topic Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD in Our Community

Erase/Trim Tools (Drag-to-erase or trim option)

Martin Jules — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:16:57 GMT

The Split and Trim tools, including Marquee and Find & Select, are not sufficient for erasing or removing certain architectural elements, so quickly, in Archicad. It would therefore be highly beneficial to extend the functionality of the Erase tool, which is already available for guide lines, so that it can also be used with all other architectural elements.

Operating system used: Windows

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Lingwisyer — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 01:11:39 GMT

I feel like someone is going to erase a whole lot of overlapping / neighbouring elements that they did not intend to without realising if it was made generic... You would definetly need some quick filter options.

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Martin Jules — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 11:27:16 GMT

There's no need to filter elements. Just activate the tool(s) associated with the elements you want to erase:

It's like in AutoCAD for example. This will also help speed up the workflow.

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Barry Kelly — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:05:41 GMT

Just hold the CTRL key and click to trim back to the nearest intersection (linear elements only).

Barry.

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Martin Jules — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:28:32 GMT

This option currently allows elements to be trimmed or deleted one at a time. I suggest making the deletion like the selection process, allowing users to delete or erase multiple elements using the same selection methods:

We can also decide to remove elements as follows:

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Martin Jules — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:56:15 GMT

This drag-to-erase method is actually possible with the "Erase Guide Lines" option in Archicad:

The drag-to-erase functionality should also be available for other architectural elements:

Re: Erase Tool (Drag-to-erase option)

Barry Kelly — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:29:49 GMT

You might want to make a wish for this in the wishlist ... https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishlist/idb-p/wishlist

Barry.

Re: Erase Tool In ArchiCAD

Lingwisyer — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 01:08:16 GMT

Being required to select a tool is a filter, verse expanding the Erase Guide Line a generic Erase...

Re: Erase Tool (Drag-to-erase option)

Martin Jules — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:42:10 GMT

These are fundamental features that exist in other CAD and BIM software and should already be available in Archicad. I don't believe the wishlist is an effective solution because feature requests still need to gather enough votes before they can be considered by Graphisoft.

Re: Erase Tool (Drag-to-erase option)

Patrick M — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:48:41 GMT

hmmm... I'm not seeing a lot of benefit to this. There are so many options, adding another one just seems unnecessary
-com+click
-split+delete
-marquee+eye drop+delete
-drag select+delete
-find and select + delete
...
an erase selection option is just replacing the delete key, isn't it?

Re: Erase Tool (Drag-to-erase option)

Martin Jules — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 18:16:18 GMT

ctrl(cmd)+click+drag would also be interesting! My request suggests to select a group of elements or desired/specific segments by erasing them at the same time. The actual options allow users to delete or trim elements or segments one by one. See my screenshots in this thread.

The current process in ArchiCAD is too time-consuming and involves too many steps, much like using the Split tool for example.

Re: Erase Tool (Drag-to-erase option)

Martin Jules — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 19:03:05 GMT

Here are links to videos demonstrating some features I am requesting:: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/DqI0P8g3Fzg?feature=share and

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/oNcaw0Mlhcc?feature=share.