Find Layers that can not be Purged

[BCrouse]

I am going to give an example of a situation that I come across a lot.

Example: When purging layers out of a drawing. There are layers that will not purge. So I go examine each layer to figure out what is stopping that layer from purging. I still can’t figure it out. All the elements are on its correct layer.

Is there a Lisp Routine out there that can find that element with that certain layer? If not, can someone create one that can invoke a dialog box. This will enable the user to set variables such as change the layer or remove it from the element.


Thank you,

Brad

[mjfarrell]

Most likely the problem is that you have layers NESTED
inside blocks that ARE in your drawing. And true enough
you will not be able to purge those layers until all objects
on those layers are deleted or relocated (by redefining the block)
onto a layer that you do want to keep.
The source of these layers might also be your use of copy clip
and then pasting the resultant unnamed blocks into your drawing.
I think I have seen you post in Land Desktop, I would suggest you
employ a MAP query, to bring all blocks into a new MAP session
drawing and then list the resultant layers. Perhaps doing this one
block at a time would reveal where the nested layers were and allow
you to redefine the offending block, and then save it back to the
source file thus redefining all such blocks in one step.

[BCrouse]

Michael,

You have seen my post in ADT 3.3. I mainly post in AutoCAD 2005 and ADT. Is Map Query capable in ADT3.3? I’ll go through the drawing again. Thank you for your help. Is this topic something that could over to the wish list? If so, may you please move it there.

[mjfarrell]

Sorry, no the MAP query is only available in
Land Desktop or MAP.
Also, as to the wish list, no placing this
item there will have no effect, as most likely
the layers are nested and will not purge,
that is normal ACAD behavour.
However, on second thought you could run the
Batch Standards checker agains your block
library and it will give you an XML report of all of the
layer names it finds in those blocks. This would
tell you which layers were REAL and in which
blocks they are nested in. Then you could use
quick select to find those blocks and REFEDIT them
within the drawing you are attemption to purge the layers from.
Then you could wblock the new modified block into your
block library so the GHOST layers would be permanently
exercised.

[BCrouse]

Thank you Michael! I really enjoy using AUGI. It is reassuring that if users are having questions and/or ideas. There are users like you to help and get them in the right direction!

Brad

[Glenn Pope]

There are also programs available that can purge anything out of a drawing.

WARNING
Using these programs can damage a drawing if use incorrectly. Use this as a last resort and on a copy of the drawing.

SuperPurge by ManuSoft (http://www.manusoft.com/Software/SuperPurge/Index.stm)
CDGpurge (http://caddevelopmentgroup.com/Downloads.htm)

[revacservice]

Try zooming to extents, then zoom out a bit more, set the filter to find offending layers, apply with a crossing window for the whole display, then erase previous and then purge.

A number of times I've used filters in this way, the filter responce gives the message "x number of objects found, 0 selected" but with the erase previouse y number of entities are found.

Performing an audit prior to purging sometimes helps.

Hope this is of help

Don Smith

[awarren]

You can also use the tool laytrans and the express tool laydel. Be care ful these will get rid of the dreaded layer but they are very powerful, with power comes responsablity.

[khorzan]

Another possibility is something I call "null" text entries. Basically, a "null" text entry is a dText object that had all of its text removed (through ddEdit or other commands) but was not deleted. I have a lisp routine for eliminating them, but I need to get the permission of the writer to distribute it...

[jaberwok]

If it is "null" text objects, just set Qtext on and regen. Every piece of text, including null strings, will show as an empty box.

[Li'l Crys]

If you have Express Tools, which you should. Use "layer delete". If there isn't anything on that layer, you'll have to draw a temp line in to use to delete the layer.