topic Re: How to change the layer automatically in AutoCAD Forum

How to change the layer automatically

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 05:38:25 GMT

Background
I m doing an interior project
I have my own plotting style and specific layers to classify wall/furniture/facade/window ...etc

However, the architecture plan and fascade drew by another company will be slightly updated every week.

I do not want to change the layer from their file by hand every time. Their drawing have their own plotting systems and lineweight to classify window/fascade/wall..etc.

THE QUESTION IS HOW CAN I SWITCH THEIR LAYER TO MINE AUTOMATICALLY? THEN I CAN SAVE A LOT OF TIME

Re: How to change the layer automatically

imadHabash — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 05:48:01 GMT

Hi and Welcome to AutoDesk Forum,

i think Layer States Manager is your need.

Good Luck..

Re: How to change the layer automatically

Michiel.Valcke — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 06:55:05 GMT

The command LAYMRG (layermerge) should allow you to identify items on a single layer and change them all to the layer of your choosing. (in the mean time it also purges the original layer). This is not fully automated, but it allows you to do large groups of objects simultaneously without having to select them all.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

krzysztof.psujek — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 08:25:09 GMT

I think the best will be use Layer Translator (laytrans)

Manage tab CAD Standards panel Layer Translator
Tools CAD Standards Layer Translator

"The translation maps the layers in the current drawing to different layer names and layer properties in a specified drawing or standards file, and then converts them using those mappings."

Chris

Re: How to change the layer automatically

RobDraw — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 11:02:23 GMT

You should look into XREFs. Most people use them when they will be receiving changes to a part of the project that serves as a background to their work.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

Kent1Cooper — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 12:00:59 GMT

Assuming their drawings are Xref'd into yours, you can change the color of an Xref-dependent Layer, and have VISRETAIN set to keep it that way, and it should hold when the Xref'd drawing is updated.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

pendean — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:26:15 GMT

Who is the project lead? The project lead determines and controls all the aspects of the CAD file settings.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

RobDraw — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 13:31:09 GMT

@pendean wrote:
Who is the project lead? The project lead determines and controls all the aspects of the CAD file settings.

Not in my world. That would lead to chaos and CAD standards would cease to exist.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

pendean — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 14:56:32 GMT

You would use the Project Lead's (or owner's) standards: that's common practice in multi-discipline projects.

Their layers, their plot style tables, their "everything".

Re: How to change the layer automatically

RobDraw — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 15:13:46 GMT

@pendean wrote:
You would use the Project Lead's (or owner's) standards: that's common practice in multi-discipline projects.

Their layers, their plot style tables, their "everything".

Not in my world. In the public sector, sometimes, but never in the private sector. 99.9% of our projects, all of which are multi-discipline and multi-office are done to our standards. When we have needed to make adjustments to layer names, it wasn't done until the project was complete. We only have one client that dictates a larger text size than our standard. People have a hard enough time following our standards, never mind having to make adjustments from project to project.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

john.vellek — Thu, 14 Jul 2016 19:44:00 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Wlecome to the Autodesk Community!

It looks like there are some good answers in this thread.

Xref's might be useful as well as layer states if you want to change a bunch of layer colors or lineweights all at once.

When I have needed to actually change the incoming file to my standards on a repeated basis I use Laytrans.

It can be a bit painful to setup the first time but if the project layers stay fairly consistent it can be a great time saver as you can save the translation settings and reuse them later. This in combination with SETBYLAYER might be the way to go if you really need to change them to your standard.

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

Re: How to change the layer automatically

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 10:56:54 GMT

Thanks. This solutions help me a lot.

It's suitable for repeated actions

Re: How to change the layer automatically

RobDraw — Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:28:25 GMT

You may want to include the other people who contributed to the solution.

Re: How to change the layer automatically

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jul 2016 02:04:07 GMT

This helps me a lot! thanks=)

Especially the 'save' function. I can load and tran all those layers within 1 min.