In AutoCAD, what is often referred to as "unmerging" lines typically means splitting a single line object into two separate line segments. This is commonly achieved using the BREAK command.
While AutoCAD lines can't technically be "unmerged" if they were never joined in the first place (they are simply separate objects), if you have a single continuous line object that you need to divide, the BREAK command is the tool you'll use.
Understanding the BREAK Command
The BREAK command allows you to split an object, such as a line, circle, arc, or polyline, into two distinct objects at specified points. By breaking a line at one or two points, you effectively turn one continuous line into two or more separate lines, achieving the effect of "unmerging" a section of the original line.
Using the BREAK Command to Split Lines
Here are the steps to split a line using the BREAK command, based on the provided reference:
First, ensure you have the line object you wish to split. As shown in some examples, you might start by having the line you want to work with already drawn.
Next, follow these steps:
-
Access the BREAK Command:
- You can find the command on the Ribbon: Go to the Home tab, then the Modify panel. Expand the panel if necessary and click on Break.
- Alternatively, type
BREAKorBRat the Command prompt and press Enter.
-
Select the Object to Break:
- Once the command is active, AutoCAD will prompt you to select the object (the line) you want to break.
- Important: The point where you click to select the line will serve as the first break point by default if you are performing a two-point break.
-
Specify the Second Break Point:
- After selecting the object, AutoCAD will prompt you to specify the second break point.
- Click on the desired location along the line for the second break point.
- The section of the line between the first and second points will be removed by default unless you use the "First point" option after selecting the object. However, based on the simple steps provided, clicking two points results in splitting the line into two pieces at those points or removing the segment between them, effectively creating two separate lines from the original single one.
Here's a simple table summarizing the core steps:
| Step | Action | Command/Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Initiate Command | Ribbon: Home > Modify > Break OR Type BREAK/BR |
|
| 2 | Select Object | Click on the line | The click point is often the first break point |
| 3 | Specify Second Point | Click on the line | Defines the split location or the segment to remove |
After completing these steps, your single original line object will be replaced by two separate line objects (or sometimes one object if using the one-point break variation, but the reference describes a two-point process implied by "first break point" and "second break point"). These new line objects can now be moved, modified, or deleted independently.
This process effectively "unmerges" or divides a continuous line into segments, giving you more control over individual parts of your drawing.
