topic Re: Link Layout name to file name in AutoCAD Forum

Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Mon, 07 May 2018 12:25:56 GMT

Hello
Is there a way to link a layout name to the file name (so that if changes if I change the dwg name)? I am not able to make it a field and don't really know if it's possible.
Thanks

Re: Link Layout name to file name

ChicagoLooper — Mon, 07 May 2018 15:23:37 GMT

If you want the field that corresponds to the AutoCAD file such as, MyFavDrawing.dwg then you can use the field dwgname. You can insert the field into mtext or as an attribute in a block, simply RIGHT CLICK at the position of mtext where you want the field (or in the block editor where you'd normally type in a block attribute) select 'Insert Field....' from the shortcut menu. You can grab the field here:

Right click>Other>SystemVariable>dwgname.

Alternatively, click the application icon (big red A in upper left) then Drawing Utilities=>Drawing Properties=>Summary tab=>Title area>>>>>Type in your TITLE.Application>Drawing Utilities>Drawing Properties>Then Type your title here.

Click application icon (big red A in upper left) select Drawing Utilities=>Drawing properties=>Summary Tab=>Title

Type in any title (doesn't necessarily have to same as dwg name.)

To grab the title you just entered, treat it as a field by going here:

Right click>Insert Field and go here to get the itle.

As a bonus, when you right click the dwg file in a windows folder (you don't have to open it, just right click it) select properties and you'll see your title on the summary tab.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

john.vellek — Mon, 07 May 2018 16:07:55 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

This can be done in Sheetsets with the rename and renumber feature. If the drawing is not part of a sheetset then perhaps some searching through the Autodesk App Store might be fruitful There are many layout related tools.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

john.vellek — Wed, 09 May 2018 22:47:42 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem or question. Please mark my post as the solution if it resolved the issue or give me a bit more detail on this issue so we can continue to work towards getting this solved.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:39:00 GMT

Hello and thank you for your answer.

I managed to insert the field as a text somewhere in the drawing, but not as the Layout name.

Any ideas on how to do that?

Re: Link Layout name to file name

john.vellek — Tue, 15 May 2018 18:49:43 GMT

Hi @movieboxdv005,

That is actually pretty easy to do.

I made a video to show the steps:

Inert Field
Link it to Other/System Variables/Ctab

From there you can decide how the field should be formatted.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Tue, 15 May 2018 19:07:06 GMT

Thank you for your answer again.

I feel I didn't explain myself properly then.

In your video, you insert a field with the ctab name somewhere in the drawing. I'm trying to do the opposite: make the layout name change according to the filename. I thought that could be easily solved if inserting a field with the file name as the Layout name, but that doesn't seem to be possible.

I have a Lisp that does it, but would need something automatic as it'll be used in LT.

Thanks

Re: Link Layout name to file name

ChicagoLooper — Tue, 15 May 2018 20:03:33 GMT

Making the layout name match the filename wouldn't be useful nor practical. For example, if you have a single drawing with a filename MovieBox Skyscraper you may have four layout tabs, with each tab depicting a different view of the building, i.e. north view, south, east and west. As you can see, taking the filename MovieBox Skyscraper and applying it to each and every layout tab would be confusing

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Tue, 15 May 2018 20:21:16 GMT

Well, it's not up to me wether it makes sense or not. The thing is that we work with several drawings, each of them having one model and one and only one Layout. Actually, the purpose of this cames when generating the a pdf containing all the drawings, as we want (we are told to have) the bookmarks to be the filename of each drawing (which is an internal code we use). {And no, we can't all the drawings together in the same file, or any other solutions. We don't have that power haha}

As it doesn't seem possible to print without the Layout name (but you can print without the filename), a solution we thought was naming automatically the layout as the filename. Of course we could do this manually (which is not desirable, as we are talking about hundreds of drawings) or with a Lisp, but that's what we are trying to avoid. (I.E. if we insert a drawing, codes may change and we can easily rename the files with some random batch file renamer. But we would need the layout name to get uploaded too).

