Shape geometry tools

In the Shapes main menu, you can edit shapes with the shape geometry tools such as Reverse Normals, Separate Faces, or Subtract Shapes.

Subdivide

The Subdivide tool computes smaller shapes from selected shapes. Click Shapes > Subdivide in the main menu. A variety of parameters can be used to achieve different subdivision layouts.

Shape before subdividing is applied.
Shape after subdividing is applied.

Tip:

You can also subdivide shapes formed when creating shapes from graph networks using Block Parameters in the Inspector.

Reverse Normals

The Reverse Normals tool reverses the face normals of the selected shapes. This step is often necessary after importing shapes with reversed orientation. Click Shapes > Reverse Normals in the main menu.

Shape before the face normal is reversed.

Shape after the face normal is reversed.

Separate Faces

The Separate Faces tool allows you to select a shape or multiple shapes and separate individual shapes for every face. Click Shapes > Separate Faces in the main menu. All new shapes are created in the existing shape layer.

Before	Shape object with six faces before separating.
After	Six shape objects created after separating the faces and then moved apart.

Combine Shapes

The Combine Shapes tool allows you to combine all the faces of the selected shapes into a single shape. Click Shapes > Combine Shapes in the main menu. After the shapes are combined, you can still apply tools on the individual shapes, such as the transform tools.

Before	Six shape objects selected from above.
After	The six shape objects are now combined into one object.

Union Shapes

The Union Shapes tool performs a Boolean union of all selected shapes. Select the shapes to be united and click Shapes > Union Shapes in the main menu.

Overlapping shapes.
Selected overlapping shapes.
Multiple shapes united into one shape.

Note:

• The Union Shapes tool is different from the Combine Shapes tool because it creates one face from the outline of the selected overlapping shapes.
• If the selected shapes are not intersecting or coplanar, the Combine Shapes operation is performed.
• This tool works only with planar shapes.

Subtract Shapes

The Subtract Shapes tool performs a Boolean subtraction of the lead selection shape from all other selected shapes. Click Shapes > Subtract Shapes in the main menu. Press Shift while selecting a different shape to change the lead selection.

Overlapping shapes.
Selected shapes with the rectangle as the lead selection.
Shapes after subtracting the rectangle from the square.
Shapes moved away from each other.

Note:

This tool works only with planar shapes.

Offset Shapes

The Offset Shapes tool creates a shape, rather than a new face, inside the selected shape or multiple shapes. Select a shape or an individual face and click Shapes > Offset Shapes in the main menu.

Selected shape to create an inside offset.
Offset shape created.
New offset shape created inside previous offset shape.
Selected inner offset shape.
Offset shape with a hole after deleting the inner shape.

To manually enter an offset distance, open the Tool Options window by clicking Window > Tool Options in the CityEngine main menu.

Offset Shapes
Distance (m)	The offset distance in meters. You can enter a value and press Enter to apply.

Remove Holes

The Remove Holes tool removes all holes from the selected shapes. Click Shapes > Remove Holes in the main menu.

Shape with a hole inside it.
Shape with the hole selected.
The hole is removed from the selected shape.

Convert Models to Shapes

The Convert Models to Shapes tool converts CGA models to shapes for manual editing.

A CGA model is shown.

A CGA model converted to shape.

Note:

After this conversion, changes in attributes and CGA rules do not affect the shapes.

You can find additional shape tools In the Shapes main menu, such as the shape creation or the model generation tools.