Methods and systems for checking or verifying shapes in electronic designs are disclosed. The method identifies a dictionary (if pre-existing) or determining the dictionary by creating the dictionary and reduces dimensionality of design data by using a sliced line. Shapes are transformed into sliced line segments along the sliced line. Dictionary entries for shapes are associated with corresponding sliced line segments, and the design is checked or verified using the sliced line segments and the associated dictionary entries rather than using two-dimensional shapes or geometric data. Sliced line segments may be further partitioned or merged. Non-conforming shapes corresponding to no tracks of track patterns are identified and determined whether violations of design rules or requirements may be resolved by one or more other shapes using the corresponding sliced line segments.