Explode
Purpose
Some elements are one element although they consist of several pieces: the rectangle, the polyline, the spline, the ellipse and the block instance. Explode breaks them into their parts — the rectangle into four lines, the polyline into its segments, spline and ellipse into a sequence of short lines, the block instance into the elements of the definition. Afterwards each piece can be trimmed, deleted or split individually.
Applied to selected dimension chains, Explode dissolves the chain into single dimensions (Chain dimension).
Access
- Ribbon: group Modify, button Explode (8).
- Classic toolbar: group Edit, button Explode (8).
- Right-click menu on an explodable element: entry ✱ Explode (4).
- Command search : Explode.
left half
right halfProcedure
With a selection: if something is already selected when the tool is started, all explodable elements of the selection are exploded immediately — without a further click; the status line reports Exploded: 2 element(s) → 8 lines, the tool switches back to Select.
Without a selection: the tool stays active, the candidate under the pointer glows (1); a click breaks it up. If the click hits nothing explodable, the status line reports No rectangle, polyline or spline at the click point. Esc ends.
What is created
| Element | Result |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | four lines |
| Polyline | one line per segment |
| Spline | sequence of short lines along the curve |
| Ellipse, elliptical arc | polyline of 96 segments (closed or open) |
| Block instance | the elements of the block definition in place, with their dimensions and hatches (Blocks — Explode) |
| Dimension chain (selected) | single dimensions — Dimension chain dissolved — 4 individual dimensions |
The new elements take over layer and attributes of the original and are selected after the operation. Lines, circles and arcs cannot be exploded (Nothing to explode — select a rectangle, polyline, spline or ellipse).
Options and relations
- Explode is one step for Undo — even with many elements.
- After breaking up, the corners are not welded; if they should stay together when moving an endpoint, weld the lines.
- An exploded rectangle can no longer be edited as a rectangle (width/height in the panel Properties); in return it becomes trimmable and splittable.
- When drawing, a rectangle can be created as individual lines from the start (Rectangle, option As separate lines (exploded)).
The message No rectangle, polyline or spline at the click point does not mention ellipse and block instance although both are explodable (program version v3.0.24).