Custom toolbar and purge macro

[ReMark]

It's the "definition" of the block, linetype, text style, etc. that AutoCAD will remember even if the item is deleted. These definitions increase file size, thus the need to purge a drawing. Purge reduces the file size. You can prove it to yourself by comparing a drawing's .dwg and .bak file sizes. The .bak file will be the "before purge" size and the .dwg will be the "after purge" size.

[Lee Mac]

Ok, thanks for the extra explanation ReMark, much appreciated.

 

I only ask the question as, at the company I used to work at, we never ever ever ever purged drawings (I don't think they knew what it did!), and so when I saw a few people on here enquiring about the command I was interested.

 

Thanks.

 

Lee

[ReMark]

It's usually the last command I run before saving a drawing.

 

I think us "old timers" use purge more because we grew up with hard drives a lot smaller than they are today. Space was precious and hard drives were also more expensive.

[Lee Mac]

Good Point.... now your showing your age....

[rkmcswain]

Ok, thanks for the extra explanation ReMark, much appreciated.

 

Looking at it from the other side, there are also cases where you do NOT want to purge items.

 

For example, your template drawing(s) may contain blocks, layers, dimstyles, linetypes, mleaderstyles, etc. and if so, you probably don't want to purge these items since you put them in your template drawing to start with.

 

Also - drawing files can contain graphical and non-graphical data, so just because you open a drawing and don't see anything doesn't mean there isn't anything in the drawing.

[ReMark]

Very good points rkm. I sheepishly admit to having forgotten the consequences of using purge without thinking first.

[Lee Mac]

Thanks McSwain,

 

I opened my template dwt file and purged it and found buckets of unnecessary blocks lurking.... Thanks.