Unlinking smart symbols

Module(s): Smart Symbols

You can use the Unlink Smart Symbol tool to explode instances of smart symbols into their basic entities. The design entities which make up the instance of the smart symbol can subsequently be modified on an individual basis.

Note: Only the visible foils in an instance of a smart symbol are unlinked.

To unlink all the visible foils in a smart symbol

1. Click Unlink Smart Symbol (How).
   

   Activate Unlink Smart Symbol in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Modify Bonus Tools Smart Symbols

   • Palette: Tools Modify area in the following module(s):

   Smart Symbols

2. Use the Input Options to define how the smart symbol is to be unlinked.
   • The following options are provided:
     Fully to separate the individual elements from one another.
     Structured to retain the structure of the smart symbol; the individual elements can only be modified separately using the Stretch Entities tool.
   • Specify the Layer assignment:
     With Retain layers of elements, the elements retain the layers assigned to them when you created the smart symbol.
     With All elements on current layer, the unlinked elements get the layer which is currently set in Select, Set Layer on the Format toolbar.
     With Use layer of instance of smart symbol, the unlinked elements retain the layer assigned to the smart symbol when you placed it.
3. Select the instances you want to unlink.
   

   • To select a single element, click it.
   • To select elements in a region, use the left mouse button to open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select
   • To include all the elements in the current document, click All in the Input options or press CTRL+A. Please note that this option is not available for all tools.

   For more information on the options available for selecting elements in Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

   When selecting elements, you can use the Filter Assistant to apply a filter based on element types and/or properties. For more information, see Filter Assistant.

   Note: When set to Fully, smart symbols are exploded into different elements depending on the current view: instances of smart symbols selected in plan view are exploded into 2D lines; instances of smart symbols selected in a 3D view are exploded into boxes and planar polygonal 3D surfaces.

4. Click in the workspace with the right mouse button or click Apply to confirm the selection.

   The instance of the smart symbol is unlinked.