How to Delete Block in Draftsight?

Understanding Block Management in Draftsight

Blocks are essential components in Draftsight that allow users to organize and streamline their drawings. To maintain a clean working environment, it’s often necessary to remove these blocks, especially those that are no longer in use. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to effectively delete blocks in Draftsight.

Steps to Delete Blocks in Draftsight

Step 1: Accessing the Purge Command

1. Open Draftsight: Begin by launching your Draftsight application and opening the drawing file that contains the blocks you wish to delete.
2. Navigate to Drawing Utilities: Go to the application menu, find and select Drawing Utilities.
3. Select Purge: From the Drawing Utilities menu, click on Purge. This opens the Purge dialog box where you can manage unneeded elements.

Step 2: Identifying Unused Blocks

1. Display Purgeable Items: If prompted, ensure that the Purgeable Items option is selected. This shows you a list of blocks, layers, and other entities that can be purged from your drawing.
2. Review the List: Look through the list of items and identify blocks that you want to remove. Blocks that are not currently used will be marked as available for purging.

Step 3: Selecting Items to Purge

1. Check Blocks to Delete: Click to select the specific blocks you want to remove. You can select multiple blocks if necessary.
2. Confirmation Prompt: As you select each block, the software may ask you to confirm your selection, ensuring that you want to proceed with the deletion.

Step 4: Executing the Purge Command

1. Purge Selected Items: Once you have selected the blocks, click on Purge Checked Items to execute the command.
2. Final Confirmation: You may receive a final prompt confirming your action. Approve it to finalize the deletion.

Step 5: Closing the Purge Dialog

1. Complete the Process: After purging, you will have the option to select more items or simply close the dialog. Click Close to exit the Purge window.
2. Verify Deletion: It’s good practice to review your drawing to ensure the unnecessary blocks have been removed successfully.

Additional Tips for Block Management

• Regular Maintenance: Frequently purge your drawings to keep them optimized and free of unused blocks, which can slow down performance.
• Backup Drawings: Before conducting a purge operation, consider creating a backup of your drawing files to safeguard against accidental loss of crucial elements.

FAQs

1. What happens to a block once it is purged?
Purge removes the block from the drawing and the block definition from the drawing database. It cannot be recovered once purged unless you have a backup file.

2. Can I undo the purge action?
No, the purge command is final and cannot be undone. It is recommended to back up your files before purging anything to prevent losing important blocks.

3. Are there any blocks that cannot be purged?
Yes, some blocks may not be purged if they are referenced or currently in use within the drawing. You will need to clean up or release those references before they can be purged.