How can I delete an empty CAD family type?

[Anonymous]

I imported a CAD file and later deleted but it still on VG imported category section. Also, the viewport behaves like the CAD is still there. I can't find any DWG on any view nor in the purged unused dialog window. I have tried two different Add-ins solutions. The Purger Add-in couldn't find any DWGs and the CAD File Explorer Add-in was able to find only the CAD type but couldn't delete it. 

The way I understand the situation is that when you import a CAD file, Revit creates a family type associated to it. I have deleted the instances but, for some reason, the family type is still there and Revit don't allow its deletion.

How can I delete an empty CAD family type?

Thanks!

[RDAOU]

@Anonymous 

Select it using its element ID shown in the last image (unpin if necessary) and delete it ... Then Purge Unused

Manage > Inquiry > Select using Element ID

[syman2000]

I notice if one of the CAD layers are turned off in certain view, Revit will treat that as part of the change and won't let you delete the CAD. So you may want to check with view template to see if that CAD link have certain layer turn ON/OFF.

[Anonymous]

I was able to select using the element ID but couldn't do anything else. Couldn't delete it.

I found the solution! I'll post down below.

Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

I went through every single view and view template turning ON all the CAD layers but had no success.

I found the solution! I'll post it down below!

Thanks for the help!

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I found the solution!

Apparently, Revit won't let you delete a CAD type in your project if it's the last one. If you have any other CAD type loaded or imported, Revit will allow you to delete the one you want.

The solution was to bring another CAD file as a link, run CAD File Explorer and delete the CAD type I wanted, then remove the CAD link. 

I hope this can help others not to go through this headache!

[constantin.stroescu]

you ca do it easily by using Dynamo:

Bimorph Nodes package ( to identify the CAD files either linked or imported)+Archilab package ( to delete the file)

[RDAOU]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I found the solution!

Apparently, Revit won't let you delete a CAD type in your project if it's the last one. If you have any other CAD type loaded or imported, Revit will allow you to delete the one you want.

The solution was to bring another CAD file as a link, run CAD File Explorer and delete the CAD type I wanted, then remove the CAD link. 

I hope this can help others not to go through this headache!

---

That doesn't make sense...One can understand that Revit will not purge the imported categories if they are used in some views but cannot delete a dwg because it is the last instance?!

As far as I remember Revit had no restrictions on deleting last instance of an imported DWG file! someone should correct me if I am wrong

[Anonymous]

I agree with you, it does not make sense. I came to this solution when I was trying to find an older version of the file with an actual CAD instance, not just the type. On one of those project files I decided to run CAD File Explorer and delete the empty CAD type. To my surprise it worked! I noticed that I had other CAD imports on this file and I remembered something from the error dialog box pop-up when I tried to delete the first time. Check the print screen below and you'll understand.

I don't know if this is a Revit issue or a CAD File Explorer limitation.

[Anonymous]

Cool! I have no experience with Dynamo but I will certainly try!

Thanks!

[RDAOU]

@Anonymous 

I am not sure what this CAD File explorer is but that prompt you have is not Revit's  and it is definitely a plugin glitch. Revit has no such restriction (It has restriction on system families where you cannot delete the last instance in the browser but not imported CAD)

[tgoodwinX2SUJ]

This was, incredibly, the issue for me as well. Thanks.

[David125]

CAD.ReportInstances is no longer available, any suggestions. I'm reallllly new to Dynamo.