Tips and Tricks: Explode More!

Surely one of the most popular commands amongst CAD Users, EXPLODE is the command typically used by novice or expert when it gets to simplify or edit complex objects, regardless of the workflows used. However, the flexibility or variants of this command in DraftSight, are not so well known. As we don’t want you to be missing out on anything, see below:

Explode

So this is the one everybody knows about! Probably one of the first commands that every user learns, it’s used every time you need to “break” complex objects into their component entities. You can explode Blocks and other complex objects like PolyLines, Hatches, and Dimensions. For example, if initially, you cannot edit the individual entities that make up a Block or other complex object, and you need to edit one of the entities comprising a complex object, you just need to explode it into its individual entities.

Executing the command

1-      Click Modify > Explode (or type Explode).

2-      In the graphics area, select objects to explode and press Enter.

The selected objects are exploded. You can edit the individual objects.

ExplodeText

On occasion, we are asked about the ability to explode text in DraftSight, be it NOTE, SIMPLENOTE or ANNOTATIONS. You would easily assume that this is not possible, as typically, users tend to try this using the “generic” EXPLODE command, and not achieving the desired result.

The catch here is, DraftSight has a dedicated command to for this: EXPLODETEXT.

The ExplodeText command convert annotations into PolyLines, which represent the text outline (so any Fill in the text will disappear when you execute the command). You can explode Notes, SimpleNotes, text of Leader entities, and BlockAttribute Definitions.

Executing the command

1-      Type ExplodeText at the command prompt.

2-      Specify the annotation to explode.

3-      The specified annotations are converted into closed PolyLines.

ExplodeX

Last but not least, ExplodeX. Use the ExplodeX command to convert Ellipses and Splines into PolyLines. The command is specially useful to prepare drawings to export to other software programs that do not support Ellipses or Splines.

Executing the command

1-      Type ExplodeX at the command prompt.

2-      In the graphics area, specify entities to explode and press Enter.

3-      If your selection contains Ellipses and Splines, specify an option to set the entity type to explode:

Ellipse: Explodes Ellipses and Elliptical arcs.

Spline: Explodes closed and open Splines.

Both: Explodes Ellipses and Splines.

4-      If your selection contains Splines, specify the precision for the conversion of Splines to PolyLines.

The specified Ellipses and Splines are converted into PolyLines.