Move a wall on its own, or bring its joined walls along
An interior wall moves alone to start: dragging it, pulling its end or typing its length changes that wall only, and the walls it touches stay put. Tap the link button on the wall's bar (a broken link turns into a solid blue one) and the joined walls come along; hold Alt (Option) to do the opposite for one drag. Outside walls start the other way round: their link is on, so the walls beside them stretch and no gap opens.
A dragged wall used to take its neighbours with it, which was handy when you wanted the room next door to shrink and a surprise when you didn't. Now it's a choice: an interior wall moves on its own unless you switch its link on, and an outside wall starts with its link on, so the walls beside it stretch and the outline stays closed.
The pictures use the Medium 2-Bedroom Apartment template and a blank 30′ × 26′ room.
What you'll need
- •A design with interior walls, on a computer, tablet or phone
Step by step
- 2
Off: only this wall changes
With the link off, dragging the wall, pulling the crosshair at either end or typing its length changes that wall only. The outside wall or interior wall it touches stays exactly where it was, and so do its measurements. Moving a wall sideways slides it along the walls it rests on; if an end slides past the end of the wall it rests on, that wall grows to meet it, and a whole-wall move stops flush against the outside walls. Here the bedroom-side wall was dragged down with the link off: it moved, the long wall it rests on didn't, and the rooms on either side changed size.
Dragged with the link off: the wall moved, its neighbour stayed. - 3
A length that runs into another wall is refused
With the link off, a typed length that would push the wall out through the wall it runs up to is refused: That length would make the walls cross — try a smaller change, or keep the other end fixed. The same goes for a pull of the end crosshair: it stops on the face of the wall it meets. To get that length, turn the link on (next step) so the other wall makes way, or tap the arrow to move the other end instead.
Link off: 31′ for a wall that runs wall to wall is refused. - 4
On: the joined walls come too
Tap the link. It turns blue with a solid link and is now Joined walls move too. From here: - Dragging the wall brings the walls joined to its ends along; they stretch or shrink to stay connected. - Typing a length or pulling the end crosshair of a wall that runs up to another wall pushes that wall: an outside wall moves out (or in) by the difference, an interior wall slides, and the walls attached to them stretch. So the face-to-face length you typed is what you get. The setting is one switch for every interior wall you select, and it isn't saved with the design: next time you open it, the link is off again.
Link on: a solid blue link. Joined walls move too. - 5
Typing 31′ with the link on pushed the outside wall out
The 29′ 5.5″ wall was typed to 31′ with the link on. The right-hand outside wall moved out by the difference (the plan is now 32′ 1″ wide), the bedroom on that side grew to 12′ 1″, and the outside walls joined to it stretched. Nothing else changed. Undo takes it all back in one step.
Link on: the outside wall made way for the longer wall. - 6
Alt / Option: the opposite, for one drag
On a computer you don't have to tap the button. Hold Alt (Option on a Mac) while you drag a wall or its end crosshair and that one drag does the opposite of the button: joined walls come along when the link is off, stay put when it's on. Let go of the key and the button's setting is back.
- 7
Outside walls have their own link, and it starts on
A selected outside wall has a link button too, in the same place on its bar, but it starts on (solid blue): dragging the wall, pulling the crosshair at either end or typing its length stretches the walls beside it so they stay joined, and the interior walls attached to it come along. No gap opens in the outline. Tap it so it shows a broken link and only that wall moves; any gap it opens stays as a dashed opening in the outline (select the gap and tap its + to close it with a wall). Its tooltip: Tap to choose whether moving this outside wall also stretches the walls beside it. On (the usual setting), they stretch to stay joined and attached interior walls come along. Off, only this wall moves and any gap it opens stays as an opening in the outline. Like the interior link, it's one switch for all outside walls and goes back on when you reopen the design. See Edit walls on the plan and Gaps in an outside wall.
Tips
Resize a room by typing
Select the wall between two rooms, turn the link on, and type the inside length you want. The wall at the far end makes way and the number you typed is the face-to-face distance you get.
Moving the junction, not the wall
To slide the point where a wall meets another wall along that other wall, drag the wall itself sideways (link off). Pulling its end crosshair changes its length instead.
Lengths you typed stay typed
An interior wall length you typed is held: if a move elsewhere would change it, the move is refused and the wall flashes. Change that wall itself (retype, drag its own end, type its angle) when you do want it different. See Lock wall lengths.
Common mistakes
Hunting for the link on a free-standing wall
A wall that touches nothing shows no link button; there's nothing for it to bring along. Join it to a wall first.
Expecting the link to stay as you left it
The link isn't saved. Every time you open the design, interior walls start unlinked and outside walls start linked, so check the bar before a big drag.
Typing a length the room can't take
With the link off, a length that reaches into another wall is refused rather than pushing that wall. Turn the link on or choose a smaller length.
Frequently asked questions
Why does moving one wall move other walls?
The link button on the wall's bar is on (solid blue, Joined walls move too). Tap it so it shows a broken link (Wall moves on its own), or hold Alt (Option on a Mac) while you drag.
How do I move a wall without moving the others?
For an interior wall that's the default. Select the wall and check its bar: a white broken link means it moves on its own. If the link is blue (always so for an outside wall when you open a design), tap it once.
I typed a length and got "That length would make the walls cross". What now?
With the link off, the wall can't grow through the wall it runs up to. Turn the link on and type again (the other wall is pushed out of the way), tap the arrow to keep the other end instead, or type a smaller length.
Does the link setting save with my design?
No. It's a per-session choice: each time you open the design, interior walls start with the link off and outside walls with the link on.
Is there a link for outside walls?
Yes, with the same meaning, but it starts on: the walls beside the outside wall stretch and attached interior walls come along, so the outline stays closed. Turn it off and only that outside wall moves; any gap it opens stays as a dashed opening you can close with its +.
Start designing your room
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