How to Purge Deleted Blocks in AutoCAD?

Understanding Purging in AutoCAD

Purge commands are essential to keeping your AutoCAD drawing clean and optimized. Unused blocks, layers, and other objects can clutter your workspace, causing potential performance issues and confusion during design work. This guide outlines a systematic approach to purging deleted blocks in AutoCAD.

Steps to Purge Deleted Blocks in AutoCAD

Step 1: Access the Purge Command

1. Open AutoCAD and load the relevant drawing.
2. At the Command prompt, type PURGE and hit Enter. This will open the Purge dialog box, where you can manage different erasers.

Step 2: Review Available Items to Purge

1. The Purge dialog box will display various categories of items, including blocks, dimensions, layers, and more. These are the items that can be purged.
2. Uncheck any category you do not wish to review. For instance, if you’re only interested in blocks, uncheck other categories.

Step 3: Identifying Unused Blocks

1. Expand the block tree in the Purge dialog to view specific blocks.
2. Look for blocks marked as “Unused.” These are candidates ready for purging.
3. If you have custom blocks that are not appearing, use the “Find Non-Purgeable Items” option to identify blocks that cannot be deleted.

Step 4: Select Blocks for Purge

1. Click on the blocks you wish to purge. To select multiple blocks, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking.
2. Once you’ve selected all desired blocks, review your list to ensure no essential blocks are included.

Step 5: Execute the Purge Command

1. After selecting the blocks, click the “Purge” button within the dialog box.
2. A prompt will appear asking you to confirm the purge action. Type Y (Yes) to proceed.

Step 6: Confirm the Purge Process

1. Once the purge is complete, review the list again to ensure that the desired blocks have been removed.
2. You may run the PURGE command again if necessary to confirm there are no remaining unused items.

Additional Tips

• Regularly executing the purge command can help maintain performance.
• Always save your drawing before purging, in case you accidentally remove something you need.
• Familiarize yourself with the attributes of blocks before purging. Some blocks may appear unused, but they could be linked to other elements in your drawing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I undo the purge action in AutoCAD?
No, once you confirm the purge, the action cannot be undone. Always save your drawing before purging.

2. How do I identify non-purgeable blocks?
You can find non-purgeable items by expanding the block tree in the Purge dialog and using the “Find Non-Purgeable Items” option.

3. What are the differences between purging and deleting in AutoCAD?
Purging removes unused items from the drawing entirely, while deleting simply removes selected objects from the current session. Purging also eliminates multiple types of objects in one go.