topic Re: Renaming Multiple Layers in AutoCAD Forum

Renaming Multiple Layers

mde320 — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 22:24:15 GMT

I have inherted a lot of drawings that have no consistend CAD Standards (ex. National CAD Standard). The layer names are so individual until they have no consistency what so ever. I am somewhat familiar with the RENAME command in AutoCAD. However, this appears to only work when you are renaming a long list of layers that consistantly have the same naming schema.

Is there a way I can globally rename a long list of layers with different schemas to have the same schema without totally loosing the drawing?

Thx Everyone

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

h_s_walker — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 14:21:16 GMT

How are the layers named and what do you want to rename them to?

I get drawings sent to us from clients and I consistently rename all the information in the client's drawing with CLIENT at the front.

To do this in the rename dialog box I use * in the OLD NAME box and CLIENT * in the RENAME TO box.

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

Patchy — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 15:15:54 GMT

Do you use LAYTRANS ??

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

mde320 — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 19:21:32 GMT

On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 9:21 AM, Autodesk Community <community-no-reply@autodesk.com> wrote:

Hi mde320,

hwalker (*Expert Elite*) posted a new Reply in AutoCAD 2010/2011/2012 on 01-08-2015 06:21 AM:

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

How are the layers named and what do you want to rename them to?

Existing Layer Names ex. 1:

BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-ANNO-TEXT
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-AREA-SPCE
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-CLNG-LITE-N
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-DETL-FINE
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-DETL-MEDM
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-DOOR-N
BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$A-FLOR-PATT-N

Existing Layer Names ex. 2:

2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-EQMT-HVAC
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-EQPM
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-FLOR
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-FLOR-CASE
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-FLOR-PATT
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-FURN-CHAR
2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/A-FURN-FILE

New Desired Layer Names which follow the National CAD Standards:

A-ANNO-TEXT
A-AREA-SPACE
A-CLNG-LITE-N
A-DETL-FINE
A-DETL-MEDM
A-DOOR-N
A-FLOR-PATT-N

When using RENAME or LAYERTRANS I have one main concern. My drawings are linked to Archibus by way of Polylines. When I change a large set of layer names that are tied to drawing elements that are polylined, will my polylines get wiped from the Archibus database?

Thx

hwalker

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

h_s_walker — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 09:13:42 GMT

I've never heard of Archibus so cannot help there. As to renaming your layers it's simple

For the first set of layers in the OLD NAME BOX put BL-04__Arch/FP-04$0$FP-04$0$*

And in the RENAME BOX just put *

Similarly for the second set of layers in the OLD NAME BOX put 2014__Update_BL1-A-FP03/*

And in the RENAME BOX just put *

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

Mistress0fTheDorkness — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 18:12:01 GMT

As HWALKER said, find and replace is your friend in cases of bound x-refs causing those longer layer names. (I believe if you bind as a block instead of binding as insert, you won't get those.)

I'm not entirely certain of the effect in Archibus. I think the layer names should only be an issue if they contain objects mapped to the archibus database (such as room polylines).

I don't think any of the currently posted questions will help you, but, just in the future if you want to post questions about it, you'll find more archibus users on the following forums than you will here:

http://forums.augi.com/forumdisplay.php?519-Facilities-Management-In-Practice

http://www.archibus.com/forum/threads.cfm?forumid=3E4A42C7-FD46-373A-99851CB500FC237C

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

Anonymous — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 19:24:10 GMT

use wild card characters.

Example:

old names:

S-F-BLD-WALL
S-F-BLD-FDN
S-F-BLD-REINF

Rename to:
S-N-BLD-WALL
S-N-BLD-FDN
S-N-BLD-REINF

Type
RENAME
Old Name: S-F*
Rename To: S-N*
Click OK

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

Ryan_JacksonYTJDJ — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 14:51:33 GMT

This was exactly what I was looking for!

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

RSomppi — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 16:38:11 GMT

@mde320 wrote:
The layer names are so individual until they have no consistency what so ever.

I see consistency. The long prefixes are from XREFs that have been bound to the drawing. Did you receive them that way? If you did the binding, you have an option to eliminate the prefixes.

Re: Renaming Multiple Layers

Anonymous — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 14:54:10 GMT

Perfect. 👌