Tips for GstarCAD BREAK Command

Sometimes we want to break an object into two pieces at a single point, but the BREAK command needs us to specify two points at a time and this leaves a gap. How to do this with only one breakpoint?

Yes, performing the BREAK command needs two specified points, but we can still find the Break at Point(BREAK) command which only needs one specified point in the toolbar or higher version of Command-List Panel, as shown in the following picture.

Actually, we can get the same result by simply using the BREAK command and there are some tips for this command, let me show you in detail.

Normal operation of BREAK command

If we want to add text or block to lines, we can use the BREAK command to split the line. It usually needs two specified points in order to break an object into two and this leaves blank spaces between those two points.

We can create spaces between the two specified points on the object and thus break the object into two. If the specified points are not on the object, they will be automatically projected on the object, as shown in the following picture.

There are some uncontrollable factors when using the BREAK command: we normally use our mouse to select an object after executing the BREAK command, but the selection point will be regarded as the first point by default and then we are prompted to select the second point, as we select the second point, the BREAK command has already finished! What if we don’t want the first point we selected: how to deal with it?

Pay attention to the prompts after executing the BREAK command and selecting an object, the prompts ask us to specify the second point and it also gives another option to enter F to override the original first point, as shown in the following picture.

Enter F and press Enter to override the original first point with a newly selected point, after this, we can move on to select the second point.

How to break lines without leaving a gap?

Breaking lines without leaving any gap is to let the second point and the first point be at the same place. This is very easy: First, enter F to specify the first point and when prompted to specify the second point, enter @ and press Enter key. That’s how the Break at Point command works and we can see this from the command macros in the CUI, as shown in the following picture.

If you are used to using commands, you could do as the following: Enter BR, press Enter key, enter F, press Enter key, specify a point, press Enter key, enter @ and press Enter key, that’s all.

But the Break at Point command doesn’t apply to every object. We can break lines, open polylines or arcs with Break at Point command, but we can’t break closed objects ( such as circles ) with it.

How to break off one end of a circle

Break command can not only break straight lines, arcs, polylines, ellipses, splines, donuts and other objects into two pieces, it can also remove one end of an object, the key lies in how to select the second point. If the second point is outside the endpoint of an object, then one end of the object can be cut off completely, as shown in the following picture.

How to break at intersection

In some drawings, pipelines intersect but don’t connect with each other and many professional CAD software products automatically break those pipelines and leave spaces. GstarCAD is one of them. If you don’t have GstarCAD installed on your computer, you could try using plugin to break objects at intersections but this leaves no spaces.

Sometimes the Break command can be tricky because by default the selection point is treated as the first point, but it’s hard to capture when selecting an object. Most people came to realize this until it’s too late and misoperation happens.

I don’t know how many people are actually using the Break command, although this command seems simple to use, there are many tips in order to better use it. Hope this post gives you some new ideas about this command.