This tool gives a possibility of joining, splitting and merging polygons. There are three options (ways) that could be used to draw the lines: Joining, Splitting and Merging.
Joining is used to connect a piece of one polygon to another with one action.
In order for this method to take place, the line has to start and end at polygon that will be extended, while marking the area that should be cut out from diminished polygon.
The following example shows how the part from Walpole (purple) joins the Ethorne (beige) polygon. The line starts from Elthorne polygon, marks the part of Walpole polygon that should be cut out and then goes back to Ethorne polygon.
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| Joining – drawing | Joining – result |
Splitting gives a possibility to divide a polygon into two parts.
The dividing line must pass through the given polygon and must go beyond its borders. The beginning and the end of the line lies outside the boundaries of the divided polygon. This method will take place, when the line passes through 3 polygons (areas), see Fig. 3
The following example shows how the Walpole polygon is divided into two parts. The drawing starts from Elthorne polygon, then goes through Walpole and finishes on Northfield polygon.
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| Splitting – drawing | Splitting – result |
Merging is used to connect two polygons into one.
This method will be activated by drawing single line through boundary of two polygons. It doesn't matter from which polygon the line starts, in both cases the smaller polygon will be connected to a larger one.The following example shows how the Elthorne polygon could be connected to larger Northfield polygon.