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Thread: How to purge phantom blocks?

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    Unhappy How to purge phantom blocks?

    In the "Insert" command dialog box, the drop down list in the "Name" field contains some oddly named items that have no preview. The drawing was previously the property of someone who was very fond of cut and paste between ACAD drawings (had no use for Design Center). I've heard (perhaps erroneously) that these "phantom blocks" are the result of such cut and paste operations.

    How do I delete these items? Doing a "Purge" on the drawing doesn't touch them

    The "phantom blocks" have weird names like "ABWD$DR3070HM" And "ABWD$DR3070HM$2370"

    Using AutoCAD 2006 on Windows XP

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    Certified AUGI Addict jaberwok's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    If you can see the block names listed in the Insert dialogue but not in the Purge dialogue then the blocks are being referenced in the drawing so cannot be purged until all instances have been deleted.

    For confirmation, in the Purge dialogue, click the second radio button at the top "View items you cannot purge".

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    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    What do you mean by phantom block?

    As mentioned, if the block definition is not eligible for purging, then it's referenced somewhere in the drawing.

    Have you tried using QSELECT or FILTER to find insertions of this block?

    If you still can't find it, consider obtaining SuperPurge from http://www.manusoft.com - which can "hard purge" anything.
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    John B.
    Okay I did the verification that you suggested. The two blocks are indeed listed there among the other valid blocks. Problem is that I see no geometry associated with these block names. So how do I get at them to remove them? The more I look at this issue the dumber I feel! Argh!

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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    Try inserting them from the block dialogue. You can then find out what the blocks are.

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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    I did try to insert from the block dialog. There is no preview when I select the block. Also there is no geometry visible when I insert the block. Don't have any off or frozen layers either.

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    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    Quote Originally Posted by jf1725
    I did try to insert from the block dialog. There is no preview when I select the block. Also there is no geometry visible when I insert the block. Don't have any off or frozen layers either.
    Send me the drawing or upload it here if you want. I'll get rid of them for you.
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

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    100 Club charlie.bauer341340's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    there are 3rd party programs that will allow you to do a hard purge such as Super Purge

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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    The names you listed indicate these blocks were introduced as part of a bound xref. Even after exploding and erasing of such entities their definition and associated layers, linetypes, etc. can be quite difficult to remove. I don't know if this will work for these blocks, but try entering "-PURGE" at the command line and answer all of the prompts. This will eliminate from the drawing everything it is currently possible to purge.

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    100 Club avdesign's Avatar
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    Default Re: How to purge phantom blocks?

    Quote Originally Posted by jf1725
    The "phantom blocks" have weird names like "ABWD$DR3070HM" And "ABWD$DR3070HM$2370"
    I've often seen blocks with names like you've listed after a paste as block is done. Have you tried the following edit xref or the new block editor feature. If you select either without first selecting anything they will bring up dialog boxes that will let you choose what you'd like to edit. Have you tried an explode of the offening blocks and then the manual delete, You could also try the lisp program Killdots found here.

    Best of luck I know how much a pain bad blocks are.

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