Deleting Paths

[drlarrye]

I need to delete some duplicated paths in a traced image.  Is there a way to select 2 nonconsecutive nodes and delete the path between them.  I need to be able to select the 2 nodes individually rather than dragging the mouse to select a part of the line because the paths are close and convoluted.

[Moini]

This is one quick way to do it, if it's all a single path (not sure how your description fits with 'duplicate paths' though):

- delete the first and the last segment that you do not want to keep (i.e. open the path there, 'delete segment between two non-endpoint nodes'),
- then select one of the nodes in the subpath that you want to get rid of,
- and then use Ctrl+A to select all nodes in that new subpath.
- Then hit Del.

[drlarrye]

That worked perfectly.  By duplicate paths I meant where there was one line on the original drawing that the trace was taken from, in some places there are now 2, side by side.  It will be some work, but I'm happy with how well the tracing worked.

Thanks a lot

[brynn]

There's a way to select consecutive nodes, which I find helpful when paths are convoluted.

 -- Position the mouse over approx the node in the middle of the section which you want to delete, so that the node is highlighted (red). 
 -- Roll the mouse wheel, and you will see nodes selected one at a time - first on one side of the highlighted node, and next the node on the other side, and etc, until you stop rolling the wheel.

Stop rolling the mouse wheel when all the nodes which need to be removed, are highlighted. 

 -- Next, delete those nodes.  If you hold Ctrl while you do that, the segment in between will be straight.  I guess it depends on the convoluted paths, whether having it straight would make the next step eaiser.

You can also use this technique in combination with others, such as holding Shift and deselecting a node or selecting one extra, or dragging selection box or etc.

 -- Next, click on the segment (to select the 2 nodes).
 -- Then Node control bar button "Delete segment between 2 non-end nodes".

Note that it takes a lot of text to explain, but the whole process probably takes a minute or 2!