Break apart library items

[ED-209]

Hi,

 

I've just downloaded a waterfall feature for a garden. I like it, but it has a walled background that I don't want. There isn't a wall-less version of it either. Is there any way I can remove the walls, if the object came as one item?

 

Thanks,

 

Ed

[Joe_Carrick]

Yes, but it depends on the item.  Is it a Symbol or an Architectural Block? 

 

If it's a Block, you can just explode it and delete the things you don't want.

If it's a Symbol there are a couple of ways of dealing with it.

  1.  Just change the wall material to a 100% transparent material

  2.  Put in a Blank Plan - Display in 3D - Use Delete Surface Tool - Create a New Symbol

[tommy1]

If you delete surfaces like Joe mentioned (what I normally do), then be sure you rotate it around sideways and up and down to be sure you delete all unwanted surfaces. There's only been one symbol I've done that you could not delete all unwanted surfaces so far. 

[ED-209]

Yes, but it depends on the item.  Is it a Symbol or an Architectural Block? 

 

If it's a Block, you can just explode it and delete the things you don't want.

If it's a Symbol there are a couple of ways of dealing with it.

  1.  Just change the wall material to a 100% transparent material

  2.  Put in a Blank Plan - Display in 3D - Use Delete Surface Tool - Create a New Symbol

 

When I open the object, it says it's a "fixture". The explode option doesn't appear, and there's no option for the walls to be transparent; I can change the material, but that's about it.

[Alaskan_Son]

When I open the object, it says it's a "fixture". The explode option doesn't appear, and there's no option for the walls to be transparent; I can change the material, but that's about it.

...or you can do as Joe suggested and use the delete surface tool to create a new symbol.

[DRAWZILLA]

Where is Scotts waterfall video when you need it?

[tommy1]

BTW, once you delete all unwanted surfaces and save it as a symbol, you can place that new symbol in a blank plan and add to it to modify it more and then save it again as a new and improved symbol. Done it many times.

[ED-209]

So how do I do option 2?

[HamlinBC]

Open a new totally blank plan.

 

Place the object you want to edit from the library into the plan.

 

Go to a 3D view of the object and select "Delete Surface" (see 1.png).

 

Select all of the surfaces you want to delete.

 

When everything is removed that you want removed, then go to Tools>Symbol>Convert to Symbol

 

Make sure you don't close out of your 3D view while you're deleting surfaces, otherwise you'll have to re-do it.

[ED-209]

Open a new totally blank plan.

 

Place the object you want to edit from the library into the plan.

 

Go to a 3D view of the object and select "Delete Surface" (see 1.png).

 

Select all of the surfaces you want to delete.

 

When everything is removed that you want removed, then go to Tools>Symbol>Convert to Symbol

 

Make sure you don't close out of your 3D view while you're deleting surfaces, otherwise you'll have to re-do it.

That was very helpful, thanks! It just dawned on me how many surfaces are in one object!!