topic Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK in AutoCAD Forum

AutoCAD 2022 - Dimlayer setting to 'use current' doesn't work

803007527 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 12:45:53 GMT

our team of 10 people have just upgraded from autocad 2014 to 2022 but we are all experiencing the same issue. when we draw a dimension (in paperspace) it doesn't use the current layer. instead, it creates a new layer called `use current' and becomes that layer. we have followed all the help advice which tells us to set dimlayer to `use current' and go to the annotation tab and set that to `use current' but it appears to not be working as expected. we have tried changing the dimlayer setting to our own layer names but that too. just reverts back to `use current' and creating this new layer. very grateful if anyone can help with this problem.

[ The subject line of this post has been edited for clarity by @handjonathan Original: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK ]

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

pendean — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:50:16 GMT

From your description alone, instead of providing the symbol . (aka a period symbol) for the DIMLAYER prompt, someone over there literally wrote USE CURRENT so that is what you are all seeing

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

imadHabash — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 17:59:47 GMT

Hi,

Try to use dot ( . ) instead of writing "use current" when Dimlayer command is active.

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

803007527 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:15:22 GMT

Thank you for giving me something else to try! Unfortunately, I tried typing just . at the command prompt for DIMLAYER and it is still doing the same thing;
I even tried it on a brand new drawing. Just on trying a dimension, it still creates a new layer calling itself use current
[cid:image003.jpg@01D908E6.364FCCC0]
and then the properties of the dimension just drawn says it's layer is use current.
[cid:image004.png@01D908E6.364FCCC0]
Many thanks for looking at this.

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:26:26 GMT

@803007527 wrote:
...
I even tried it on a brand new drawing. Just on trying a dimension, it still creates a new layer calling itself use current
....

What are the Layering setup and the setting of DIMLAYER in the Template file that was the basis of that new drawing?

[By the way, your images didn't come through in Message 4.]

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

803007527 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:35:22 GMT

Hello,
Once again, thank you for looking at this. Especially, on a football night!
I have looked at the command prompt both in a new drawing using my template and a new drawing just using the standard acad template. Both say the same thing at the command line :-
Command: DIMLAYER
DIMLAYER Enter new value for DIMLAYER, or . for use current <"use current">:

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

Kent1Cooper — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:40:58 GMT

Yes, the prompt for setting the System Variable is the same, but in the new drawing based on the standard ACAD template file [assuming you have not altered that template file], does it put Dimensions on that "use current" Layer, or on what's actually the current Layer when you draw one?

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

803007527 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 20:49:22 GMT

Well, that is what is so confusing.
We have a layer called TEXT set as the current layer.
A layer called USE CURRENT doesn't at that stage exist on the layer list.
And so then when we draw a dimension we expect it to be on TEXT layer but it doesn't....
A properties check shows the dimension to be USE CURRENT layer.
And then we see a new layer has been created and now exists on the layer list called USE CURRENT.

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

cadffm — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 22:13:24 GMT

Try this:

command: (getvar "dimlayer")

What is the feedback? It should be "."

Try this

command: (setvar "dimlayer" ".")

and create a dimension by type in

command: DIMLINEAR

still "use current" ?

If yes: " upgraded from autocad 2014 to 2022"

and you used the "migration from older version" feature?

Use the "Reset to default" option and answer the first question with YES (save the current settings).

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-reset-AutoCAD-to-defaults.html

Restart the program and DO NOT migrate anyting.

Try it again: Dimlinear..

still "use current" ?

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

803007527 — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 23:39:22 GMT

Hello,
I have just reset to default and opened a new drawing. This time when I draw a dimension it is in layer 0 ! Much better! I presume it chose layer 0 because that was the only layer on the list but it looks like you have solved the problem. It no longer automatically creates a new layer called `use current'.
So, I think you was right to say it was problem caused by migrating from an older version!
I hope that when I reload all my customisations, the problem doesn't come back but I will leave that to the morning now.
At least, I can tell the rest of my colleagues what the problem is.
I would like to thank you very much for the time you spent helping us with this.

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

803007527 — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 11:12:21 GMT

Thank you for your help. It was the correct thing to do and should have worked but unfortunately didn't resolve my problem because mine turned out to be something else. Resolved now by resetting to default.

Re: DIMLAYER SETTING TO `USE CURRENT' DOESN'T WORK

phyllistan — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:05:52 GMT

it works,
it will use the current layer
thanks