Parent page: PCB Commands
The following pre-packaged resources, derived from this base command, are available:
Explode Component to Free Primitives
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 then click or press Enter. A confirmation dialog will appear - click Yes to proceed. An exploded component is no longer a component, so the designator and comment will be removed and the component will revert to the various primitives from which it was made.
Explode is a one-way process, there is no command to regroup an exploded component.
Continue converting further components to their free primitives or right-click or press Esc to exit component explode mode.
Tips
- Explode has no effect on the footprint model stored in the applicable source library, only on the converted instance(s) of the component(s) placed on the PCB document.
- Although there is no actual command to regroup an exploded component, you can use the Undo command to achieve this.
- The Explode command should not be used to modify the properties of a component. The primitives in a component can be edited by unlocking the component primitives, editing them as required, then re-locking the primitives. Refer to the Primitives section on the Component Properties page for information on how to do this.