topic Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display in AutoCAD Forum

Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

MartinIsAMartian — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 19:58:12 GMT

Hey all, I've searched for an answer, but no results. So I figure it is time to ask.

Is it possible to change the "Name"/Number color which is the color that displays in model space in a CTB? I am looking to build a CTB that indicates the plot color and the line thickness based on the "Name"/Number using the following formatting;

Color 1 - Color 9: Plot Color = Black, Lineweight = Varies

Then,

If ones unit = 0 > Plot Color = Use Object Color, Lineweight = .2489mm

Ex) Color 80 = Use Object Color, 0.2489mm

If ones unit = 1-9 > Plot Color = Black, Lineweight matches ones unit

Ex) Color 81 = Black, 0.1245mm

I only want there to be one shade for every color in the CTB. That way we can assign plot styles by color and we will inherently know how the object will plot without having to memorize the randomly assigned plot styles for different colors.

I think the attached screenshots will help explain.

I recognize that a .stb would provide a similar solution. In our instance a .ctb would be the more simple, and therefore better solution to implement.

Thanks for your brain power.

Cheers!

Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

pendean — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:23:35 GMT

I have to ask @MartinIsAMartian Did you even try it (see image)? because, well, maybe I should not spoil it for you... hint: hold SHIFT key down as you select the first then the last in that row (basic Windows selection method)

Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

paullimapa — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:24:52 GMT

The 255 AutoCAD Color Index is just that each number represents its own color.

So you cannot assign a group of color numbers to display the same color on the screen.

Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

MartinIsAMartian — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 20:35:46 GMT

@paullimapa , Thank you for clarifying that. I appreciate it

@pendean It seems you either did not understand my question, or you want to assume I am so incompetent that I do not understand how to shift select multiple objects and apply a change to all selected objects simultaneously. Regardless, I recognize you regularly contribute valuable information to this community and I appreciate that. But on this one, come on....I don't think your motive was to be helpful.

Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

pendean — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 21:08:27 GMT

@MartinIsAMartian wrote:

... I don't think your motive was to be helpful.

It was, and it was very limited to the one single query you had about editing multiple in one go, nothing more at all.

Then I encouraged you to do your own testing AKA teaching you to fish. Discover on your own. Then you would not have posted, or if you still wanted to, you would have shared your CTB file and DWG file and showed you truly tried on your own, put in the time and effort.

Maybe you did do all of that, but there was no evidence of it. And you chose not to share.

My 2cents worth: It might also be worth exploring STBs, or LWEIGHT command, as other built-in options that your need can be molded into using. Work within the program's tools.

Re: Chnage CTB Model Space Color Display

TomBeauford — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:35:16 GMT

The better and only simple solution would be to use an STB with a small handful of Plot Styles along with assigning Lineweights ByLayer.

While odd you could assign a Plot Style a shade of Green and assign it to colors 80 thru 89 as shown in your 1st attached image.

Also wanting color 83 assigned the color Black as you show in your next attached image makes no sense, you need to make up your mind what color you want it to plot with either a CTB or an STB!

Simply assigning Lineweights ByLayer allows you to toggle the lineweight display Off/On with a click of the mouse and the lineweight values could be seen in the Layer Manager and assigned with Layer States.

While STB are efficient they require more of a commitment as their Plot Styles need to be assigned to layers and objects to plot correctly. You're better off mastering CTBs before experimenting with STBs.