topic Re: Quick select a layer to draw in AutoCAD Forum

Quick select a layer to draw

dvrVSNMW — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 07:39:58 GMT

Hello,

I use 5 different layers a lot.

Now I always need to go search for the correct layer to use in the dropdown layer menu.

But can I add a button to my screen for the most used layers? So I can click these buttons so I have instant the correct layer?

Or can I add a layer type to a keyboard key ?

Regrads,

DVR.

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

makdezines — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:14:22 GMT

Use Laycur command

Betreff: Quick select a layer to draw

illusionistNUGXG — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:59:00 GMT

You can change the active Layer with the CLAYER command.

To use it with a button in the ribbon or keyboard-shortcut, you need a macro.

Example:

^C^C_CLAYER;0;

This changes the active layer to 0.

If you have more than just numbers as layernames, you need to put the layername in quotations. Example (i have AM_-layers for using AutoCAD Mechanical...therefore...)

^C^C_CLAYER;"AM_4";

This changes the active layer to AM_4.

The macro can be assigned in the CUI (customer user interface).

There in the bottom-left block you can create a new command, rename it and put in the macro with the desired layername.

To use it as keyboard-shortcut:

Now in the list of the top-left block, expand the part named Keyboard....uhm...something (-shortcut commands?). Below this should now be "Keyboard shortcuts". Drag and drop the new command from the bottom-left block to here.

Now at the right side of the menu, you can assign a keyboard-shortcut. (use the [...]-box at the right)

Assigning it to a button to the ribbon is also possible in the CUI, but that's out of my experience.

Oh, by the way...it only works, if the layer is already a part of the drawing. If the layer isn't in the drawing (just activated once - no lines have to be used), it returns an error message.

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

Kent1Cooper — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:07:19 GMT

@makdezines wrote:

Use Laycur command

I think you mean LAYMCUR. LAYCUR puts selected objects on the current Layer [it does not change the current Layer]; LAYMCUR makes the Layer of a selected object current. But LAYMCUR requires having an object drawn on that Layer to select, which you might not always have, or not in the current view.

I would suggest macro items in a Tool Palette, as already suggested by @illusionistNUGXG , but with a difference. The Layer command can be transparent, meaning you can use it in the middle of another command if you have reason to. [I'm not sure what such a reason might be in the case of LAYER, but there could be some.] In order to allow that possibility, you can't have the common ^C^C [two Cancels] at the beginning of the macro, and you must use '-LAYER with the apostrophe prefix for transparent use and the hyphen to prevent the dialog box. Macros like these:

'_.-LAYER _Set YourLayer1 ;

'_.-LAYER _Set YourLayer2 ;

'_.-LAYER _Set YourLayer3 ;

In case the Layer in question may not exist in the drawing, you can use the _Make option instead of _Set, which will also make it current, and which won't have any problem if the Layer does already exist:

'_.-LAYER _Make YourLayer1 ;

'_.-LAYER _Make YourLayer2 ;

'_.-LAYER _Make YourLayer3 ;

[The underscores make them work in AutoCAD for any language, and the periods make them use the native command in case there may have been a revised definition of it.]

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

dvrVSNMW — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 12:50:25 GMT

Thx for the reply's.

I never made a macro. Can u pls help me on this ?

I came this far:

https://ibb.co/nP631hT

But where do I enter the command I want to use? And what type of commands should I use to keep it simple? Like l1, l2, l3, l4,... ?

Are the things I have done already correct ?

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

Kent1Cooper — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:59:05 GMT

@dvrVSNMW wrote:

....I never made a macro. .... where do I enter the command I want to use? And what type of commands should I use ... Like l1, l2, l3, l4,... ?

From your original message, "...can I add a button to my screen for the most used layers? So I can click these buttons so I have instant the correct layer?" suggests a Tool Palette, in which there would be "buttons" to click on. Those would contain code as in my previous Reply, and would not require giving a command name to each -- you would just click on the buttons. But if you want to have command names that you can type in, that's a little different. They could also be done with keyboard shortcuts [Ctrl+something, Alt+whatever, etc.]. Do you have a preferred method?

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

dvrVSNMW — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 06:22:42 GMT

I was simply thinking of naming it lay1, lay2, lay3,...

i'll try making buttons as well. Keep u updatet.

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

ВeekeeCZ — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:53:02 GMT

@dvrVSNMW wrote:

... Or can I add a layer type to a keyboard key ? ...

Yes, this is a built-in feature, see HERE how it works.

I recommend turning off all other content but layers -- just to make the search list as clean as possible from items you don't use.

Re: Quick select a layer to draw

RobDraw — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 09:56:17 GMT

You can also use objects to set the current layer:

Make Object’s Layer Current (LAYMCUR)

Using this tool will change the current layer by selecting an object as reference.

There's a button for it, too.