Layout file still huge after deleting all referenced models. No purge function?

[jason9]

Hello.

I’m struggling with how to best work with Layout with it getting bogged down with spinning beach balls.

It seems that once Layout imports a model you’re stuck with it bloating up the file size even if you delete it. fyi my SketchUp model is ~60 MB. However I did import other models as well (small structures) and a couple of newer versions of the original model which I did by re-linking in the Model window. The Layout file ultimately ballooned to 300+ MB.

As I discovered in these forums, I’m able to rename the Layout file as .zip, unzip it and open enclosed ref folder. I had 6 separate model files in there even though I deleted them in the Layout file.

In the hope of reducing the LO file size manually, I deleted all of model copies in the ref folder, re-zipped the whole thing, renamed it .layout and tried to open it but I got “The document “…” could not be opened.

One reason I deleted all the model files in my Layout document was to create a lean template with just my graphic elements. The only way I knew to do this was to copy/paste all the graphics into a new Layout document which is kind of a hack way of doing it.

Am I missing a way to right-size a Layout file? If I have a new file of my same model, do I need to rename that file to the same filename that Layout is referencing so Layout doesn’t import and hold onto both old and new models?

btw regarding optimizing Layout performance I’m aware of using the following options:

• Model window: Raster/Vector/Hybrid screen rendering option
• Preferences>Performance: Enable Draft Mode and Enabling Experimental Graphics Engine
• Document Setup>Rendering: Display Resolution>Viewports & Images

[ateliernab]

Document Setup>References

at the bottom there is a purge button.

[DaveR]

@jason9

It seems that once Layout imports a model you’re stuck with it bloating up the file size even if you delete it.

If you’ve deleted every viewport tied to the SketchUp model you can purge the reference in Document Setup>References.

@jason9

In the hope of reducing the LO file size manually, I deleted all of model copies in the ref folder, re-zipped the whole thing, renamed it .layout and tried to open it but I got “The document “…” could not be opened.

Yeah. If you destroy the contents of the LayOut file you would get that.

@jason9

The only way I knew to do this was to copy/paste all the graphics into a new Layout document which is kind of a hack way of doing it.

That’s actually not a “hack way” of doing it. Copying only what you want to keep and pasting it in a fresh file is the best way to prevent any unwanted overhead.

@jason9

Am I missing a way to right-size a Layout file?

A huge part of that is to ensure your SketchUp models are “right-sized”.

@jason9

If I have a new file of my same model, do I need to rename that file to the same filename that Layout is referencing so Layout doesn’t import and hold onto both old and new models?

No. You should be able to simply relink the reference and it will be replaced.

Share your LO file so we can see what you’ve got.

[jason9]

Thanks for the point-by-point response. Document SetUp > References purge did the trick. Thank you and ateliernab. Much appreciated to you both for such a quick response