Cannot purge layer not referenced by any block

[alankstan]

I am familiar with the usual problems associated with non-purgeable layer (e.g. block, style, etc referencing the layer). I also use several lisp tools to find the stubborn layers hidden in a block or table entities.

But this is the one here is challenging to resolve. Please refer to the attached file which contains two problematic entities. The first is a block, and the other is a multi-leader with a block. These were WBLOCKed out from a complex DWG and simplified for testing.

The block (a simple triangle) hangs on to a layer in which it was created – even when all the entities in the block are moved to layer 0.

The multi-leader has an arrow style “DOTSMALL”, which is in fact a block created automatically by ACAD in the CURRENT layer (ie. BLDG) when I change the property of the leader, “ArrowHead”, to “Dot Small”. I edited DOTSMALL block to place the dot in level 0. Guess what, the layer BLDG is not freed up and does not become purgeable unless you delete the leader and the block DOTSMALL.

We can solve this problem without deleting the blocks by using LAYDEL or LAYMRG. However, I am interested to know what is preventing the layers from being purged. Anyone care to explain or give a try to remove the unused layers “BLDG” and “COLUMN” without resorting to these methods?

I have no idea how the block became as such. Try creating a block containing a line in a new layer, say “XX”, then edit the block and move the line to layer 0. The layer “XX” becomes purgeable‼‼

[Anonymous]

I would utilize Super Purge to do this.  It's free trial should do the trick.

https://www.manusoft.com/software/superpurge.html

[Anonymous]

I was able to remove them using Super Purge on my end.

[pendean]

>>>...We can solve this problem without deleting the blocks by using LAYDEL or LAYMRG...<<<
LAYMRG is the free solution if you only want free. As to why, could be a dot or small length line in the block, could be something else. No one really cares to invest that much time in digging unless you do.

[john.vellek]

HI @alankstan,

This is interesting. What application was used to create the drawing?

Exploding the entities will also allow Purge to remove the layers.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[alankstan]

Hi All

Thanks for the response.

As I mentioned, I do have the tools (including SuperPurge) to remove the layers. For learning purposes, I posted this thread hoping to see if anyone knows what the cause might be. It is an interesting issue: there is absolutely no stray features (point or whatever) in the block. I thought knowing the reason can perhaps help to address the problem quickly. Currently, I have to strip the file until I find the offending block before I could safely purge the layers, and this happens frequently enough for me to want to know why.

The blocks were exported from a file created by my client and I have no idea what application was used to create it. But I can duplicate the multi-leader problem in a new file on ACAD2015.

[Anonymous]

You can also use 'checkstandards' to "merge" the layer to a layer of your choice from your standards file.