Can't delete layer

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm a very basic autocad user, I get some basic concepts but that is it.

I have a building floor plan that I want to delete some layers from before converting to DXF file.

There are some layers with what I think are patterns that arn't needed. When I delete a layer I get this error:

I've looked all over the net for the solutions and can't figure it out.

I've tried laydel with no luck (perhaps I'm using it incorrect)

I've tried qselect but I can't select but for the layers I'm trying to delete it won't select any objects. (It will select items on other layers).

I'm not sure if I've given enough info, if I can add anything let me know.

Thanks

Jon

AutoCAD MEP 2010

[christophe.legrand]

Hi,

If you can't delete this layer, it is because there is something inside.

Perhaps you can't see it because it's not a visual object.

If you are sure you can delete it, you can try to merge with another layer, and you can delete your layer.

[Slawomir_]

Answer is already in your post:

1. Layer 0 and Defpoints cannot be removed from drawing. It's impossible. They are in every drawing.
2. Currently active layer can't be removed. Make layer 0 current and then try again to remove layer.
3. If layer is assigned to one or more objects it can't be removed. Erase those objects or change their layers and then try again when layer is not assigned to any object.
4. If you have reference drawings their layers are visible when you click on reference drawing, in this example "workflow". To remove them, referenced drawing need to be detached.

See picture witch corresponding points.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Christophe and Slawonmir, 

So I can't delete a layer if there are objects inside of it?

I don't have a Defpoitns layer, but I do have a layer 0 and I'm not trying to delete that, so i don't think it is 1. Its not the active layer so it isn't 2. 

I don't have any xrefs so I don't think it is #4.

This leaves door number 3. I was googling assigning layers to objects. I didn't really get much, perhaps I'm using the wrong key words. How do I tell what objects have layers assigned to them. (Aren't objects assigned to layers?)

I'm not sure if this helps at all but the layers I can't delete will only be visible if layer zero is unfrozen...Does that make sense.

Thanks for helping out.

Jonathan

[Anonymous]

I used laydel and I get this message. So it is a problem with a layer referenced in block....How do I view which layers are used as references. I don't really get the concept of assigning layers to objects.

Thanks

[Slawomir_]

This message means that some Block definitions contain objects on Layer which you are attempting to delete. If you continue, you will erase certain objects from those blocks (not recommended), so they will be incomplete. What you can do: open block editor and select all and change to Layer 0 (recommended).

Options you can take:

Now, you can make use of QSELECT. It will let you different object types on layers you want to check.

PURGE. This command will automatically remove all layers that are unused.

To fast see what is on which layer use LAYWALK. Before that zoom to extents to see all.

[Anonymous]

I think I get most of that, I went to block -> edit block select current drawing.

This opened up the block editor, select all and move to layer zero.

QSELECT still however doesn't select anything on the layer I want (even though I can see stuff when I look at the layer).

Thanks for all your time. If there are some tutorials or whatever I should be referring to let me know. I've been getting things together off the net. I receive these files and have to edit them a bit before I export them into the program I'm used to.

Jonathan

[Slawomir_]

Do you select everything (Ctrl+A) before QSELECT?

You may find About Layer Management article worth reading.

Also below mentioned commands are valuable:

LAYMCUR

LAYCUR

LAYISO + LAYUNISO

LAYLOCK + LAYULK

VPLAYER

PS If some post solves your question, please accept it as solution. Thanks.

[Slawomir_]

Hi, have you found solution?

[kadmonkee]

make a copy of your problem file and follow these steps

try the WBLOCK command select all contents from this file to a new version of the same file, this may clean out any trash that has built up in the file, if that doesn't fix it then see instructions below.

if you have your model space active. delete all layout tabs and remove all reference files.

1. turn on thaw out and unlock all layers

2. select all objects in Model space 

3. confirm the properties of the layers are set to BYLAYER (color, Linetype, Lineweight and transparency.)

4. Layer Isolate the layer you are trying to delete. (if not allowed you may have nested entities)

5. go to quick select and select all blocks in your file - explode them, don't worry it is a copy of your file for research.

6. repeat Layer Isolate to confirm if anything is on that problem layer. it is possible that an element was nested on a layer inside a block.

7. after everything has been exploded run the PURGE command and purge all until nothing is left to purge.

8. if all that didn't work try using the QTEXT command and turn it on and do a regen all- sometimes a ghosted text element is on the layer and only by exposing the text box outline can you identify it.

[Slawomir_ · Accepted solution]

Hi, have you found solution or do you need further support?

[Anonymous]

Some of that worked. Enough for me to get what I needed to get done. Thanks for the help

Jon

[Slawomir_]

Thanks for feedback, but would be much better if you would mark "Accept as Soultion" post 3 or 6 for example. Just pick the post that answeres your question best. This would benefit other users in search for solution to similar problem.

Also I recommend to mark "Not the solution" for post 11th. It's obviously not a solution ; )

[Anonymous]

None of this works. I have this same probkem. Hour working on this..🤔

[arthur]

@Anonymous 

my guess is you're trying to get rid of the "nd" layer?

my process would be to:  set current layer to "0" - Zoom all - 

(1)  open up Layer Manager - turn off or freeze all but layer "0" and the layer you are trying to get rid of - find the objects that contain that layer - change the layer that the object is on to one that you are keeping - if the object is a block that contains that layer edit the block and change the layer of the objects contained in the block to a layer that you are keeping. close block edit, save changes.  "Purge".

(2)  lock all the layers except the one i'm trying to rid. - "Erase" -> "All"  - make sure you don't need that object.  if you do, change to a layer that you are keeping.  "Purge".

(3) see if there is an object in Paper Space that is on that layer - change the layer that object is on to one that you

are keeping. if you don't need anything in paper space, delete those tabs.  "Purge".

i also attached a link to neat little add-in that can sometimes catch and purge stuff you normally can't get.  i found this free add-in on Autodesk's App store.  it's not 100%, but it helps.

https://apps.autodesk.com/ACD/en/Detail/Index?id=3773138176974634673&appLang=en&os=Win32_64

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will try that.
Now. I am trying to figure out when doing a slab, after picking 4 points,
and hitting enter the slab disappears.
Happens with roof and stairs.

[arthur]

do you have this topic on another forum?  if not, it may be a good idea to start one that way you can get some good input.  ACAD MEP might not be a good place to find answers on architectural topics.

but to take a stab at it, are all your layers all turned on/defrosted? are those architectural feature's layer color really dark?  that's all i can think of so far.  

good luck

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I have a lot of problems. I'm using an old program. 3.3 On Windows
10. I'm lucky it works at all

[chrisP2E2U]

I just had this issue and solved it with the following:

Select everything in the drawing that you want to keep.

Use WBlock command.

Save a new file.

Open that file.

If you are having issues with XRef layers, check them and make sure they are moved to your new XRef layer.

Delete out your old layer that you want to get rid of.

That's it. Worked like a charm.