How to Burst in AutoCAD?

Understanding the BURST Command in AutoCAD

The BURST command in AutoCAD is a powerful tool used to break down blocks that contain attributes while preserving the attribute values as text. This functionality is especially useful for maintaining the clarity of your drawings when you need to manipulate individual components of a block.

Steps to Use the BURST Command

1. Select the Block: Begin by choosing the block that you wish to explode. Make sure that this block contains attributes you want to retain.

2. Activate the Command: Type BURST into the command line and press Enter. This action will initiate the command.

3. Explode the Block: Once the BURST command is active, click on the block you selected. The block will be exploded into its individual components while keeping the attribute values intact as text.

4. Finish: After the explosion, review the components to ensure the attributes have been converted properly to text objects.

Key Differences Between BURST and EXPLODE

While both BURST and EXPLODE serve to break down blocks, there are significant differences:

• Handling Attributes: EXPLODE does not preserve attribute values; it merely breaks down the block without any conversion. BURST maintains the attribute text, converting them to individual text objects.

• Layer Preservation: When using BURST, the components will be placed on the layer of the original block rather than reverting to their initial layers, which usually happens with EXPLODE.

Common Issues When Bursting

There are scenarios where you may encounter problems while trying to use the BURST command:

• Block Restrictions: If a block was created without the "Allow Exploding" option enabled, it won’t be able to be exploded or burst. You need to check the block definition settings if facing this issue.

• Nested Blocks: If the block consists of nested blocks, you may need to explode each nested block separately to break them down into their components.

How to Enable Exploding in Block Definitions

If you encounter a restriction while trying to burst a block, you may need to ensure that the block is set to allow exploding:

1. Open Block Editor: Use the Block Editor to modify the block settings.

2. Properties Panel: Open the Properties palette by pressing Ctrl + 1 and ensure nothing is selected.

3. Configuration: Find the "Allow Exploding" option under the Block section. Set it to "Yes".

4. Save Changes: After making modifications, save the block definition by clicking the Save Block Definition button in the Block Editor toolbar.

FAQs

1. What happens if I try to BURST a block without attributive text?

   • The BURST command will still work, but since there are no attributes to convert, the command will simply split the block into its basic components without retaining any values.

2. Can I burst an external reference (Xref) in AutoCAD?

   • Directly bursting an Xref is not possible. However, you can bind the Xref to your drawing, converting it into a block, and then use the BURST command on that block.
3. Is there any way to convert an ellipse to a polylines object that can be exploded?
   • Yes, if you used the PELLIPSE command, you can create polyline ellipses that can be exploded. Regular ellipse objects, on the other hand, cannot be directly exploded without special software.