ungrouping 3d symbols

[jmartinarch]

Ungrouping a symbol or exploding one should be as easy as selecting it >modify>ungroup. But that option is gray and not available. I can still edit them, but why is it not possible no ungroup them?

[zoomer]

I use "convert to group" + ungroup if necessary.

Unnecessary Symbol will disappear with purge file.

[bcd]

Is the symbol referenced?

Find it in the Resource Browser and right click>Break Referenc

[jmartinarch]

Grouping and ungrouping just put it back where it was before.

Doesn't appear to be referenced.

[zoomer]

Not sure if I got your answer right.

When I want to explode a Symbol that is not used in the file :

- create one instance in the drawing.

- delete Symbol in Ressource Browser

- chose keep geometry of instances

[Benson Shaw]

John did you try Zoomer's suggestion for Convert to Group (Cmd K)?

It's not same as Group (Cmd G). It converts container objects (eg symbols, Solid Additions, etc) into groups. The Cmd K conversion dialog has options to convert nested objects.

HTH

-B

[jmartinarch]

There is an instance already in drawing so I tried "Cmd K" and it seemed to do exactly what I wanted.

Now with a symbol that has been inserted multiple times, if I want to modify only one instance but keep it as a symbol….

Should I Cmd K - ungroup, edit and make a new symbol or is there another way?

Thank you very much.

[Benson Shaw]

Yes! Thats a good workflow.

The converted-to-group instance can be made into a new symbol.

The old symbol resource and all remaining instances of it are unchanged.

-B

[zoomer]

I meant, I may not understand your question - not answer ...

If i have a f.e. table symbol, with 5 instances, and now I need

one of them to be a new table symbol,

I duplicate the previous symbol, change it to the geometry of the new table,

and assign the new symbol to that older one table (symbol instance).

Now I have the table corrected and a symbol that I can use elswhere

again.

Could be any other or imported symbol to reassign though.

It is just that it is faster to change the previous symbol if it was very

similar.

Edited February 16, 2015 by zoomer

[Benson Shaw]

Agreed, zoomer. That's a good way, too:

Duplicate the symbol in the resource browser list (including assign new symbol name), Right Click the new resource>Edit, modify the geometry as desired, Exit. Good to go.

Changing the instance via CmdK is accomplished on the Design Layer.

Duplicate/Edit takes place in the Resource Browser.

-B

[Christiaan]

On 2/16/2015 at 4:40 PM, jmartinarch said:

Ungrouping a symbol or exploding one should be as easy as selecting it >modify>ungroup. But that option is gray and not available. I can still edit them, but why is it not possible no ungroup them?

I've just notice that on my setup and I can simply use Modify > Ungroup to convert a symbol to a group and ungroup it in one go. But this is greyed out on my colleague's computer in the exact same file. 

 

Why is this?

[mac@stairworks]

Christiaan, are you sure you aren't using "convert to group" on your setup? I don't think you can ungroup a symbol until it is actually converted to a group first (Cmd(Ctl) K.

[Christiaan]

I'm definitely using Command-U and it works on plug-in objects like Windows too. Converts to a Group on the fly.