topic Maximum Layers Possible? in AutoCAD Forum

Maximum Layers Possible?

LispResearch — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 07:21:18 GMT

Hello,

I have a curiosity question. I and my colleague have an argument about how many layers can be in one autoCad file? I found in some other forum's thread that maximum is 32767 layers - am I right? I could not find formal technical fact about this characteristic.

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

imadHabash — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 07:59:03 GMT

Hello LISP research,

yes... the number you mentioned 32767 is right you can find it from help command (maxsort) system variable.

The value of MAXSORT is an integer between 0 and 32767.

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

LispResearch — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 09:25:00 GMT

Thank you,

but I have a doubt that maxsort is a limit. because there in help is written that: "If the total number of items, also called named objects, exceeds this value, no items are sorted." so it means that theoretically it can be greater, but it will not be sorted - means only this function will not work with greater number of items.

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

Alfred.NESWADBA — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:16:01 GMT

Hi,

>> I found in some other forum's thread that maximum is 32767 layers

Which thread have you found with this statement?

Just to test this I have created a small loop which created 100000 layers (using AutoCAD 2016 64bit), no problem (besides of performance issues, e.g. when loading the drawing or opening the layer-manager).

It might crash with that amount of layers, and I also don't know the real limit, but it was possible to create 100k layers.

The more important question is can anyone work with drawings with that amount of layers and the killing performance in that case.

Can you describe the reason when and whatfor you need such an amount of layernames?

- alfred -

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

nrz13 — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:42:42 GMT

I can't even imagine how horrible the performance would be with that many layers. The Layers Property Manager bogs down as it is with 200 layers.

So it seems there's no limit for unsorted layers and 32,768 layers sorted (starting from 0 instead of 1 gives you an extra layer in the count).

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

pendean — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 12:54:20 GMT

Why not run a quick LISP loop that creates random layers and find out 🙂

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

LispResearch — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:44:46 GMT

Hello Alfred, the reasin is that we had an argue with my colleague he firstly said that probably the maximum amount of layers is probably 250, and I decided to search the internet.

wow, now I see that it can hve more than even I thought. but is there a limit?

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

LispResearch — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 14:47:43 GMT

I think my notebook will explode during this loop

Re: Maximum Layers Possible?

pendean — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 20:08:25 GMT

... but it would settle the discussion with your colleague 🙂