[Imported] Identifying used objects in a group for system clean ups or distribution.

[sbeadle]

>>Message imported from previous forum - Category:Scripts and Tips<<
User: ROVSCADAENGINEER, originally posted: 2019-02-05 22:39:02 Id:360
Lets say I want to delete a bunch of groups. But I need to first determine that the group does not contain any objects that are being used in the group or referenced by templates. I am guessing the only way to do this would be to run an object search with that group parent folder name and then apply a filter of sorts.

It seems that when you check references on the system of groups it does not return any even when there are objects in that group which are being referenced. This is due to the direct reference of that group as the object itself yes?

[sbeadle · Accepted solution]

>>Responses imported from previous forum

Reply From User: geoffpatton, posted: 2019-02-06 15:40:09
The only thing I have gotten to work is to select a group press delete and see what reference warnings it has.
If you have scripts that could be referencing things in that group you have to check those on your own.
The reference functionality is not able to read/edit the scripts.
Same thing applies if you move something, all references are updated except in scripts.

Reply From User: tfranklin, posted: 2019-02-06 18:19:31
You could probably take advantage of the References method in the automation interface and do some pairing up with the result set. Have a process run and get the reference count for each object and then use the results in conjunction with the full path to build some form of a hierarchy to output and visualize.

Once you get a list of all objects, how many, and what references it you can get pretty clever with how to use the data. Ex: Make a giant ugly "web" chart or whatever they're called where you see each object as a node and doodle a line to connect it to all objects that it references.

Reply From User: ROVSCADAENGINEER, posted: 2019-02-07 03:36:33
as always excellent methods guys. cheers!