Understanding the Importance of Purging in MicroStation
Purging a drawing in MicroStation is a crucial maintenance step for keeping your project files efficient and manageable. Over time, design files can accumulate unnecessary elements like unused levels, linestyles, and cells that can bloat the file size and affect performance. Streamlining your design with a purge can help alleviate these issues, leading to improved load times and responsiveness.
Step-by-Step Guide to Purging a Drawing in MicroStation
Step 1: Open the Design File
Begin by launching MicroStation and opening the design file you wish to purge. Navigate through the File menu and select “Open.” Locate your drawing file and confirm that it loads completely.
Step 2: Access the Level Manager
To check for unused levels, go to the “Levels” dialog. You can find this under the “Tools” menu or by typing “Level Manager” in the key-in field. This dialog lists all the levels currently in use, along with their status.
Step 3: Review and Delete Unused Levels
Go through the list of levels and identify any that are not being used in your drawing. You can hide levels that are currently in use to focus on those that are not. To delete an unused level, select it and click on the “Delete” button. Confirm any prompts to ensure these levels are permanently removed.
Step 4: Remove Unused Linestyles
Next, you should examine the linestyles in your design. Access the “Line Style Editor” from the “Element” menu. Open this dialog and check under the “File” menu for any styles not actively in use. Select the unused linestyles and click “Delete” to remove them from your file.
Step 5: Purge Unused Cells
For cleaning up unused cells, navigate to the “Cells” dialog via the “Elements” menu. Here, you will see a list of all shared cells. Like before, identify any cells that are not present in your design. Select these cells and click the “Delete” button to remove them.
Step 6: Optimize Raster Images
If your project includes raster images, use the “Raster Manager” found in the “File” menu. This tool allows you to examine raster files attached to your design. Remove any raster images that are not being utilized by selecting them and using the “Detach” option to clear them from your drawing.
Step 7: Save Your Changes
After completing the purge, it’s essential to save your changes. Go to the “File” menu and choose “Save” or “Save As” if you wish to create a new version. This action ensures that all purged items are permanently eliminated from your project file.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is there a way to automate the purging process in MicroStation?
Yes, you can create and use macros to automate certain tasks, including purging elements from your drawings. Consider scripting these processes if you frequently purge files to save time.
2. Will purging affect any existing views or layouts in my drawing?
Purging only removes items that are not currently used in your active design file. Existing elements in your views and layouts will remain unaffected as long as you do not delete those actively in use.
3. Can I recover items after purging them from my drawing?
Once items are purged, they cannot be recovered from the drawing. It is advisable to create a backup of your design file before purging to prevent accidental loss of features or styles that might be required in the future.
