Interior sectioning lets you divide the inside of a product — such as the open space inside a cabinet — into smaller sections. You add a split across an opening, then control how many sections it creates and where they sit. A split can be a full-depth divider, or you can shorten it into a drawer stretcher that lays flat at the front of the opening. This article covers how to create, adjust, and fine-tune interior splits.
Good to know: Interior splitting works in the 3D view and the Wall Elevation view. There are two split tools — Interior split vertical and Interior split horizontal — and you can start either one from the command line or from the Tools tab. |
Start a split: the two commands
ENGINEERING has two interior split commands. Pick the one that matches the direction you want to divide the opening:
• Interior split vertical — adds one or more vertical dividers, splitting the opening left-to-right into side-by-side sections.
• Interior split horizontal — adds one or more horizontal dividers, splitting the opening top-to-bottom into stacked sections.
Activate a command from the Tools tab
1. Open the Tools tab.
2. Under Modify Products, click Interior split vertical or Interior split horizontal.
Activate a command from the command line
If you prefer the keyboard, type the command name into the command line:
• IOSPLITV — Interior split vertical.
• IOSPLITH — Interior split horizontal.
Tip: Both methods do the same thing. Once the tool is active, your clicks select the inside of the product so you can place the split. |
Add the split to an opening
1. With the split tool active, click inside the opening you want to divide.
2. ENGINEERING adds the split and creates the sections. The split stays selected so you can adjust it right away.
3. Press Esc when you are done placing splits.
Adjust a split
Select a split to open its properties on the right. From there you control how many sections it makes and where it sits:
Setting | What it does | Options |
Orientation | Shows the direction of the split. | Vertical or Horizontal |
Part Type | Sets the construction part used for the divider. | Default, or a specific type |
Position | Anchors the split to a side of the opening. | Vertical: Left, Right, Center; Horizontal: Bottom, Top, Center |
Offset | Distance from the chosen position. | Enter a distance (hidden when Position is Center) |
Quantity | Fixed number of sections to create. | Enter a count |
Max Spacing | Spaces sections by a maximum distance instead of a fixed count. | Enter a distance |
Angle | Rotates the split. | Enter an angle |
Tip: Use the Quantity / Max Spacing toggle to choose how sections are spread. Quantity makes an exact number of sections; Max Spacing adds as many sections as needed so no gap is wider than the distance you set. |
Link an interior split to an exterior split
You can link an interior split to an exterior split — the divisions on the front of the product, such as between doors or drawer fronts. When they are linked, the interior sections line up automatically with the exterior divisions, so the inside matches the outside.
When a split is linked, its properties panel shows Linked to: with the name of the exterior part, and the Quantity is fixed to match. You also get two actions:
• Select — highlights the exterior part it is linked to.
• Unlink — breaks the link so the interior split can be positioned on its own again.
Note: Unlinking asks you to confirm, because the interior split will no longer be positioned relative to the exterior split. |
Make a drawer stretcher
A drawer stretcher is a shallow divider that lays flat at the front of the opening — the rail you see between stacked drawers — instead of a full-depth panel. To turn a split into a stretcher, you shorten how deep it runs.
Set the depth
By default a split runs the full depth of the opening (the Depth field shows Full Depth). To make a stretcher, set Depth to your stretcher dimension:
1. Select the split you want to turn into a stretcher.
2. In the properties panel, set Depth to 4" — or your company's standard stretcher depth.
3. The divider becomes a shallow member that lays flat at the front of the opening.
Tip: Clear the Depth field to return the split to Full Depth at any time. |
Stand a part up like a nailer
A split also has a Default / Stretcher toggle. Switch it to Stretcher to stand the part up vertically on the side you select — like a nailer — rather than laying it flat. Enter the part's Width to size it.
Quick checklist
• Choose Interior split vertical or Interior split horizontal — from the Tools tab or the command line (IOSPLITV / IOSPLITH).
• Click inside the opening to add the split.
• Set Position, Offset, and either Quantity or Max Spacing to control the sections.
• Link to an exterior split when you want the inside to match the doors or drawer fronts.
• Set Depth to 4" (or your standard) to make a drawer stretcher that lays flat at the front.