Delete AEC Proxy Objects?

I have many drawings created in Autocad products that contain (invisible) proxy objects, including my templates that were brought over when I transitioned to Bricscad. I would like to remove them, but have no access to an Autocad program so can't use the AECTOACAD command on them. Does anyone have a lisp or other method for removing them? I've had no luck searching the web for answers that apply to Bcad.

Comments

  • Purge all, audit, save, then WBLOCK to a new drawing after selecting the objects you want to keep.

  • This appears to only work as long as all the entities one wants to retain are visible in the drawing and can be selected. What I need to delete the proxy elements from are mostly templates, which have nothing in the drawing, but many layers, blocks and dimension styles. These don't come through even if "entire drawing" is selected to write block. Unless there is a lisp or something out there that does the removal, I guess I'll have to recreate the templates.
    Thanks for your suggestion.

  • I’ve often been plagued by dwg s received with proxy objects created by Autodesk vertical products.
    (Important entities merely displaying as “squares” with cryptic text in the borders).
    The only workaround I’ve found is DL & open the offending file with the free DWG TrueView.
    From there, I can view and save the dwg & objects as dwg entities.
    Downside: TrueView is a horribly swollen / bloated program (790Mb!).
    I’ve found no third party alternative (which I would happily pay $ for).

  • @Jeff King:
    A Lisp solution may be possible. In some cases removing proxy objects is as simple a deleting a single dictionary. Can you post a dwg?

  • thanks for your offer, Roy.
    See the posted drawing. It is a topographic survey drawing received from a land surveyor. There are proxy objects, but they do not show in the drawing.

    Topo.dwg 451.7K
  • @Jeff King:
    Apart from proxy objects your drawing also contains numerous dictionaries related to AutoCAD verticals.

    To get rid of the proxy objects:
    All these are in model space so you can use the _QSelect command to select and then _Erase them.

    To get rid of the dictionaries:
    Create a _WBlock from the drawing using the 'Entire drawing' as the 'Block Source'.

  • Roy,
    that worked, thank you. For me, the qselect filter was the key. Since I couldn't see the proxy objects even though I checked the "show proxy graphics" on opening the file, I thought there was no way to select them.

  • Anthony Apostolaros
    edited February 2018

    How were you able to select the proxy graphics?
    I see nothing about proxy graphics on the Command Reference page that Roy linked to.
    I opened your file, checking "show proxy graphics," and then opened Qselect, but I didn't see proxy graphics listed.

    Oh, I see it now.
    I used Ctrl-A to select all 2717 entites, which gets the proxies too, not just the 2534 entities I can select with a window or crossing,
    then the pull-down arrow to focus on the 183 proxy entities,
    then I switched from Properties to Quick Select,
    and there I clicked on the "Add to new selection set" icon.

  • A,
    that was my problem also, I couldn't see the proxies even if I checked the "show proxy graphics". I found I didn't have to select anything first, just pull the drop down and picked proxy entities, then add to selection set.

  • Oh, yes, I see that now too. If you go directly to the QuickSelect panel, the pull-down box already lists all the entities in the tab, without having to do a Select-All.
    That QuickSelect panel is a very nice feature.

  • And what about proxy objects which doesn't allow copying, erasing or WBLOCK command?

  • Old topic, but another option is to save as DXF which converts the objects and enables selection and erasing.
    I saved as DXF release 12 and then i was able to delete proxy objects and save back as dwg

  • Didn't clear all the proxies for me. But it lead me to another solution after I finally understood what the Proxies are.
    The solution that worked for me was to export the dwg to a dwg in File - Export.
    The beauty of this is that I keep all my xrefs etc. and layouts.

  • There is a free tool in the application catalogue you could try called Zombie killer
    https://www.bricsys.com/applications/a/?zombiekiller-a1308-al2286

    Regards,
    Jason Bourhill
    BricsCAD V21 Ultimate
    CAD Concepts

  • I did not know what Proxy Objects are but remember to get
    the warning dialog when opening files from time to time.

    So searched and found an explanation :

    Proxy Objects

    A proxy object is a substitute for a custom object when the ObjectARX application that created the custom object is not available to AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, or other host applications. Later, when the application is available, the proxy object is replaced by the custom object.

    Proxy objects have significantly reduced capabilities compared to their corresponding custom objects. The extent to which proxy objects can be edited is determined by the parent ObjectARX application. For example, operations such as erasing and moving an object, or changing object properties, may or may not be possible on a proxy object, depending on the application that created it.

    When you open a drawing, you might see a Proxy Information dialog box. The dialog box tells you the total number of proxy objects in the drawing (both graphical and nongraphical) and the name of the missing application and provides additional information about the proxy object type and display state. You can use the dialog box to control the display of proxy objects.

    Interesting that it may not be allowed or possible to delete them.

  • DrJan
    edited January 2023

    There is a free tool in the application catalogue you could try called Zombie killer
    https://www.bricsys.com/applications/a/?zombiekiller-a1308-al2286

    Regards,

    Jason Bourhill

    BricsCAD V21 Ultimate
    CAD Concepts

    I have downloaded and installed zombiekiller but ... it doesn't work it just installs in a folder:
    "C:\ProgramData\gileCAD\BricsCAD ZombieKiller" and there is no connetion with BC. Some dll files, can't appload them... Looks like a spam or possible malware...

    Has anyone tried that one?
    There is no txt file...

    Cheers
    Jan
  • loadapp [C:\ProgramData\gileCAD\BricsCAD ZombieKiller] ZombieKiller.dll

    for me it works perfectly
  • DrJan
    edited January 2023
    lgxavier said:

    loadapp [C:\ProgramData\gileCAD\BricsCAD ZombieKiller] ZombieKiller.dll

    for me it works perfectly

    I have managed to get in touch with the plugin author Gilles Chanteau, very helpful person unfortunately "ZombieKiller is .NET plug-in which is not supported by BricsCAD Lite. NET programmation requires BricsCAD Pro or upper."
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