Line/Pline question

[cadwiz30]

I feel like a rookie asking this question but I have been looking for an answer and I can't seem to figure it out on my own, so instead of wasting more time trying to figure it out on my own, i will ask...

How do you get two lines, that connect at the ends of the lines, to not autoconnect and join to form one polyline? I would like to have two lines meet but not connect, so I can drag them independently or select and modify/copy them independently.

Is there a pickbox that I need to select or deselect? I am happy with Chief (much better program than AutoCAD) but in AutoCAD all you had to do was select the polyline and explode it and all the individual segments would be separate entities. I can't find the explode option, for a polyline, in Chief.

Thanks for your help...

[05uurx]

Toggle "edit object parts" but that is a global setting so be aware. Turn on/off only as needed.

[Glenn Woodward]

Place the lines on different layers.

[adamjedgar]

you have hit the nail on the head with this one jess.
i had this kind of query in mind when i first posted my questions about using vectorworks achitect instead of chief. the ability to edit in a CAD package like autocad or vectorworks does cause chief to come up a little short in this area. however, having said that, the 3d abilities and speed of plan creation in chief simply leaves both the other two, not only in its dust, but at the start line. in that light, a small price to pay really.

[cadwiz30]

Matthew, thanks, that worked for what I needed this time. Eventually I would like to still have polylines and regular lines on the same drawings at the same time, maybe Chief can add in an "explode" option for a polyline in future releases.

Glenn, I have over 100 lines on this drawing and putting them all on individual layers would probably turn out to be too time consuming, thanks for the idea though.

Adam, I agree completely I love the 3D and pretty much everything else about Chief compared to AutoCAD. You are right, it is a small price to pay but I would still like to have the best of both worlds, haha. I know, I know, but I will keep dreaming.

[adamjedgar]

hehehehe too right.

i reckon vectorworks have tried to accomplish this task well but i really think chief has it all over vectorworks architect in the way chief operates almost exactly the same way a person building a structure thinks....and i really love that about this program

[ezliving4ume]

Ok, can someone update "edit object parts" to release X5, I need seperate lines and not all lines becoming one.

[moak]

Lines that are a different color, different lightweight or different line type (as well as different layer) will not join.

The fact that Chief joins lines into polylines changed the way I draft in 2D. I now use more filled rectangles and polylines than individual lines.

[Tommy Blair]

Ok, can someone update "edit object parts" to release X5, I need seperate lines and not all lines becoming one.

I don't understand the question. It is in X5.

[JJohnson]

Toggle "edit object parts" but that is a global setting so be aware. Turn on/off only as needed.

Thats the tool, this screen shot shows the icon that follows the cursor when the function is selected.

This keeps you aware its on.

[Curtis Johnson]

Tommy:

If Jess has two lines meet at a corner, he doesn't want them to become one PL with a corner. He wants them to be separate lines, even though they are joined at their point of intersection.

[Tommy Blair]

Tommy:

If Jess has two lines meet at a corner, he doesn't want them to become one PL with a corner. He wants them to be separate lines, even though they are joined at their point of intersection.

I know Curt. The answer was given by using "Edit Object Part" tool. I thought he (reply #7) was asking why the tool wasn't in X5? I guess I misunderstood the comment.

[Glenn Woodward]

One way to keep polylines lines separate is to reverse their direction.

If you have a polyline and you want to keep one portion separate:
Toggle on Edit Object parts.
Select the line.
Select the reverse direction tool.
The line is now not part of the polyline until you click on the line end point and it will re-join the polyline.

I think this reverse direction behaviour works because you end up with the start of one line joining the start of the other line, whereas polylines join start/end.

I don't quite understand when this would be of benefit as I can't see a situation where either using Edit Polyline Parts, or having lines with different properties, would suffice.
In other words, under what circumstances would you want individual lines and not a polyline?

[lbuttery]

Select the reverse direction tool

Hmmm, nice to know

it would be more intuitive if CA would add a "non-polyline" tool

1. select edit object parts
2. select "non-polyline" tool

that would make sense and be easier to learn and remember

Lew

[Glenn Woodward]

Lew,

Yes, but under what circumstances do you require a "non-polyline"?