a path between two edges—perfect for cleanup tasks in survey drawings, planning, or design optimization.
Use Cases and Utility
- Site Plan Cleanup: Straighten segments in lot boundaries or property lines
- Road Design Adjustments: Remove curve segments and align to centerline
- Topographic Data Simplification: Eliminate excess vertices in contours
- Architectural Shapes: Convert curves to flat walls or simplified geometry
- 3D Profiles or Section Lines: Flatten portions of profiles for uniformity
How It Works
- Launch the Command
Start the tool from the SPCAD ribbon or type: STRAIGHTEN_SP
- Select Polyline
Click on any open or closed polyline that you want to modify.
- Pick Start Point
Click on the first point on the polyline where you want the straight segment to begin.
- Pick End Point
Click on the second point where the straight segment should end.
- Automatic Replacement
The portion of the polyline between the two selected points is replaced with a straight line, maintaining connectivity with the rest of the polyline.
Technical Details
- Works on only 2D polylines.
- Maintains polyline continuity—removing intermediate vertices only between the selected points.
- Ensures geometric integrity for CAD, GIS, or modeling purposes.
- If applied on a closed polyline, the tool respects the wrap-around order from start to end point.
Tips
- Use Object Snap for precise vertex selection.
- Works great for cleaning messy imported geometry.
- To undo, simply use the UNDO command immediately after straightening.