GroupPrimitives

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Component

Summary

This command is used to convert a Component object back to its original set of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Convert » Explode Component to Free Primitives command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter component explode mode. Position the cursor over the component you wish to explode and click, or press Enter. A confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. The component designator and comment (if any) will be removed from the component, and the component will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Continue converting further components to their free primitives, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit component explode mode.

Tips

1. Explode has no effect on the PCB 2D/3D Component model stored in the applicable source library, only on the converted instance(s) of the component(s) placed on the PCB document.
2. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded component, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Component|ContextObject=Component

Summary

This command is used to convert one or more Component objects back to their original sets of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed in the PCB Editor, by:

• Right-clicking over a placed component (not selected) and choosing the Component Actions » Explode Component To Free Primitives command from the context menu.
• Right-clicking over a selected component (or a component that is part of a group of selected components) and choosing the Component Actions » Explode Selected Components To Free Primitives command from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, a confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. The component designator and comment (if any) will be removed from each component, and each component will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Tips

1. Explode has no effect on the PCB 2D/3D Component model stored in the applicable source library, only on the converted instance(s) of the component(s) placed on the PCB document.
2. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded component, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Coordinate

Summary

This command is used for converting a Coordinate object back to its original set of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Convert » Explode Coordinate to Free Primitives command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter coordinate explode mode. Position the cursor over the coordinate you wish to explode and click, or press Enter. A confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. The coordinate will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Continue converting further coordinates to their free primitives, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit coordinate explode mode.

Tips

1. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded coordinate, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Dimension

Summary

This command is used to convert a Dimension object back to its original set of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Convert » Explode Dimension to Free Primitives command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter dimension explode mode. Position the cursor over the dimension you wish to explode and click, or press Enter. A confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. The dimension will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Continue converting further dimensions to their free primitives, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit dimension explode mode.

Tips

1. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded dimension, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Polygon

Summary

This command is used for converting a Polygon Pour object back to its original set of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Convert » Explode Polygon to Free Primitives command, from the main menus.

Use

After launching the command, the cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will enter polygon pour explode mode. Position the cursor over the polygon pour you wish to explode and click, or press Enter. A confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. The polygon pour will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Continue converting further polygon pours to their free primitives, or right-click, or press Esc, to exit polygon pour explode mode.

Tips

1. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded polygon pour, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: Action=Explode | Object=Polygon|ContextObject=Polygon

Summary

This command is used to convert one or more Polygon Pour objects back to their original sets of primitive parts.

Access

This command is accessed in the PCB Editor, by:

• Right-clicking over a placed polygon pour (not selected) and choosing the Polygon Actions » Explode Polygon To Free Primitives command from the context menu.
• Right-clicking over a selected polygon pour (or a polygon pour that is part of a group of selected polygon pours) and choosing the Polygon Actions » Explode Selected Polygons To Free Primitives command from the context menu.

Use

After launching the command, a confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. Each polygon pour will revert to the various primitives that it was made up from.

Tips

1. Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded component, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.

Applied Parameters: None

Summary

This command is used to add new primitive design objects to a Component object, when graphically modifying the shape of the component directly within the PCB Editor.

Access

This command is accessed from the PCB Editor by choosing the Tools » Convert » Add Selected Primitives to Component command, from the main menus.

Use

Firstly, place new primitives as required in the workspace. Then select these new primitives and launch the command. The cursor will change to a cross-hair and you will be prompted to choose a component. Position the cursor over the component that you want to add the selected primitives to, and click, or press Enter.

A confirmation dialog will appear asking whether you wish to go ahead and add the selected primitives to the component. Clicking YES will mean that the new primitives will be recognized as part of the single component object and may be used in conjunction with the component's original primitives to edit the shape of the component as required.

Tips

1. The target component must have its primitives unlocked to carry out this operation, otherwise a dialog will appear alerting you to this fact and the action will be aborted. You can unlock the primitives that make up the component by disabling the Lock Primitives option in the associated Component dialog.
2. The properties of component pads can be modified without unlocking the primitives.