Autodesk Certified Professional in AutoCAD for Design and Drafting Practice Exam

Which item cannot be purged when using the PURGE command?

1. Unused layers

2. Hatch patterns

3. Orphaned xrefs

4. Dimension styles

The correct answer is: Orphaned xrefs

When using the PURGE command in AutoCAD, it is important to recognize the specific items that can be purged. Orphaned external references (xrefs) are not included in the list of items that can be purged because they are still referenced in the drawing, even if they are not currently linked to an object. This means that the system maintains a relationship to these xrefs, preventing them from being purged. In contrast, unused layers, hatch patterns, and dimension styles can be removed through the PURGE command. Unused layers are layers that are not currently assigned to any objects within the drawing, making them eligible for deletion. Similar to layers, hatch patterns that do not exist in the current drawing will be purged and are not retained. Dimension styles that are not in use can also be purged from the drawing system. Overall, the PURGE command targets items that are completely inactive or unattached to any drawing elements, which is why orphaned xrefs, despite potentially being unwanted, are preserved in the drawing management system.