AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 DWG Format

[#1]

Situation:

I am currently updating and coming up with a better system for are plant layout file for AutoCAD. When this project is complete, it will be set up so if someone needs to make a change they can just make a copy of the X-Ref file for the area they will be updating and hand it back in when there done. I will review the updated X-Ref then switch out the old X-Ref file for the updated one.

Problem:

the problem I am having is when I am in the master drawing that contains all the X-Ref files, the layers list becomes enormous. There are about 30 to 40 different X-Ref files with 15 layers each. Those 15 layers contain the exact same information but you have to edit them individually.

Question:

Is there a way to make the 15 layers in the master effect the corresponding layer in all the X-ref files? For instance, you hide the “Machines” layer in the master and it hides the “Machines” layer in all the X-ref.

Side Note:

If you were going to make the suggestion “use Xbind” I’ve tried it and it doesn’t work well because “Xbind” creates a new layer you have to assign to things instead of making the layers relate to one another.

Thanks in advance for the help.

[#2]

Create Layer Property Filers from Layer Manager.  For example, a Filter named *Machine* would include all Layers with 'Machine' in their name, whether they are from XREFs or in the drawing.

[#3]

Thanks, that works way better and faster then what I had been doing. This works much better then doing things one by one.

There are still quite a few steps to it, especially for people who aren’t as fluent with AutoCAD and there will be a lot of people that aren’t as fluent that will be using this when it’s complete.

Steps required:

Open layer properties manager à click on the filtered group à select all layers in the filter à click the hide toggle switch.

Is there a way to make each filtered group in the layer properties manager shows up as a single item (one for Master I-Beams, one for Master Machine and so one.) in the drop down for the layers toolbar? (example: you click on the dropdown in the layers toolbar and Master I-Beam and Master Machine show up as something you can change around like a normal layer) that way its something everyone would be familiar with.

Desired Steps Required:

Click on the dropdown in the layers toolbar à toggle desired line property. (On/Off, freeze, lock, extra).

If this is not possible the properties filters suggested by ToanDN will work. I’m just trying to make things as simple for everyone that not familiar with this particular AutoCAD file.

[#4 · Accepted solution]

You can right click on a filter and change its visibility from the pop up menu.

If you want true layer merging, you could chnage the system variable BINDTYPE to 1 and bind the XREFs.  It would eliminate the "xref|" prefix from the layer names.  Drawback is that you would need to insert them in as block whenever they are updated.

[#5]

thanks, that minimized alot of work!

[#6]

Hi,

I want to suggest a way to how it works. I generally usings at the bind window not 'BIND' i always use 'INSERT'. Thus you will not meet with un unreconciled layer names. You will meet eith your total layer names. You should try it.

Good luck.