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= Tools > Simplify Way =

[[Image(source:/trunk/images/simplify.png)]] ''Keyboard shortcut:'' '''{{{Shift+Y}}}'''

'''Reduce the number of nodes in a way, but keep the general shape.'''

== Implementation details ==

After simplification, all of the deleted nodes will be closer than 3 m to the simplified way. In other words, the old and the new way will never be more than 3 m apart. 

The tool uses the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramer–Douglas–Peucker_algorithm Ramer–Douglas–Peucker algorithm] for way simplification, but makes sure that tagged nodes and nodes with more than one parent way are not deleted.

== Advanced Preferences ==

You can configure the distance between two nodes in the [wiki:Help/Preferences/Advanced advanced preferences] ({{{simplify-way.max-error}}}, in meters, default value is 3). A lower threshold makes the simplification less aggressive.


== See also ==

* [[Image(/pluginicon/SimplifyArea.jar/images/preferences/simplifyArea.png,20)]] SimplifyArea plugin - despite the name, also simplifies ways. Uses a different algorithm and has more parameters for tuning. In particular for nodes A, B, C the node B is not deleted unless
 * area of the triangle ABC is lower than 5 m^2
 * distance of B to the line AC is lower than 3 m
 * angle ABC doesn't deviate more than 10° from 180°
* [[Image(source:trunk/images/distribute.png,20)]] [DistributeNodes Distribute Nodes]
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