Explode

Reduces complex entities to simpler ones, such as blocks into constituent parts, and polylines into lines and arcs.

Accessing the Command

command bar: explode
alias: x
menu bar: Modify | Explode
ribbon: Change | Arrange | Explode
toolbar: Modify |

: Explode

Prompts you in the command bar:

Select entities to explode: (Choose one or more entities)

Entities in set: 1

Select entities to explode: (Choose more entities, or press else Enter to exit command)

The result depends on the entity(ies) you selected: 

• Polylines become lines and arcs; width is lost.
• Dimensions becomes lines, text, and solids (arrowheads).
• Blocks become individual entities and nested blocks. (You may need to use Explode a second time.)
• ByBlock colors and linetypes may change.
• Attributes revert to attribute definitions.
• Nonuniformly-scaled blocks are not exploded, unless the EXPLMODE system variable is turned on.
• 3D surface entities become 3D faces.
• Simple entities, such as line and circles, cannot be exploded.

Command Options

Related Commands

Join - joins lines, LW polylines, 2D polylines, 3D polylines, circular arcs, elliptical arcs, splines and helixes at their common endpoints.

Xplode - explodes complex entities, with control over the results.

TxtExp - explodes text into polylines.

U - undoes the effect of the explosion.