Certain objects such as appliqué, are 'compound' objects and cannot be ungrouped in the normal way. Sometimes, you may want to edit components which cannot be done within the grouped compound object. For example, you may want to make edits to the various layers of appliqué such as the tackdown stitch, etc. Alternatively, you may want to resequence the stitching order of appliqué components.

To perform such editing operations, compound objects need to be 'broken apart'. The Break Apart tool allows you to separate appliqué objects into their components. It can also be used with monograms, lettering and blackwork runs. The effect on these objects is similar to the ungrouping operation. However, once it is broken apart, it cannot be re-grouped as a compound object again. 

• Select the object to break apart – open-object appliqué, auto-appliqué, monogram, or lettering. The Break Apart command is activated.
  
• Click Break Apart. The object is separated into its component source (primary) and any generated (secondary) objects.
  
• The operation ungroups open-object appliqué into its components – source (primary) objects, generated (secondary) objects. It also creates an auto-appliqué object from each piece of fabric in the design. These will have no stitching.
• The operation ungroups monograms into component objects – a lettering object, ornaments (each ornament set remaining as a group) and borders (also grouped). See also Break apart lettering / monograms.
  
• To modify individual objects – e.g. to change the stitching sequence of monogram borders – use the Design Sequence dialog to ungroup objects and resequence. See also Sequence objects.