Deleting layers that contain objects or Xref-dependent layers

[Burner]

This has probably been discussed in a different forum, but here it goes...

 

I am trying to delete unused layers, but keep getting a dialog box which states: layers that contain objects or xref-dependent layers cannot be deleted.

 

Do I have to unbind or purge in order to delete these layers? Or, is there a different method?

 

Using AutoCAD 2015

[RobDraw]

If all the XREFs are bound then the layers are in use, somewhere. There are a number of ways an apparently unused layer can be in use. If you are absolutely sure that anything that might be using that layer can be deleted from the drawing, then you could use LAYDEL. Warning: This will not only delete the layer, but everything that is on that layer. While cleaning up files from external sources, I used to do some investigation before using this command because I was afraid of deleting something I needed. I later learned that it took a lot less time to replace stuff than it did to find the offending item(s). They were usually empty entities that were not visible or selectable.

[nestly]

+1 what Rob said.

Most of the time I can't find the object that's causing the layer to be "in use" it's because the object is inside a block. LAYDEL will delete it right out of the block... so yeah be careful with LAYDEL.

 

Is the problem the xref layers existing, or just that you'd prefer not to see them? If the latter, you can create a noxref layer filter.

[SLW210]

You might give -PURGE a try and purge the Zero-length geometry and Empty text objects first.

 

Qselect can be useful in finding objects on what are believed to be unused Layers, also.

 

 

P.S.

 

I moved your thread to the AutoCAD Drawing Management & Output Forum.