topic Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name in AutoCAD Forum

Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

KMulligan-Fabian — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:43:40 GMT

Hello,

Is there a way to insert a field into the layout tab name (See image - circled in red)? When I right-click on the tab it doesn't give the option. I could rename all the tabs individually, but with potentially 40+ tabs I would like to streamline this.

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

paullimapa — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 15:53:54 GMT

No but what Field are you thinking of using?

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

KMulligan-Fabian — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:00:22 GMT

I was going to use either a custom field to match drawing file name or if there an existing field to utilize that. If there is a way to find and replace the tab name, that would work as well.

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

paullimapa — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:03:43 GMT

Perhaps a lisp can be written to place the dwg file name as a prefix to all the layout tabs. You may want to be specific with the requirement and post in the customization lisp forum

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

vladimir_michl — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:43:32 GMT

You cannot use Fields directly but you can use a LISP reactor to do this. See e.g. RenameLOA:

https://www.cadforum.cz/en/how-to-rename-layouts-by-a-specific-attribute-of-the-title-block-tip11780

Vladimir Michl, www.arkance.world - www.cadforum.cz

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

edwin.prakoso — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 07:21:50 GMT

You might want to check the Sheet Set Manager. You can rename and renumber the sheets from the SSM palette, which has the option to update the layout name.

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

TomBeauford — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 18:29:25 GMT

Lee Mac's TabSort lisp with dialog boxes allows you to modify/rearrange layout tabs in many ways including adding a prefix or suffix to their names. https://www.lee-mac.com/tabsort.html

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

jreidKVSUZ — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:14:52 GMT

In AutoCAD, the field name to access the current layout tab name is "ctab" - which stands for "current tab"; you can use this system variable within the "Field" command to automatically insert the current layout tab name into your drawing, like in a title block.

Key points about using "ctab":

Accessing the field:

When inserting a field, select "All" in the Field Category, then choose "System Variable" and finally select "ctab".

Application:

This is commonly used to dynamically display the layout name in a title block attribute.

Copy the Block I made into your drawing. Regen or save and your tab name should show up.

Hope this helps!!! Happy New Years!!

JRR!

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

cadffm — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:24:45 GMT

Hi jreid,

right, but it doesn't match TOs question.

As you could read above:

Title: "Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name"

Source: Somewhere
"Is there a way to insert a field"
TARGET: "into the layout tab name (See image - circled in red)?"

1. Not possible

2. Workaround A - Programming/Tool , Kind to 'Rename or Search&Replace in Layoutnames'

3. Workaround B - remove the standard name part from layout name and use two field in the title

Field1 reads from a Textobject or DWGprops the fix part and Field2 (the existing one) reads the individually part name (ctab)

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

paullimapa — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 22:39:36 GMT

FYI, Not sure why you would want to add the drawing filename as a prefix to all the layout tab names because when you PLOT/PUBLISH using any of AutoCAD's built-in drivers the drawing file name is automatically added as prefix to the layout tab name:

Betreff: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

cadffm — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 01:21:09 GMT

"to match drawing file name or if there an existing field to utilize that"

As stated, you can not add a field to the layout-tab(name),

but in your title

If you remove the dwg name part of your layout name,

Add a field to read the DWGNAME variable.

Together with the following ctab-field.. it's done, or?

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

AlecTadman — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 07:36:22 GMT

It would be good to be able to link the current revision field from the sheet set manager so the drawing number and revision are automatically plotted.

It would only work with one drawing per file drawings as you couldn't have two layouts the same number or letter.

This is something Autodesk should implement.

Re: Inserting Field Into Layout Tab Name

jreidKVSUZ — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 22:05:30 GMT

wow... just came across this Field question that was started this time last year. Time Flies!

But Alec, if I am reading your post question correct (#12 above). You want a Revision Number and Drawing Number to show up on your drawing and be controlled by Sheet Set Manager and Plot Out when your done. If that is the case, that is very easy. Make a Block with a Field with the names shown. Place them into your drawing where you want them to be shown. Then use Properties on your SSM name and add the blocks to your SSM with the Owner being Sheet Set. Then when you go to Properties of your SSM, change the Revision. If you want the total amount of drawings do the same.

Hope this helps!!

Thanks, JRR!