Auto-Join and Closing Paths: Repair Small Gaps Efficiently

Why this matters

Join endpoints that are genuinely meant to touch and distinguish bulk auto-joining from deliberate path closure.

How it works

• Auto-Join joins multiple disconnected segments when their endpoints are within a small tolerance.
• Closing tools are appropriate when a path's endpoints are intended to form a single closed boundary.
• Joining unrelated nearby geometry can create a new shape that is technically closed but logically wrong.

Practical workflow

1. Select only the geometry that should participate in the join.
2. Zoom in and inspect endpoint locations.
3. Run Auto-Join for batches of nearly touching segments.
4. Use explicit close-path tools for a specific path when appropriate.
5. Preview Fill or Line output after the repair.

What to watch for

• Tolerance-based joining can connect geometry you did not intend to merge.
• Do not join scoring lines just to make Fill happy.
• After import, fix duplicates before assuming every problem is an open path.