Got a bunch of text notes that all need to be aligned to the left but were placed manually and look just a little bit sloppy. You can now fix this in no time flat. The new tool is in the “Manipulate” tool box. All you need to do to correct the problem mentioned above is to select the “Align Edges” tool and set the “Align” setting to “Left” in the “Tool Settings” dialog box, then select the text element whose left edge is where you want it, accept it with another data point and then select each element whose left edge you want to align to the left edge of the original element selected. First click moves the selected element to its new aligned position and the next click accepts it. If you make a mistake reset once and the erroneous element moves back to its original position and you continue to select more elements. When the last element you want to move has been processed, accept it with a data point and then reset to start over with a new set of elements or select another tool. Very slick.

This is a short article on how to use the MicroStation Trim Element command along with the Element Selection or PowerSelector tool.

Have you ever tried to use the IntelliTrim tool and become very frustrated? Believe me I know the feeling. Here is an easy way to trim several elements very quickly.

First, use the Element Selection or PowerSelector tool to select the elements you want to trim.

Next, click on the Trim Elements tool (not the IntelliTrim tool).

You will notice that the elements are no longer “highlighted” but that’s okay. Now all you do is click on the portion of the element you want to trim. If the portion to trim is located between two other elements then that part will be trimmed away and if it located outside an element then that part will be trimmed away.

You do not have to un-select the elements when you are done because they are automatically dropped from the selection set.