Land Selection Tool Question

I want to split 1024 sq m from my 3072 sq m parcel. I've never subdivided before. I'm having trouble marking off exactly 1024 with the land selection tool, leaving me 2048m.

The land selection tool creates a square/rectangle which "snaps to" as I expand it, and as it jumps along it overshoots or undershoots the amount of land I want to split off. Instead of leaving me 2048 (nice even number of 512m parcels), it leaves me either 2112 or 1920 sq m.

That obviously creates a problem in a world where land is sold in 512 multiples, and where tier fees are based on the same.

Is there some way to adjust the land selection tool to allow me to drag it to just the right point? Or is there some easier and more accurate way to subdivide land?

Thank you! This is driving me crazy.

Not that I know of. The tool leaves a lot to be desired. Select the smaller amount and divide, then select the amount that when added to the new plot gives you the 1024 you want, divide that smaller piece and join it to the first to give you the 1024. It's a pain.

X = 1 individual 16m2 tile:

typical parcels are

512 (4x
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX
XXXX

1024 (8x
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX
XXXXXXXX

It's great to meet helpful people who can throw me a life preserver. I appreciate your immediate answers.

I understand what you've said, although I'm afraid I may be back with another question when I try to measure that smaller additional quantity that Raymond mentioned will be added to the preliminary split.

Thank you!

I find that taking the smaller measure of the land to be split, as Raymond suggested, and adding to it, I am going to have an irregular property line at the subdivision point.

My total lot is 64 m (E-W) X 48 m (N-S), giving a total of 3072 sq m.

I am trying to split 1024 sq m off the western end by making a N-S cut. The selection tool allows me to mark 960 sq m (or 1152). The only way I can see to enlarge the 960 to 1024 is to have an irregular N-S boundary rather than a straight N-S boundary.

That seems strange to me, and so if you can advise me further, please do.

Thank you very much!

Some shaped plots mandate that there be one or two "extra" 16m squares on a border to give you the size you want. What I usually do in those cases is use that extra area for tree planting.

If the selection tool is giving you trouble, you can always select small portions along the exact line that you want, subdivide them all so that you have a nice straight line, then join all those little pieces back into one big 1024. That's what I do coz I'm a tard with that selection tool.

The tool is the tard, not you!

Would be nice if there was an overlay of text showing you how much land you selected while you are selecting it...

Oryx, I'd love to do what you suggest if I knew how. I think I have to use the 16 sq m selection tool, and I can't see how to select smaller portions than that. Please tell me what your method is. How do you select smaller than 16 sq m, not using the selection tool?

BTW, Oryx, you ARE working.

Raymond, thank you. Apparently to get from 960 sq m to the desired 1024, I'm going to have four 16 sq m squares added to part of that N-S border. Unless I can master Oryx's method.

Thanks very much to both of you.

When she says little portions, she means 16m squares. You can't divide land in sizes smaller than that. Her method works to give you a staight line, but the math does not always add up to the number you want...

Yeah, the tool is limited (as pointed out before) but even if the tool was less bad you wouldn't be able to do it...

It I read correctly, you want a 1024 parcel that is 48 in the N-S direction and whatever it takes in the E-W. But in order to make a x*y=1024 given y=48, you need x=21.333333.

The raw terrain file is 256x256 (which results in a 1mx1m granularity), which means even if you edit that directly you will end up with either 1008 (21x4 or 1056 (22x4. As you've found the edit terrain tool wants to make it either 20x48 or 24x48 because of its 4mx4m granularity.

So even if the tool worked at the 1mx1m granularity of the raw file, you still wouldn't be able to make a 1024 parcel with straight N-S boundary (where the N-S measure of the land is 48m).

So, Raymond, I'm going to need to place four 16sq m squares along half of the new N-W property line. Thank you and the others who answered for helping me. It's a great relief to this recent arrival in SL.

Before I found this Forum, I spent a lot of time for a couple of days looking at everything I could find online that might answer my question about using the selection tool to subdivide, and I think it's a sad commentary on the quality of the "Knowledge Base", etc., that I found absolutely nothing. . . except the bare statement that you select the land and click subdivide. Even Live Chat Support couldn't answer the question you've answered. (I've found Chat Support very helpful at other times.)

Actually, merely learning to tame the selection tool for terrain editing of any kind is a tricky business. . . I'd love to help others by writing some instructions on that, but it still isn't clear to me exactly how the thing behaves.

Thanks to all of you who answered my question!

I shall buy a sim and divide it into 128x4 parcels.

I shall call it "Spaghetti Acres"

Kevyn Hienke, I received your answer after I wrote my previous reply, and this is just to thank you for explaining that. I wish I had your mathematical skills!

Thanks for the very interesting analysis.

Thanks for your thanks! I may have to raise my helpfulness stats a percentage point.