# Trimming groups without exploding them **URL:** \ **Category:** SketchUp\ **Created:** [September 30, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754 "2015-09-30T22:42:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/1 "2015-09-30T22:42:23Z")
Here’s my problem. I am trying to trim jack rafters to a valley and keep them as a group. The only way I have found is to use intersect with model then explode. The clean process is laborious. Then I group them back together. I would really like to keep them as original group. Is there a extension that would do something like.this. Thanks in advance zadach ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:50pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/2 "2015-09-30T22:50:27Z")
There’s certainly no need to explode groups to make the changes. Can you post an example SKP file showing exactly what you want to do? ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:53pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/3 "2015-09-30T22:53:29Z")
I guess I could. How do I do that I am new to this. ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/4 "2015-09-30T22:55:01Z")
![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/8/818a1066a578512d0a1ee1467fb8eab2388b48c2.png) Click on the indicated button and upload the SKP file. ---
**Author:** ![Gully\_Foyle](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/gully_foyle/32/124_2.png) [@Gully\_Foyle](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Gully_Foyle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/5 "2015-09-30T22:55:34Z")
When you apply the Intersect command, the lines of intersection appear in the context from which you execute the command. If you do an Intersect Faces with Model command from inside a group (or component), intersections with geometry outside the group will appear inside the group allowing you to trim the group from inside its context to fit adjacent, outside objects. These objects, which are outside the group context, are unaffected. -Gully ---
**Author:** ![john\_drivenupthewall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@john\_drivenupthewall](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/john_drivenupthewall)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/6 "2015-09-30T23:35:07Z")
you have pro, so you can use solid tools… john ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2015, 11:55pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/7 "2015-09-30T23:55:47Z")
![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/6/6df60829c2e9472edc02d7d8f63bf094f12e86ed.png) I would like to trim this jack rafter to the valley and keep it as a group. Used the push/pull tool to pull up the valley to make it easier to trim to. What’s the best way to do this. Thanks Steve ---
**Author:** ![DaveR](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/daver/32/7601_2.png) [@DaveR](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/DaveR)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:16am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/8 "2015-10-01T00:16:49Z")
As John suggested, use the Solid Tools. ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 12:50am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/9 "2015-10-01T00:50:54Z")
Thanks Guys. Got to figure out how it works. ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 2:52am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/10 "2015-10-01T02:52:48Z")
DaveR, Solid tools does not work on the valley, it works on the rafter but not on the valley. Its a group and I have also tried using solid tools with it being a component. Do you think the way the valley swings with the rise and the angle may have something to do with why the solid tools does not recognize it a solid. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Shep](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/shep/32/41669_2.png) [@Shep](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Shep)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/11 "2015-10-01T03:19:01Z")
If you get your valley rafter where you want it you shouldn’t need to mess with it in order to trim the jack rafters. Just draw a large box from the side of the valley and trim the jack rafters with the solid tools. As for your valley rafter not being a solid, that’s a separate issue, covered well in many threads here. Have a look at this quick rafter trimmer. Shep ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/6/623e2fbd3ab3dac3f9f1f09454303285a71eae06.gif) ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 11:53am UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/12 "2015-10-01T11:53:57Z")
Shep, Thank you. That looks like the way to go. Sure has been frustrating. zadach ---
**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/13 "2015-10-01T17:01:25Z")
If you need a fast way (9$), you can have a look at [http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/s4u-slice](http://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/s4u-slice) ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/original/2X/3/3c6a834f87b6812001f88dbce179c48f2d2a38bd.gif) ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 7:54pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/14 "2015-10-01T19:54:29Z")
Thanks Cotty I will check it out. ---
**Author:** ![zadachdesign](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/bcef8e/32.png) [@zadachdesign](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/zadachdesign)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/15 "2015-10-01T22:57:27Z")
Works great Cotty once I figured out the three point plane. That’s the way to do it. Thank you zadach ---
**Author:** ![Cotty](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/sketchup/user_avatar/forums.sketchup.com/cotty/32/251290_2.png) [@Cotty](https://forums.sketchup.com/u/Cotty)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2015, 4:03pm UTC](https://forums.sketchup.com/t/trimming-groups-without-exploding-them/15754/16 "2015-10-02T16:03:53Z")
You can use the tab key to toggle the cutted side. The other tools in that extension are very helpful too, you should have a look at them also…