Delete ALL unused layers in a drawing

[Anonymous]

How do I delete all the garbage layers that are not being used in drawing files. This includes the OOB layers AutoCAD has created  and also all the layers from template files or file info copied in from some other group.

2015 in use

Dave Z.

[neilyj666]

A lot of seemingly empty layers may be associated with Styles and therefore won't delete readily using PURGE.

LAYDEL may be a radical option

[Anonymous]

I tried the "LAYDEL". It does not give me a window or an option to delete all layers that has no linework. Only the option on the command line to select a layer with a object.

[jefflambert9091]

If you don't want the unused styles, purge the styles and then the layers will purge.  

[Anonymous]

ok got it to work but it does not delete the layers that are OOB by AutoCAD.

[jefflambert9091]

Getting a bit dangerous, but you can co into the object layers and set the ones you don't need to 0.

[MMcCall402]

How about merging all the unwanted layers to layer 0.

[jefflambert9091]

Taking a walk on the wild side!!

[Pointdump]

Dave Z,

About how to get rid of them once you've opened a drawing, I dunno. But how about opening a fresh new template with only one layer--0? 

Dave S

[Anonymous]

Dave that idea has been bouncing around in my head. What happens when I create a surface or use any of the data modeling or piping networks. Does the file automatically create the layers it needs for those items.

Dave Z.

[Pointdump]

Dave Z,

"Does the file automatically create the layers it needs for those items."

You start off with one "Standard" Style in each category. Until you create more Layers, each Style only has Layer 0 to choose from.

Dave S

[Anonymous]

So you end up creating the layers on the fly......hummmm

[jefflambert9091]

If you are in a working drawing layers are part of the workflow. You just have to learn how to deal with them. Layer filters help. We have split our templates up by discipline which reduces the amount of layers. We purge styles once we are done with a drawing. If we need the styles back, we can get them through the style manager.

[nlewis1771]

That does not seem to be the case. Went: Manage Tab - Styles Tab - Purge - Purge all; Then purged layers, no luck.

[cwr-pae]

LAYDEL offers 2 option, select a layer by selecting an object is default. The other option is to select one or more layers from a list (type "n"). There is also this utility you can use to find and replace layers with in styles, the you can generally  delete the layers by purging.

[wfberry]

If you don't have the layers then you probably don't have the styles.  Just act like regular AutoCad and go for it.

Frankly I have been using Civil 3D for over 10 years and all these extra layers don't seem to be a problem.

Bill

[Anonymous]

The extra layers are not realy a problem untill you start adding several xref files. We have some files with 4,000+layers listed.

[Joe-Bouza]

Select and merge to the layers you want.

Then save to template for qnew

[wlewis]

Remember that any blocks that were copied in from other files (that were not created on layer 0) will cause that layer to remain until the block is purged as well.

[g_k50]

Here's an Idea to consider, start a "No Template - Imperial" drawing.  Wblock the linework you want and insert into the "No Template-Imperial" drawing.