Explode a multipatch or 3D object

The Explode tool separates a multipatch or 3D object feature into its individual 3D faces. Feature attributes from the multipart or 3D object feature are not copied to the new features. This tool is available in the Modify Features pane.

You can choose to keep or discard the original multipart feature. Exploding a multipatch or 3D object feature is commonly used to edit a feature before merging the remaining faces back to a single multipatch or 3D object feature.

For steps to merge the remaining faces, see Merge features into one feature.

To explode a multipatch or 3D object, complete the following steps:

1. On the Edit tab, in the Features group, click Modify .

   The Modify Features pane appears.

2. Expand Divide and click Explode .

   The tool opens in the pane.

3. Click the Features tab.
4. Click Active Select and select the multipatch or 3D object feature you want to explode.

   The selection appears as a list in the pane.

5. To refine your selection, right-click a feature in the list and use the following commands on the context menu:
   • Flash —Flash the selected features on the map.
   • Zoom To —Zoom the view to the selected features.
   • Pan To —Pan the view to the selected features.
   • Only Select This —Remove all other features from the selection.
   • Unselect —Remove the feature from the selection.
6. To preserve the original feature and copy the parts, check the Keep original feature after explode check box.
7. In the pane, click Explode.