Copying just one layer

[Anonymous]

Hi all 

I have a drawing with Multiply layers on it. 

I wish to copy just one of these layers the Site Boundary  to a new drawing. 

I had a look on the forum and have tried the -wblock command but all of the other layers are copied with it. 

What am I doing wrong? 

thanks 

Matt 

[maxim_k]

Hi Matt,

There are a lot of ways to copy one layer to another drawing, for example:

- use Saveas command to save existing drawing with new name, turn off layer you want to leave in the drawing, erase everything visible, turn on the layer you want to leave, use PURGE command to purge all empty layers. You can also dragg off the empty layers from the Layers Palette to remove them from drawing.
Or
- use Quick Select command to select everything on the layer you need, copy to clipboard selected objects, create new drawing and use paste to original coordinates in it (if you are using AutoCAD 2017), or just Paste in older versions.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Maxim 

thanks for your reply 

I've tried the top option but the layer doesn't reappear when I turn it back on?

I've also attempted the quick select but the drawing is so cramped everything gets selected 

many thanks 

Matt 

[maxim_k]

OK, don't turn layer you want to leave in the drawing, just lock it to prevent erasing.

For the second method - When you use Quick Select, you need to add the condition - the layer you want to copy to another drawing.

Maxim

[maxim_k]

Plus ensure that the objects you want to leave in the drawing are not the part of the block, which maybe inserted on the different layer.

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Although only one or two layers are on everything still is copied to another drawing 

Any ideas 

Thanks 

[maxim_k]

Hi Matt,

I saw your PM.
Can you attach here the initial drawing and specify which layer you want to new drawing?

Maxim

[Anonymous]

Have you an email I can send it to 

thanks 

Matt 

[maxim_k]

Yes, look in PM

Maxim

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

Did @maxim_k get your problem solved (outside of the forum) If not, I am happy to look at your file to make recommendations as well. You are welcome to share the file with me via a cloud store or I can give you an upload location.

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi John,

The problem was resolved during private conversation via email.
Here was the main solution - I wrote:

What I have done:
1/ Exploded all blocks in the drawing. Without this you cannot delete layers inside blocks, actually you can, but you need to edit each block in Block editor to erase all unnecessary layers
2/ Blocked layers you need to leave in the drawing
3/ Used ERASE command to erase everything from the drawing except on blocked layers
4/ Used PURGE command to purge all empty layers
5/ to solve the problem with DEFPOINTS layer, which cannot be purged (it is special layer and AutoCAD doesn’t allow to purge it), I used WBLOCK command with * option to write everything from the drawing to new file. DEFPOINTS layer now deleted too.

Maxim