Path Operations
Repeat Along Path places copies at regular intervals along any path. Align to Path rotates objects to follow a path.
Path Operations is a group of three tools — Repeat Along Path, Align to Path, and Evenly Space on Path — that let you distribute or snap objects onto any line, polyline, polygon, or bezier curve. Use these tools to place fence posts at a fixed spacing along a boundary, rotate plants to follow a curved bed edge, or redistribute existing items at perfectly equal intervals. All three tools follow the same two-step pattern: configure options in the tool panel, select your objects, then click the target path.
Align to Path
Select objects and a path. The Align to Path tool repositions the selected objects so they are aligned along the path and rotated to follow its direction.
Evenly Space on Path
Distributes the selected objects evenly along a chosen path, spacing them at equal intervals regardless of the path length.
Select the objects to place or reposition
Click or drag a selection box around the objects you want to repeat, align, or redistribute. For Repeat Along Path, the selection is used as the template — copies of these objects will be placed along the path. For Align to Path and Evenly Space on Path, the selected objects themselves are moved to new positions on the path.
Click the target path
With objects selected, click any line, polyline, polygon, or bezier curve in the drawing to apply the operation. For Repeat Along Path, new copies appear immediately at the configured spacing. For Align to Path, each selected object snaps to its nearest point on the path. For Evenly Space on Path, all selected objects are redistributed at equal intervals along the full length of the path.
Control rotation with Align Angle
When using Align to Path, the Align angle checkbox (checked by default) rotates each object so it faces along the path tangent at its snap point. Uncheck Align angle if you want objects to snap onto the path without changing their current rotation — useful when orienting furniture or fixtures that should keep a fixed heading regardless of path direction.
Use perpendicular offset and side for parallel placement
In the Repeat Along Path panel, set a non-zero Perp. Offset value to shift all copies sideways from the path centerline. Combined with the Side selector (Left or Right), this lets you place a row of plants just inside a fence line or a row of lights beside a walkway edge without manually adjusting each copy afterward.
For fence posts, set Spacing to your post interval (e.g., 2.4 m or 8 ft), enable Rotate to Path, and leave both offsets at zero so the first post sits right at the path start. For a planting row set back from a border, add a Perp. Offset equal to your desired setback distance.
All three path tools work on closed shapes such as polygons and rounded rectangles — copies or repositioned objects will follow the full perimeter. The path itself is not modified by any of the operations.
Evenly Space on Path moves your existing objects — it does not create duplicates. Make sure you have selected exactly the objects you want repositioned before clicking the path, as the operation cannot be partially undone per object.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| Escape | Cancel operation |
Frequently Asked Questions
I clicked a path but nothing happened. What went wrong?
All three tools require a selection before you click the path. Select the objects you want to repeat or reposition first, then click the target path. If no objects are selected when you click, the tool has nothing to act on.
What types of shapes can I use as a path?
Any line, polyline, polygon, bezier curve, or rounded rectangle works as the target path. Closed shapes like polygons are followed along their full perimeter, so copies or repositioned objects will wrap around the entire outline.
What is the difference between Repeat Along Path and Evenly Space on Path?
Repeat Along Path creates brand-new copies of your selected objects and places them at the spacing you configure — your original objects stay where they are. Evenly Space on Path moves the objects you have already selected and redistributes them at equal intervals along the path. Use Repeat Along Path when you are building the series from scratch, and Evenly Space on Path when you already have items placed but want them uniformly spread.
My copies all face the same direction instead of following the curve. How do I fix that?
In the Repeat Along Path panel, turn on the Rotate to Path checkbox. With this enabled, each copy is rotated to match the path tangent at its placement point so items naturally follow bends and curves. This setting is especially useful for fence posts, lamp posts, and plants along a curving bed edge.
Can I use a path that is part of a hardscape wizard, such as a walkway centerline?
Path operations work on standalone drawing entities (lines, polylines, bezier curves, polygons). If your walkway was created with the Walkway wizard, draw a separate polyline or bezier curve over the centerline and use that as the path target.