In SketchUp, LayOut is a powerful tool that allows you to create professional presentations, documents, and drawings. However, sometimes your LayOut file may become cluttered with unnecessary elements or suffer from performance issues. In such cases, purging LayOut can help optimize your file and improve its overall performance.
What is Purging in LayOut?
Purging in LayOut refers to the process of removing unused elements, styles, and other resources from your file. These unused elements can accumulate over time as you work on your project, increasing the file size and potentially slowing down LayOut’s performance.
Why Should You Purge?
Purging your LayOut file offers several advantages:
- Optimized Performance: By getting rid of unused elements, the file size decreases, resulting in faster load times and improved overall performance.
- Reduced File Size: Purging removes unnecessary data from your LayOut file, reducing its size and making it easier to share or store.
- Improved Organization: By removing unused styles or resources, you can keep your project more organized and focused on essential elements.
How to Purge LayOut
To purge LayOut effectively, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Your LayOut File
If you haven’t already done so, open the LayOut file that you want to purge. It’s always a good idea to create a backup of your file before making any significant changes.
Step 2: Access the ‘Document Setup’ Dialog Box
In the top menu bar of LayOut, click on ‘File’ and then select ‘Document Setup’ from the dropdown menu. Alternatively, you can use the shortcut Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+P (Mac).
Step 3: Navigate to the ‘References’ Tab
In the ‘Document Setup’ dialog box, click on the ‘References’ tab. Here, you’ll find a list of all the referenced files in your LayOut document.
Step 4: Review and Remove Unused References
Go through the list of references and identify any files that are no longer needed. Select these files and click on the ‘Remove’ button to remove them from your LayOut file. Removing unused references helps reduce file size and can improve performance.
Step 5: Clean Up Unused Styles
LayOut allows you to create custom styles for various elements such as text, dimensions, or tables. Over time, these styles can accumulate, even if they are no longer in use.
To clean up unused styles:
- Select a Page: In the Pages panel on the right side of LayOut, select a page where you want to clean up styles.
- Access the Styles Panel: Click on ‘Window’ in the top menu bar and select ‘Styles’ from the dropdown menu.
The Styles panel will appear.
- Purge Unused Styles: In the Styles panel, click on the small arrow icon in the top-right corner and select ‘Purge Unused’ from the options. LayOut will remove any styles that are not currently applied to any elements on your selected page.
Step 6: Save Your Purged LayOut File
After you have completed the purging process, save your LayOut file. It is recommended to save it with a new name or version, just in case you need to access the original file later.
Conclusion
Purging LayOut is an essential step in optimizing your files and ensuring smooth performance. By removing unused elements and cleaning up styles, you can reduce file size, improve organization, and enhance overall efficiency. Remember to make a backup before purging and regularly maintain your LayOut files to keep them running smoothly.