Combining Objects and Constructing Shapes

Combined drawing objects act as grouped objects, except that you cannot enter the group to edit the individual objects.

You can only combine 2D objects.

To combine 2D objects:

Select two or more 2D objects.
Choose Modify - Combine.

Unlike groups, a combined object takes on the properties of the lowermost object in the stacking order. You can split apart combined objects, but the original object properties are lost.

When you combine objects, holes appear where the objects overlap.

Illustration for combining objects

In the illustration, the uncombined objects are on the left and the combined objects on the right.

Constructing Shapes

You can construct shapes by applying the Shapes - Merge, Subtract and Intersect commands to two or more drawing objects.

Shape commands only work on 2D objects.

Constructed shapes take on the properties of the lowermost object in the stacking order.

To construct a shape:

Select two or more 2D objects.
Choose Modify - Shapes and one of the following:

Merge
Subtract
Intersect.

Shape Commands

In the following illustrations, the original objects are on the left and the modified shapes on the right.

Shapes - Merge

Illustration for merging shapes

Adds the area of the selected objects to the area of the lowermost object in the stacking order.

Shapes - Subtract

Illustration for subtracting shapes

Subtracts the area of the selected objects from the area of the lowermost object in the stacking order.

Shapes - Intersect

Illustration for intersecting shapes

The overlapping area of the selected objects creates the new shape.

The area outside the overlap is removed.

Grouping Objects