Explode → Groups — convert components to plain groups

What does this tool do?

Explode → Groups converts every component in the selection — including dynamic components — into plain groups, recursively through all nesting levels. This is a required step before nesting or ABF labeling, because those tools only work on groups (components share one definition, so editing one copy edits them all).

This is a Pro feature — on the free plan the plugin shows the upgrade dialog.

Use it when you need to:

• “Freeze” dynamic components after sizing them, ready for nesting.
• Turn an imported component library into standalone groups for labeling/CNC.
• Clean the structure: drop empty wrapper groups, merge duplicate 2D faces.

Basic steps

1. Select one or more groups/components (with nothing selected the tool asks you to select first).
2. Click the Explode → Groups icon. A confirmation dialog appears with three Yes/No options (all default to Yes).
3. Adjust the options if needed, then click OK (or Cancel to bail out).
4. When done, the resulting objects are re-selected. Everything is one Undo step (Ctrl+Z).

The three confirmation options

• Delete hidden objects – removes hidden groups/components inside (only hidden groups/components; individually hidden faces/edges are kept).
• Delete dynamic attributes – strips the dynamic-component attributes so the objects no longer live by formulas. The plugin's ABF attributes are not removed.
• Clear name ID prefix – removes the ID prefix at the start of object names.

What the tool does inside

• Every component (plain and dynamic) → a group, recursively at all levels; materials are kept.
• Empty wrapper groups (only child groups, no geometry of their own) are exploded to promote their children.
• 2D outlines get their coplanar faces merged.
• A group carrying the abf_autocombine attribute: its child groups are outer-shelled into one solid named after the attribute.
• A group carrying the abf_layer attribute: the group and its faces/edges are tagged accordingly.

Common problems

• “Select one or more groups/components first”: the tool does not pick for you — select the objects to convert before clicking the icon.
• Dynamic attributes lost unintentionally: set Delete dynamic attributes to No before OK.
• Hidden objects disappeared: that is the Delete hidden objects option — set it to No if you need them kept.
• Menu missing: check you are signed in with a Pro plan.