How do I delete layers and blocks with xrefs whose contents I can't find?

[Anonymous]

It gives me great pain to have to post on a forum but I can't find a complete answer on how to address my issue.

When I try to delete a layer, I get the standard Message Box about layers containing objects and X-Refs.

1. I can't find any objects associated with these layers. I don't even know how these layers were created.. My guess is that it has to do with the blocks that are in the block folder that Xref to something.

2. I can find information on how to PURGE a block but the information is always proceeded by: All refereences to a block must be erased before you can purge its block definition.

I want to rid this drawing of all XREFs, LAYERS and BLOCKS that are of no use to me.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[cadffm]

It is easy to write down again what you read before, but it doesn't help you - thats why you started this thread.

Share the file and post sample names for Layer and Blocks you want to purge.

Acad2020 - Purge command have a ShowMe feature, it can not show all, but a lot, it helps often.

We can find all, but we need your drawing.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the reply.

I'm not sure what you are asking for. Do you want me to upload the entire CAD drawing?

[pendean · Accepted solution]

You only have LT, so you have to do the work yourself the long way if simply using WBLOCK command to capture only the layers and content you want to create a new DWG file is not an option.

Stat XREF command, select all the XREFs, right-click and select DETACH. SAVE your file. All XREFs are gone.

PURGE everything again. SAVE your file.

Now:
Freeze all layers except layer 0. Make it your current active layer.
Thaw only the layers you want to get rid of and ensure they are not locked.
Start ERASE command, type ALL when asked to select objects, hit <enter>.

PURGE everything again. SAVE your file.

Any layers left? use LAYMRG command to merge them all with layer zero. If any objects show up, ERASE them.

PURGE everything again. SAVE your file.

If you find anything else you don't want just ERASE it then PURGE then SAVE.

Welcome to life using only LT.

HTH

[cadffm]

Yes,

DWG and some names of Layers and Blocks you tried to purge.

With the dwg we are able to show you where the Layer or Block is use.

Without the drawing we can only repeat what you can read 1000x in the Forum:

-User QSELECT to find un-nested Layers and Block (use this way for each Layout(and Modelspace)

-Blocks can be nested in other Blocks, also a Block can be the default Block in a dimstyle

- and so on.

[Anonymous]

That's too funny - LT. Believe me, if I can't manage to do something that to me should be as simple as a click of a button, then I don't deserve the full version. That button should say "Delete All XREFs". 

First off, thank you very much for the well written and concise instructions.

I have tried your recommendations and still cannot get rid of three layers.

There were apparently no XREF files in the drawing, nothing other than the open file was shown in the drop down when I executed the XREF Command. That was something that I already tried.

I froze the layers and followed the instructions all the way to LAYMRG.

The LAYMRG Command is asking for an object. There are no objects in the layers I want to delete. Therefore, without selecting anything, I cannot execute the command.

Thanks you again for you help. I am further along now than I was.

[cadffm]

>"and still cannot get rid of three layers."

And if you want to know where these are hidden, i posted the fast way to this answer: Share the data.

>"There were apparently no XREF files in the drawing"

Message from dellayer (what is never a good solution for your case,. Without knowing where the layers are used, use laymrg and Layer0)

about XRefs, but no Xrefs are in the drawing? hmm. Never seen.

I don't know about messages from LayDel about XREFs!? only about Blocks.

>"The LAYMRG Command is asking for an object. There are no objects in the layers I want to delete."

You can also use the NAME Option.

Or solve that problem by the a strange way, DRAW AN OBJECT on this Layer- oh.

I will show you what i can see, if i have the file to see.

Note: If you try LayDel and the message about blocks appears, you can also read

which blocks re-defines.

Undo layel, use BEDIT and open this Block, use Qselect to find the item on this layer.

[pendean]

You can also use "layer merge" from inside the LAYER command, simply select the layers, then right-click, and make that selection.

>>>... still cannot get rid of three layers....<<<
If LAYMRG command could not get rid of them as I wrote in my first reply (by merging with layer zero), then they belong to an XREF that did not get detached or you didn't use LAYMRG.

BTW, take the time and explore what right-clicking offers for added tools and features in AutoCAD/LT, even in pop-ups: you are missing so much more if you're not doing that.

HTH

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

It gives me great pain to have to post on a forum

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It's too bad that it hurts to ask for help from one of the greatest resources available to you.

[Anonymous]

This is a great resource and is constantly opened on a separate PC. The pain comes from being a burden with tasks that should otherwise be simple to resolve.

[RobDraw]

What you are asking about can be frustrating but once you learn how and why, is quite simple. Sometimes there isn't a clearly marked easy button.

[DanShurt02]

5 years later and you're still saving lives. I'm never using my brothers files as templates again.