How to prevent AUTOCAD from automatically regenerating model

[pzweng]

Each time a block is edited by refedit or bedit, the system automatically regenerates into the model, which takes a few seconds and sometimes a few minutes (more time when there are a large number of blocks in the document).

Earlier versions had the regenmode variable or regenauto command, but were still automatically regen models for block editing.

How to prevent AUTOCAD from automatically regenerating model？

[TheCADnoob]

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Slow-performance-a...

Have you checked out this article?

Issue:

After editing block contents inside Block Editor in AutoCAD, when exiting and saving changes to the block, the program starts to run slowly.

Causes:

• Data corruption in the drawing or in attached xrefs.
• A great amount of unresolved or missing xrefs in the drawing.
• A great number of block definitions are in the drawing.
• A great number of clipped xrefs or blocks (visibility sets in dynamic blocks).
• A great amount of Viewport windows and paper space layouts.

Solution:

Data corruption of content and xrefs

Unload xrefs before entering the block editor and try cleaning and repairing each of them along with the main drawing. See How to repair corrupt AutoCAD files.

Unresolved or Missing xrefs

Resolve or replace the file paths to the xrefs that are not correctly attached in the drawing. See External reference (xref) file is missing or unresolved in AutoCAD.

Managing the performance

After exiting the Block Editor, try doing the following.

1. Use REGEN or ZOOM EXTENTS frequently. (refreshing the point style using PTYPE command has a similar effect).
2. Set HPQUICKPREVIEW (SysVar) = OFF
3. Set DRAWORDERCTL (SysVar) = 0 
4. Set LAYOUTREGENCTL (SysVar) = 0 or 1 (better 0).

Changing the workflow for a better performance

• Minimizing paper space Layouts, by dividing the work into a working file (Model space basically), and single or a group of couple paper space Layouts in a separate file, where the Model space file (the working file) is used as xref for plotting purposes.
• Minimize the use of visibility sets in Blocks. Instead, have each visibility sets as separate blocks in a library palette, and place only the one needed.
• Consider managing the block as an xref instead of having it as a block object within the drawing.
• Use the QSELECT and HIDEOBJECTS commands to temporarily reduce the number of blocks that are regenerated after a block edit:
  1. Type the QSELECT (Command) on the command line and Enter.
  2. In the Quick Select Dialog Box drop-down for Object type, select Block Reference.
  3. Select either:
     • A Property and Operator from the respective drop-down.
     • Select All in the Operator drop-down. 
  4. Once the objects are highlighted, type HIDEOBJECT on the command line and Enter.
  5. To edit hidden blocks, use the BE command then select the block to edit from the list.
  6. To make hidden blocks visible, type UNHIDE on the command line and Enter.

[Kent1Cooper]

I can imagine a danger if it didn't regenerate at least all references to the Block you just edited [if not necessarily the whole drawing].  But how dangerous depends on the extent and nature of the changes you made.  You might be led astray by references to it that are not yet visually updated but that would adversely affect what you do subsequently, if you're not seeing the changes you've already made.  You might even try to re-edit some Block that you already edited, which would at best be a waste of time, but could be more serious.

Is the idea that you want to edit multiple Block definitions, but not have the drawing regenerated to update them all on-screen until after you're done with all of them?  [Not that I have any idea whether that's possible....]

[jreidKVSUZ]

To turn off block regeneration in AutoCAD, change the system variable "REGENMODE" to "0" at the command line; this effectively disables automatic regeneration, which can improve performance when working with large drawings.
Key points:

Command: Type "REGENMODE" at the command line.
Value to set: Enter "0" to disable automatic regeneration

Hope this helps!! Happy New Years!!

JRR!

[TheCADnoob]

---

@jreidKVSUZ wrote:

To turn off block regeneration in AutoCAD, change the system variable "REGENMODE" to "0" at the command line; this effectively disables automatic regeneration, which can improve performance when working with large drawings.
Key points:

Command: Type "REGENMODE" at the command line.
Value to set: Enter "0" to disable automatic regeneration

Hope this helps!! Happy New Years!!

JRR!

---

Per Autodesk help documentation REGENMODE is obsolete:

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-DE6326CF-3BF6-476B-A670-24AB227231B2

REGENMODE (System Variable)

Obsolete. Controls automatic regeneration of the drawing.

Type:	Integer
Saved in:	Drawing
Initial value:	1

The REGENMODE system variable is no longer needed and is not functional.

[jreidKVSUZ]

Sorry about that.

Try REGENAUTO. Set that to OFF. 

Hope this helps!! Happy New Years!!

JRR!

[pendean]

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@jreidKVSUZ wrote:

Sorry about that.

Try REGENAUTO. Set that to OFF. 

Hope this helps!! Happy New Years!!

JRR!

---

[jreidKVSUZ]

Wow. You’re both right. Regenauto is still a command but does nothing.

Try this command. It looked like it helped my system with my testing.

Right Click onto the block you need to edit and select Isolate, Isolate Objects.

Now only the block you want to change is showing. Make your block changes your need.

 You’re regen time should be very fast.

Now Right Click onto the block and select Isolate, End Object Isolation.

Be sure to save before and after, when making a major change.

Hope this one helps!!!

Thanks, JRR!

[pzweng]

thanks!
In the lower version, this variable is not useful, right。
This does not control block editing

The higher version is deprecated，“The REGENMODE system variable is no longer needed and is not functional.”

[pzweng]

Thank you!
I've already set this up. I want to regenerate manually, not automatically

[pzweng]

Thank you!
I've already set this up. I want to regenerate manually, not automatically!

[pzweng]

Thank you!
This operation is very troublesome!
Sometimes used this way at present!

[pzweng]

thanks!
In the lower version, this variable is not useful, right。
This does not control block editing

The higher version is deprecated，“The REGENMODE system variable is no longer needed and is not functional.”