Deleting rogue layers

[Bruce]

I have some layers in my projects (5 separate stages of the same project linked via mod files) that I simply can't purge.

This is what I've done:
- Opened the mod file so there are no sections, elevations, details or worksheets to confuse the matter
- Changed all object layers to ArchiCAD
- Turned on all layers and done find and select for elements on rogue layers on every story
- Made sure there aren't any hotlinks, xrefs or drawings linked into the file
- Opened everything in 3D and tried find and select again just in case there were objects hidden between view planes.

Nothing. I just can't purge them (I can delete them, but I don't like doing that).

Is there a way to run a report on a layer to see what's using it?

[Anonymous]

Attribute Manager will report as used any layer that is the default setting for a tool.

[Bruce]

Yes - one of the steps I did was to set all tool layers to ArchiCAD (via the Active Layer option), so no tools are using created layers.

[Laszlo Nagy]

It is also possible that you have Favorites saved and those Favorites store the layer set for them.
You may want to check into that.

[Bruce]

I didn't know that one - but that's not applicable in this situation as these layers were created after all the favorites were set up.

Good one to keep in mind for future purging though.

[Anonymous]

The problem with purging layers in the Attributes is that it will probably select layers that belong in your office standard list, and these ones you might want to keep even though the project is not using it at the moment.

[Erwin Edel]

Have you checked your layout book + master layouts? (and details, worksheets and whatnot)?

[Bruce]

Layouts and Masters already checked - nothing.

Shingo: these particular layers do not belong to our office standard list, so no problem there.

[Link]

Hi Bruce

What are the layers? Not those pesky Cadimage layers that they hardcode in and force us to use against our will?

On that note, check all your add-ons and accessories (eg. RoofMaker) as well as default layers for Hotlinked modules, etc. They aren't all covered by Active Layer AFAIR.

Cheers,
Link.

[Bruce]

No, these are definitely project-specific and not part of any add-on.

To give a better understanding: I have five stages to the one project. The modules are hotlinked into the other stages (in progression, i.e. stage 1 doesn't have any other stages referenced, stage 2 only has stage 1 referenced etc) and placed on a master hotlink layer suffixed with a "STGx" where x is the stage number.

I am getting instances where (for example) STG2 is appearing in the stage 1 file, but there is nothing placed on that layer (yes, I've checked all the hotlinks and where they're placed). I've searched all stories, all sections, elevations, worksheet windows...nothing. Deleting the layer seems to have no ill effect, but I can't figure out why it won't purge - and I don't like deleting layers as there just may be something somewhere using it.

To my mind, if I could get a list of the layers and what is placed on them, that would close the loop in the process. But I don't think ArchiCAD can do that yet (but it wouldn't be too hard I imagine as the information is already in the file somewhere).