Reasons why I can't purge some layers?

[Comatosis]

Just wanted to check if there were any reasons I hadn't considered as to why Purge doesn't want to purge certain empty layers. I'm changing the architect's background to our standards, and some layers simply do not want to go away.

 

• All the remaining layers are turned on and unlocked.
  
• I have exploded everything repeatedly until I cannot explode more.
  
• I'm purging nested items and getting rid of points/zero-length geometry.
  
• I have run a QSELECT on all the offending layers, revealing 0 items on every one.
  
• I have erased and purged everything that was on paper space.
  
• I have QSELECTed for every "weird" item on the drawing (block reference/point/attribute/whatever) and got rid of it.
  
• I have locked/turned off all layers I want to keep, did a CTRL+A and hit delete.
  
• I even turned all splines to polylines just in case.
  

 

After doing all of this, I still have 9 more "live" layers that do not want to go away.

 

Now, I'm aware that I have the LAYDEL option (which is what I'll be using here shortly), but I was just curious as to what drawing elements I could have possibly missed so that AutoCAD refuses to purge these layers.

 

Thanks

[Tuns]

Hmm... Could it have something to do with filters? Maybe it's just one of those AutoCAD mysteries. I once had a dimension that was 7/8" on one drawing (with 1/16" precision) and then 15/16" on another (also with 1/16" precision). Freaky stuff man.

[cadvision]

wblock your drawing out.

[ReMark]

Did you use the command line version of purge that is proceeded with a dash?

[nestly]

If any "unused" layers remain after WBLOCK, then I'd say the layers are probably assigned to objects within blocks.

[tzframpton]

Sometimes there are what I call "ghost objects" that are not visible in the drawing space. My method is this: Make sure the Properties Palette is shown, then in Modelspace, do a Zoom Extents, then Ctrl+A to select everything in the drawing space. Now, hold down the Shift key and pick+drag from right to left as maximized as you can in the drawing space. You may see "grips" appear, and/or check Properties to see if there are any "ghost objects" still lingering. If so, hit the Delete Key to eradicate them from the drawing.

 

Also, don't just delete Paperspace items, delete the Paperspace Layouts altogether. AutoCAD will auto-magically create a new, clean Layout1 tab in which you'll know 100% there's nothing lingering. Also get rid of any/all Styles, and set the "Standard" Styles to Current. Last but certainly not least, use the "-PURGE" command line to purge Regen Apps.

 

See if that yields any better results.

[rkent]

2014 has layer merge built into the layer manager so simply merge the offending layer into one you want to keep.

[BIGAL]

You may have some proxy objects also as an example in CIV3d you create styles even if you dont use them if they have a layer associated with them you can not remove the layer, but you can run a "remove unused styles" then purge the layers. Try -purge R remove regapps

[satishrajdev]

Try command - LAYDEL to delete layers which you cant purge..........

[nestly]

Yes, LAYDEL ... but be careful with that one because if the layers are being used (like inside blocks), all that geometry also get deleted with the layer. IMO, it's better to figure out "why" they won't purge than to just use brute force.

[ReMark]

Coma: We can continue to discuss solutions to the problem or we could put this thread to rest simply by you attaching a copy of the DWG file so we can have a look for ourselves. What's it going to be?

[Patrick Hughes]

I just came across a scenario the other day with a layer that wouldn't purge - ended up being text entities that had a null value. Found out by freezing and locking all other layer and "LISTING" ALL. came back with a bunch of text entities all of them with "" as the value.