Layers Palette

[CenterLine-AA]

I just have a stupid question I'm sure some genius out there can answer quickly...

In the LAYERS PALETTE, when I highlight a layer I KNOW is not empty, rt-click, then delete it...it deletes it!...It's not SUPPOSED to, according to what I've read...according to what I've read, that command will delete all layers that are COMPLETELY empty, including the all-elusive block-reference that was created in the layer you're trying to delete...but they've gotta be completely EMPTY, PURGED, REPURGED, sprinkled with holy water and after much prayer, you can finally delete the layer...so I want to delete all empty layers, except layers that contain objects, you know, lines, circles, arcs, texts, dimensions, satanic symbols, what not...but guess what?...when I highlight EVERY LAYER in the palette, rt-click then delete... .. ... .    .   .  .. . ...IT ERASES EVERYTHING, DAMMIT...except of course, the non-empty yet invisible layers containing block references

am I missing something major here?...someone please tell me how stupid i am...this problem has been plaguing since release 13

---ArchAngle

[maxim_k]

Welcome to Autodesk Forums!

Hi @CenterLine-AA 

What AutoCAD version are you using? And what Windows version you have on your machine?

Do you have this issue in all your drawings or just in one?

If it is just one - can you share it here?

[RobDraw]

The command that you are looking for is PURGE.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@CenterLine-AA wrote:

.... when I highlight a layer I KNOW is not empty, rt-click, then delete it...it deletes it!...It's not SUPPOSED to....

---

[Smart-aleck reply:  "Then don't do that!"]

But seriously, it doesn't do that for me, but rather I get the notification:

How is it that you are selecting to delete Layers that shouldn't be deleted?  LAYDEL will let you delete Layers by Name even if they contain drawn content [including buried inside Block definitions], when that's what you want.  But I'm trying to imagine the circumstance where you would have multiple Layers selected [including some with drawn content that shouldn't be deleted], and would choose Delete.

When you say "since release 13," do you really mean R13 from back in 1994, or Acad 2013 ?  Either way, there must be something out-of-the-ordinary going on if it's behaved that way over multiple versions.

[cadffm]

>>"am I missing something major here?...someone please tell me how stupid i am...this problem has been plaguing since release 13"

Not in R13, not in 2021.

Please upload a sample DWG and tell us the Layername.

Really perfect: Can you you share a Screencast of what you doing?
Use the same file you share with us.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/de/community/screencast

I am very curious where the mistake in the story is.
99% of the time, it's about another layer with a similar name
OR
to corrupt files (damaged & not RECOVERed).

[CenterLine-AA]

yeah...thank u for all the replies...seriously...i'm using autocad 2015 mac os...idk how to SHARE a file with everybody...but the situation is, i'm often duplicating old dwg files as templates for use on a new project...naturally, when i use blocks downloaded from the internet, they come with their own layer schemes...so, i'll erase the dwg elements i don't need anymore, but i want to keep the ones that are relevant to the new project...so after erasing such elements from the drawing, i'm left with hundreds of layers i don't need any more and i want to get rid of them so i'm not browsing thru a hundred layers just to find the one(s) i need to keep and work in...it's time consuming and tedious to examine and delete each layer individually...i would rather highlight them all, delete them all and have autocad automatically keep the layers with content STILL IN THEM, i.e., the visible content i want to keep...and yes, i've used purge, and there are some layers that cannot be purged due to block references; blocks i'm not using, but are referenced, so the layer stays...i want to keep what's visible and delete everything that's not and certainly empty layers...but i can't seem to do that without going through a mini-process with each layer...and THAT just takes up too much time...when i'm done with the dwg file, i only want MY layers in there and no one else's...'that make sense?

I am one of the FASTEST designers in the industry...I have no need for REVIT, 3d capabilities or any of that happy horsepuckey...i'm strictly a 2d editor speed-demon and i want what i want and i want it now...that should tell you everything you need to know about me and my work

thank you in advance for your helpful replies, please keep your sarcastic comments to urself, i have not used any sarcasm or insulted anyone on this messageboard thus far...again, my thx

JD.....(707) 225-2555

[cadffm]

99% of us (100% in this thread) are talking about AutoCAD, because you didn't say you are using another software and this is the AutoCAD board.

Now you say: Autocad FOR MAC

this is another dancefloor.

On autodesk.com is a board specially for AutoCAD for MAC.

I confirm: In the help (forMac) it is docomented like in AutoCAD(for Windows): Contextmenu in Layerpalette means purge, so only unreferenced layers should be eraseable.

If not, it seams there is a bug.

2015 is uptodate?

Search for a bug  in your version (i don't like to search for you because it isn't "my" software).

Sorry, wrong program.

PS. All here tried to help, no sarcasm here

[cadffm]

But again, i am thinking thats all usual.

Use LAYMRG if you are not able fo find the layer reference object(s) and merge unwanted layers with layer 0

Purge is only for unreferenced layers

and layer delete will deleting all reference objects (only autocad for mac versions have LAYDEL option in layer palette context menu, but LAYMRG is the much better way)

[CenterLine-AA]

*sigh*...thx again...i will try to find the acad mac forum

[Kent1Cooper]

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@CenterLine-AA wrote:

...i will try to find the acad mac forum

---

Not too hard to find.  Got to the Forum Links at upper right, and pick on All Forums:

It's in there, in alphabetical order.

[RobDraw]

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@CenterLine-AA wrote:

when i'm done with the dwg file, i only want MY layers in there and no one else's...

---

The best way to do that is to ensure that no other layers get into the file. It's much easier than hunting down layers within blocks that may not have anything on them. 

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@CenterLine-AA wrote:

I am one of the FASTEST designers in the industry...I have no need for REVIT, 3d capabilities or any of that happy horsepuckey...

---

Not something that I would be bragging about. IME, fast does not necessarily equal good but you don't say what your industry is.

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@CenterLine-AA wrote:

i want what i want and i want it now...

---

You don't want much, do you?

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi @CenterLine-AA 

>>>>i'm using autocad 2015 mac os

This explains everything and I know how to help you.

The problem occurred because once when using "delete" from context menu on Layers palette, you selected "Delete layer and its content" with "remember my choice" option checked, like here:

From this moment AutoCAD Neve asks you what to do when you use "Delete" context menu item in Layers palette.

Now all you need to do is Reset hidden messages, and here is how-to:

1/ Launch AutoCAD, open any of your drawings where you can delete layer

2/ Use context menu "Delete" on Layers palette to delete layer and its contents

3/ Open AutoCAD Preferences and go to Application tab, pick on "Reset hidden messages" button, then OK:

 4/ Now try to use "Delete" from Layers palette context menu again.

Do you see an alert from AutoCAD?

If the steps above will not solve the problem, there is another, radical way.

Quit AutoCAD.

In Finder go to:

~/Library/Application Support/Autodesk/roaming/AutoCAD 2015/R20.0/enu/Support

folder and trash Profile.aws file. Alternately you can move it to some another place.

Launch autoCAD ant test deleting layer from Layers palette.

[CenterLine-AA]

@maxim_k 

ok...that works!...right on, brother...for a minute, I didn't see the whole message in your second solution and I thought you'd said to "quit AutoCAD"...like, "quit using it altogether"...which was radical, but nevertheless a solution...i like thinking like that

thx again