Trim and Connect Tool

The ArcFM Trim and Connect tool is designed to place an in-line device (for example a device with [or one that can act like a device with] two line-ends) onto a line feature. The tool splits and spaces the line at the point of placement of the device, and it places the device in the middle of the space. It also places two new line-end features, one at each end of the line that was cut to form the gap. In addition, the tool creates two connectivity associations to connect the placed feature to each of the new line-end features.

The Trim and Connect tool is only available for configuration and use in electric domains.

How to Use the Trim and Connect Tool

The Trim and Connect tool is located amongst the point feature tools in Esri’s Create Features dockpane.

Click the Trim and Connect button.
Click on a line in the map where you want to place the selected device. The cursor automatically snaps to line features.
Verify the tool then cuts the line, creates and places the device, and the line end junctions.
The Trim and Connect tool uses the junction-edge connectivity rules in the Utility Network to determine which types of line-end junctions are compatible with both the type of device being placed and the type of the line on which it is being placed. If the rules support more than one line-end type for the given device and line combination, then you are prompted to choose a line-end type from among the eligible candidates.

Phase Assignment for Electric Features

When you execute the Trim and Connect tool, it automatically populates the phase information from the line feature on which the tool is executed, to Phases Current on the newly created features.

The tool uses Electric Field Name configuration set for PhasesCurrent within Solution Center. No additional configuration is necessary for this functionality.

Terminal Support in Trim and Connect

The ArcFM Trim and Connect tool supports editing with features that require terminals when the same terminal rule applies to both line end features. Asset types that satisfy the rule requirements appear as available placement device features in the Trim and Connect configuration view within ArcFM Editor XI.

When you try to place a feature that requires terminals, the Choose Terminal Connections dialog displays after you have selected your line-end type in the Choose the line-end type dialog.

The gray asset in the middle of the graphic on the dialog represents the placement feature.

The cyan lines represent the line feature to be trimmed. The orientation of the cyan line in the graphic matches the direction and angle of the line feature to be trimmed.

The red (closed circle) and blue (open circle) assets represent the two terminal options required to perform the edit. To flip the direction of the terminals, click the Flip button.

When the terminals in the graphic are set as you need for your edit, click OK to commit the Trim and Connect tool edits.

Error Message Definitions

Certain conditions can cause various errors while you’re running the Trim and Connect tool. The following table contains error messages you might receive and their descriptions.

Error Type	Error Message	Error Description
Wrong type of placement feature	The Trim and Connect tool cannot be used with this type of feature (Structure Junction/Pole/Ornamental).	The Trim and Connect tool automatically shows up in all feature templates that place point type features. This message displays if you attempt to use the Trim and Connect feature with any template for a feature that does not belong to the Utility Network.
Too many coincident lines	Unable to perform Trim and Connect here. Three or more lines were found with same begin or end point coordinates.	The Trim and Connect tool avoids placing devices closer than the trim radius to any location where more than two lines meet.
Too close to midspan tap	This location is too close to a midspan tap off of the target line feature.	The Trim and Connect tool avoids placing devices that are closer than the trim radius to a location where the end of one line is connected to a point along the length of another line.
No eligible line features were found nearby	No eligible line features were found nearby.	You might also see this message if there are no lines within three times the trim radius of the location where you clicked in the map display. You will also get the message if there are lines within range but they all either: Do not fit the TrimAndConnectLine class model name, or Are of a type where no intermediate line-end feature satisfies the Rule-Based Inference of Line-End Feature Types connectivity rules.
Too close to existing devices	Too close to existing devices. Cannot perform edit.	The Trim and Connect tool avoids placing devices closer than the trim radius to any other devices or junctions that occupy the same line.
Line too short	Trim and Connect here would result in a line that is too short.	This message appears if you attempt to use the Trim and Connect tool to place a device on a line that's shorter than the configured trim radius. It also appears when line features remaining after cutting the gap in the target line would be shorter than the configured minimum allowed line length.