diff --git a/src/load/svg.js b/src/load/svg.js
index 28ebc607..14ce201c 100644
--- a/src/load/svg.js
+++ b/src/load/svg.js
@@ -31,12 +31,14 @@ function parse(text, opt = { soup: true }) {
     for (let i = 0; i < paths.length; i++) {
         let path = paths[i];
         let shapes = path.toShapes(true);
+        let type = path.userData?.node?.nodeName;
         if (fromSoup) {
             for (let node of shapes) {
                 let { shape, holes } = node.extractPoints();
                 for (let path of [ shape, ...holes ]) {
                     let poly = base.newPolygon().addPoints(path.map(p => base.newPoint(p.x, -p.y, 0)));
                     if (poly.appearsClosed()) poly.points.pop();
+                    if (type === 'polyline') poly.setOpen(true);
                     polys.push(poly);
                 }
             }
diff --git a/src/main/mesh.js b/src/main/mesh.js
index c4253b83..01797c80 100644
--- a/src/main/mesh.js
+++ b/src/main/mesh.js
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ function load_files(files) {
 }
 
 function load_files_opt(files, opt) {
-    load.File.load([...files], opt)
+    return load.File.load([...files], opt)
         .then(data => call.space_load(data))
         .catch(error => log(error).pin({}) && dbug.error(error))
         // .finally(() => mesh.api.log.hide());
diff --git a/src/mesh/api.js b/src/mesh/api.js
index 50caee5b..d9b8f46c 100644
--- a/src/mesh/api.js
+++ b/src/mesh/api.js
@@ -479,6 +479,7 @@ let sketch = {
         api.modal.bound._height.focus();
     },
 
+    // related to items selections in a selected sketch
     arrange: {
         group() {
             sketch.selection.ifcan((sketch, items) => {
@@ -502,6 +503,7 @@ let sketch = {
                     rec.poly.move({ x: -center.x, y: -center.y, z:0 });
                     Object.assign(rec.item, rec.poly.toObject());
                 }
+                selection.centerXY();
                 sketch.render();
             });
         },
@@ -588,6 +590,7 @@ let sketch = {
         },
     },
 
+    // related to items selections in a selected sketch
     boolean: {
         nest() {
             sketch.selected.one?.boolean.nest();
@@ -614,6 +617,7 @@ let sketch = {
         }
     },
 
+    // related to items selections in a selected sketch
     pattern: {
         circle() {
             sketch.selected.one?.pattern.circle();
@@ -1266,6 +1270,11 @@ const prefs = {
             dark: false,
             select: []
         },
+        sketch: {
+            close_poly: false,
+            open_thick: 1,
+            open_type: 'miter'
+        },
         normals: {
             length: 0.25,
             color_lite: 0xffff00,
diff --git a/src/mesh/build.js b/src/mesh/build.js
index a35967a3..a9165c2d 100644
--- a/src/mesh/build.js
+++ b/src/mesh/build.js
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ api.welcome = function(version = "unknown") {
 api.settings = function() {
     const { util } = mesh;
     const { prefs } = api;
-    const { surface, normals, space, wireframe } = prefs.map;
+    const { surface, normals, space, sketch, wireframe } = prefs.map;
     const { dark } = space;
 
     const set1 = h.div([
@@ -311,8 +311,31 @@ api.settings = function() {
         }),
     ]);
 
+    let ot = sketch.open_type;
+    let srr = () => { api.sketch.list().forEach(s => s.render()) };
+    const set7 = h.div([
+        h.label({ class: "header", _: 'open poly'}),
+        h.label('auto close'),
+        h.input({ type: "checkbox",
+            onchange: ev => prefs.save( (sketch.close_poly = !sketch.close_poly) && srr() ),
+            [ sketch.close_poly === true ? 'checked' : 'unchecked' ] : 1
+        }),
+        h.label('thickness'),
+        h.input({ type: "text", size: 5, value: parseFloat(sketch.open_thick || 1),
+            onchange: ev => prefs.save( (sketch.open_thick = parseFloat(ev.target.value)) && srr() )
+        }),
+        h.label('type'),
+        h.select({ type: "text", value: sketch.open_type,
+            onchange: ev => prefs.save( (sketch.open_type = ev.target.value) && srr() )
+        }, [
+            h.option({ _: 'square', [ot === 'square' ? 'selected' : '']: '' }),
+            h.option({ _: 'miter', [ot === 'miter' ? 'selected' : '']: '' }),
+            h.option({ _: 'round', [ot === 'round' ? 'selected' : '']: ''}),
+        ]),
+    ]);
+
     modal.show('settings', h.div({ class: "settings" }, [
-        set1, set2, set3, set4, set5, set6
+        set1, set2, set3, set4, set5, set6, set7
     ] ));
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mesh/sketch.js b/src/mesh/sketch.js
index 12b481ff..49faeafd 100644
--- a/src/mesh/sketch.js
+++ b/src/mesh/sketch.js
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ mesh.sketch = class MeshSketch extends mesh.object {
         }).reverse();
     }
 
+    get elements() {
+        return this.group.children.filter(c => c.sketch_item);
+    }
+
     get selection() {
         let sketch = this;
         return {
@@ -434,7 +438,7 @@ mesh.sketch = class MeshSketch extends mesh.object {
     }
 
     add_item(item, opt = {}) {
-        item.selected = opt.select || false;
+        // item.selected = opt.select || false;
         this.items.push(item);
         this.render();
     }
@@ -526,6 +530,7 @@ class SketchItem {
         let { item, sketch, order } = this;
         let { material } = mesh;
         let { type, center, width, height, radius, points, spacing, poly, selected } = item;
+        let { close_poly, open_thick, open_type } = api.prefs.map.sketch;
         if (type === 'circle') {
             let circumference = 2 * Math.PI * radius;
             points = points || Math.floor(circumference / (spacing || 1));
@@ -535,6 +540,7 @@ class SketchItem {
         } else if (type === 'polygon') {
             poly = newPolygon().fromObject(item);
             poly.move(center);
+            if (poly.isOpen() && !close_poly) poly = poly.offset_open(open_thick, open_type)[0];
         } else {
             throw `invalid sketch type: ${type}`;
         }
diff --git a/web/mesh/index.css b/web/mesh/index.css
index b1eacb2c..cffe2b24 100644
--- a/web/mesh/index.css
+++ b/web/mesh/index.css
@@ -406,15 +406,12 @@ button:hover {
 
 /** settings dialog **/
 
-.settings {
-    gap: 5px;
-}
-
 .settings {
     gap: 5px;
     display: grid;
     background-color: #fff;
     grid: min-content 1fr / min-content 1fr;
+    grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr 1fr;
 }
 
 .settings > div {