topic Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only in Libraries & objects

want to detect and remove unused objects only

dhaval7shah — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:21:16 GMT

How can i detect and remove unused library objects from ArchiCAD? is there any smarter way?
I wish, There should be a facility from Graphisoft to purge unused objects.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Dwight — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:13:07 GMT

Saving a project as an archive creates a library with only the objects used in the project.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

dhaval7shah — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:03:05 GMT

If it does, Thanks a lot!
If unused embedded objects are there , will they be included into Archive ?

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:15:46 GMT

Another way to do what you're wanting is to go into your Library Manager and delete the GDL objects listed. Close Archicad, then come back in. It will look for only the objects that are in your Archicad drawing.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

dhaval7shah — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 18:18:46 GMT

qwsoftdraw wrote:
Another way to do what you're wanting is to go into your Library Manager and delete the GDL objects listed. Close Archicad, then come back in. It will look for only the objects that are in your Archicad drawing.

yes, finally that is the way. Thank you.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Link — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:32:20 GMT

Simply removing a library part in the library manager and checking the library loading report is not enough IME. Neither is saving a Project Archive (.pla) There's no guarantee that all macros, UI images (the images used under the custom settings panel), linked textures, property objects, etc will all be included.

The safest way I have found so far is by using the ArchiCAD 14 new Library Manager features.

1. Firstly make sure there are no missing objects, macros etc which can generally be achieved by loading all libraries that were used in the project.

2. Export all the used objects to an external folder.

3. Remove all Linked libraries.

4. Embed all the exported parts by manually locating them in the external folder.

5. Reload & Apply the changes.

This method is not 100% foolproof but it is definitely the safest method I've found, especially if the libraries were well organized in the first place. I'm always looking for better ways and deeper insight so comments are welcome!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Greg Kmethy — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 22:58:04 GMT

This is really simple to do in ArchiCAD 14:
In the library manager there is a button for "embed placed objects from selected library". This will embed all the used objects (along with their macros) - and get rid of the linked library.

After this, you can choose to export those embedded objects to a linked library, if you will. Or you can keep them embedded - If you select an object in the embedded library, (in the library manager) the library manager will tell you how many instances are placed in the project. Therefore you can remove objects that you no longer use too.

Read this article:
http://archicadwiki.com/LibraryMigration

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Link — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 00:47:44 GMT

gkmethy wrote:
This is really simple to do in ArchiCAD 14:
In the library manager there is a button for "embed placed objects from selected library". This will embed all the used objects (along with their macros) - and get rid of the linked library.

After this, you can choose to export those embedded objects to a linked library, if you will. Or you can keep them embedded - If you select an object in the embedded library, (in the library manager) the library manager will tell you how many instances are placed in the project. Therefore you can remove objects that you no longer use too.

Read this article:
http://archicadwiki.com/LibraryMigration

Hey Greg

Thanks for correcting me. I was going by memory and got the order wrong. That will teach me for posting before my morning coffee. I should have written embed>export>re-embed. And I do like to export out and re-embed manually, purely because I don't like subfolders in my embedded library. I should mention that, even though it's not a necessary step.

The Library Manager does not show macros, textures, property objects, and UI images as placed - correct? Deleting those as suggested could cause confusion when parts stop working or appearing correctly, no? I presume that's why they embed to folders called 'Object parts (do not modify)' and' Textures, zone stamps and property objects'.

I wish instead that non-placeable parts were shown in italic, much like the 'embedded' attributes display in the Attribute Manager. This way it would be easier to know what to leave the hell alone.

Better still is if all used textures, zone stamps, property objects, macros and ui images (did I miss any?) were included automatically (eliminating the Embed Library Parts dialog shown below) and remained hidden in the Library Manager.

It's mentioned in your article and elsewhere that linking libraries reduces file size and saves loading time. I can see how it may bloat your file a little (ie. under 5% of the project size), but surely it's more manageable than linking libraries from all over the network? Is the loading time really affected if it's embedded or linked - they both have to come down the line right? And are linked libraries accessible to users who join remotely (I have never tried)?

Apart from embedded library parts appearing as duplicates in multiple hotlinks, I haven't seen any significant hit in terms of performance or methodology in using embedded libraries & server libraries only.

And unless I am imagining things, embedded parts are better to use because if they are copy/pasted into another project (that doesn't currently have that part loaded) it will automatically become embedded in that project, textures, macros, ui images, et al, all automatically included!!! That can't be said for linked or even server libraries!(?)

I'm obviously quite interested in this topic and your response.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

rjwilden — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:31:08 GMT

Typical I archive a project using "save as pla"
Are you suggesting that embedding is best and don't bother with the pla.
Or, embed and then save as pla.

Richard

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Link — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 04:50:06 GMT

Hi Richard

Well I really hope Greg replies as I'm certain he'd know more details than I do.

Maybe I've been burnt too often, but I just don't trust that saving a PLA will capture absolutely everything. I am sure saving an archive has come a long way, but even in ArchiCAD 14 I still get the dreaded (and frustratingly vague) 'Cannot find some library parts or internal macros' warning.

So until I am advised otherwise (perhaps embedded has the same problem but not the warning?), I am sticking with the embedded method. I am doing this even to migrate our current projects from ArchiCAD 13 to ArchiCAD 14 on our BIM Server.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Link — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 02:14:23 GMT

Still no reply, but I'd also like highlight add the following excerpt from page 258 of the GDL Reference Guide:

Warning: If string variables or parameters are used as macro names, the called macro may not be included in the archive project, unless the
“Include All Parts of Loaded Libraries” option is checked.

So it would seem that unless we include all loaded objects, whether they are used or not, there's no guarantee that they will be included in the PLA file.

Another reason to use the Embedded method?

Cheers,
Link.

Re: want to detect and remove unused objects only

Anonymous — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 12:41:24 GMT

10 years latter and no improvements in the library manager dialogue. No control of unused objects except workarounds that are not bulletproof. Is this fixed or improved in the latest version AC 23?