Is there a BUILT-IN way to delete all empty layers? (AI 2020)

[whamalamaboom]

Built-in meaning no scripts/plugins that I need to install. Is there an actual option or setting somewhere in cleanup that will automatically target empty layers? Kind of like the option to clean up unused panel items or empty text, etc. Thanks!

[Ton Frederiks · Accepted solution]

What's wrong with a script?

https://aiscripts.com/delete-empty-layers-script/

[Ton Frederiks]

Especially when it is written by the famous Carlos Canto!

[CarlosCanto]

specially!! hahaha

[Buck Rackley]

Thank you!

[Jamie Northrup]

It's laziness by Adobe that this isn't a basic, included feature of their software that's been on the market since 1985!

[rcraighead]

So, Actions are ok, but Scripts are a no no??

[Kurt Gold · Accepted solution]

Sometimes there are environments that do not allow using scripts or plugins. Therefore I think that this requirement is not necessarily beside the point.

Unfortunately, at the moment there is no straightforward built-in command to delete all empty layers. You could indeed cobble something together with an action, but probably this is not what you are looking for.

[whamalamaboom]

Thanks so much! It's a chore constantly checking if something just isn't a feature or if it's buried somewhere so it's it's nice to know what is and isn't there. 

[CarlosCanto]

is it less of a chore to delete empty layers manually than having to install a script?

[jerry000000]

My solution for this was selecting all layers and bring them all to front... all the empty layers will stay at the bottom .. so you can clearly see what should be deleted

[M_Raman]

I have encountered this problem when using Live Paint on objects from multiple layers.  Since the command moves all the elements from different layers into a single "live paint layer", I can see which layers are empty immediately following command.  Before I start painting, I delete all the empty layers.

This has been my method to maintain some level of control on the hundreds of layers and many empty ones.  Do not have a solution though for later on in the process.... I am going to watch this thread in the hopes that there is a way.

For example, in AutoCAD or Rhino software there is the "Purge" command the deletes empty layers.  

[Eugen236848424nb4]

Of course not, my friend. We are facing a dinosaur.