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 17:45:47 GMT

Did you ever find a solution to this? I am in the same situation.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 18:07:15 GMT

Something like ?

(command "_.LAYOUT" "_Rename" (getvar "ctab") (getvar "dwgname"))

Re: Link Layout name to file name

maratovich — Sat, 23 Mar 2019 07:08:15 GMT

Specify what you need. What is the purpose?
Attach your example file - whatever you want.

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:23:25 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Something like ?
(command "_.LAYOUT" "_Rename" (getvar "ctab") (getvar "dwgname"))

Thanks for the reply. This is close, I was hoping for something that changes when the file name changes. Also is there a way to remove the file extension?

Re: Link Layout name to file name

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 14:39:09 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Thanks for the reply. This is close, I was hoping for something that changes when the file name changes. Also is there a way to remove the file extension?

I do not know a way to make it possible.

Here is the code without the ".DWG "

(defun c:Test nil
  (command "_.LAYOUT" "_Rename" (getvar "ctab") (substr (getvar "dwgname") 1 (-(strlen (getvar "dwgname")) 4)))
  (princ)
  )

Re: Link Layout name to file name

masadSDNRX — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 05:54:29 GMT

Thanks a lot Mr. Chris

Re: Link Layout name to file name

darin_alexander — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 10:21:00 GMT

I see this thread is a few years old but the only result even close to my search...

New to AutoCAD and just started the 1st learning course. It looks like the files and "Step-by-step" visuals are from earlier versions?!

Is there a way to get the Drawing Tab to be the same as in the training videos and screen shots? All I am getting are sequential numbers each time a new tab is opened, even with drag and drop of the "acad.dwt" file provided in the download.

File Tab only shows "Drawing#" :

Re: Link Layout name to file name

cadffm — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 10:41:28 GMT

Hi ,

1. Open a .DWT file is for editing a template.

Your picture shows the acad.dwt, this is a standard Autocad template what should never edited!

Instead for editing standard defaults, create your own one.

>>"it looks like the files and "Step-by-step" visuals are from earlier versions?! "

Yes, the shape is different know.

>>"Is there a way to get the Drawing Tab to be the same as in the training videos and screen shots? "

The shape changed, you can not change it.

>>"All I am getting are sequential numbers each time a new tab is opened, "

Thats perfect!

You starting a new file (instead of your picture with an open .dwt file, ehich is for editing the template)

Drawing# is a temporary name for your new file, use SaveAs to save this new file fir the first time.

If you really want to EDIT a template(but please, not a standard pre set template), you have to go this way:

Command OPEN, change the file extension to .DWT, choose your .dwt you want to open.

How to save a new .dwt:

SaveAs, change FileExtension to .DWT

save your template .

Re: Link Layout name to file name

cadffm — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 10:46:21 GMT

Please share the Link to this video/course

because the part with the "1." In front of is bad/wrong.

Text is right and okay, but the picture with [acad.dwt] doesn't match the situation.

This is why you stumbled.

Drawing# is correct 👍

(File Tab Name)

darin_alexander — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:23:32 GMT

Thank you for the explanation!

LINK: Technical Drawing for Design and Drafting - Introduction to template creation | Autodesk

In the lesson an instructor shows how to use this file to create a clean new template file.
As mentioned originally, both Video and Screen shot Instructions show the "acad.dwt" tab but I could not get the tab name to match by following the instructions of "open a new" or "use the provided template file" with drag and drop. Use of "Open File" and browsing to the provided template "acad.dwt" was the only way I found to have the tab finally show the name as the lesson portrays.
Many steps are just the sound of clicks and not explained or shown clearly, making it difficult to realize the same results, rather important aspects for any beginning course.

Re: (File Tab Name)

darin_alexander — Sun, 26 Mar 2023 11:31:34 GMT

Btw... The next lesson continues with editing the "acad.dwt" file:

Technical Drawing for Design and Drafting - Create the AutoCAD template | Autodesk