topic Re: automate merge layers || flatten layers in AutoCAD Forum

automate merge layers || flatten layers

mreavesLXYQU — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:09:29 GMT

My client's AutoCAD Admin maintains AutoCAD files with dozens of layers
My client's AutoCAD Admin would like to automate the merging / flattening of all layers with the exception of 1 or 2 specific layers.
Is there a way combine the "flattening" of layers with the "Save As" method? ...possibly a macro as might occur in a .VBA solution?

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

回复： automate merge layers || flatten layers

WeTanks — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 21:36:18 GMT

Please check below.

https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Merge-AutoCAD-Layers.html

Re: automate merge layers || flatten layers

paullimapa — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 02:56:19 GMT

one possibility would be to code a lisp function to cycle through every single object including those inside blocks and change the layer to a specific given layer name except the given specified layer names to not change. Then perform several purges to get rid of the remaining layer names that now have no objects on them.

Re: automate merge layers || flatten layers

TomBeauford — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 04:23:15 GMT

Few things to consider:

1. Properties of objects set to ByLayer - There are a few lisp out there to assign layer properties to the objects on them so they would display and plot the same after being merged to another layer.

2. It would no longer be able to control the display of objects with layers anymore, WYSIWYG!

Easy enough as long as you understand the consequences. I use it often for location maps required on cover sheets for project drawing. Rather than adding a bunch of layers I'll convert those location maps to display required objects with correct linetypes, colors & lineweights but with everything on layer 0.

There are others who convert them to images to insert as it's easier.

Re: automate merge layers || flatten layers

paullimapa — Sat, 01 Apr 2023 05:13:11 GMT

something similar to what @Kent1Cooper already did here:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/visual-lisp-autolisp-and-general/change-block-objects-to-layer-0-and-keep-objects-colors-and/td-p/9986023

Re: automate merge layers || flatten layers

pendean — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 13:38:18 GMT

... and don't forget about CHECKSTANDARDS and LAYTRANS commands, tools that exist for conforming to file format standards.