topic Re: Automatic Layer Attributes in Visual LISP, AutoLISP and General Customization Forum

Automatic Layer Attributes

JohnC_ISM — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 20:26:38 GMT

im wondering if theres a lisp or even a feature already that when certain words are entered into the name of a layer it will change the attributes like color style linetype lineweight etc.

in my case it would be for when a user creates a new layer with the word "points" in the name that it would automatically be set to no-plot or whatever its called.

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

pendean — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 21:47:20 GMT

Nope, nothing built-in does that, but you can create templates for your users to use with all the desired settings in them, train them to dragn-drop from there using ADCENTER if always using your templates for all drawings is not something you all do, and/or blocks to insert that can also carry new layer settings with them, SCRIPT files to run/load all stock layers and their preferred settings anytime a user needs them, or LISP to create every nuance of a layer name/setting you can pre-program and so much more.

Where would you like to begin?

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

Sea-Haven — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 00:43:04 GMT

Our dwt had like 250 layers as it had to match CIV3D downloading field data, once that was done we ran a custom purge the layers would drop to around 100 max. This left behind all our design layers that we needed, a more aggressive purge at end of project could be done to remove more reducing dwg size as CIV3D bloats a dwg a bit.

Like others can always re-add layers via a lisp.

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

JohnC_ISM — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:56:59 GMT

Ehhh idk where ahha. We make new layers every time we bring in new points with the field date points on em. That way we can keep track of which points and when.
I was tryna see if theres a lisp that runs when the user hits print that it automatically switches any layer with the word *points* it would check it to off.

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

JohnC_ISM — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 02:57:30 GMT

We use like 10 layers haha were not that advanced yet.

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

komondormrex — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 06:06:54 GMT

run points_layer_nonplottable command. it will make layers that contain "points" substring in their name non-plottable.

(defun c:points_layer_nonplottable nil (vlax-map-collection (vla-get-layers (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))) '(lambda (object) (if (wcmatch (strcase (vla-get-name object)) "*POINTS*") (vlax-put object 'plottable 0) ) ) ) (princ) )

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

ВeekeeCZ — Wed, 20 Sep 2023 08:35:11 GMT

Do you already have a master layer defined in the drawing to inherit the properties from?

In that case, in layer manager locate the master layer, rename it, and confirm by a comma...

Or I have a routine that creates a duplicate layer from preselected object or current layer...

(defun c:LayerDuplicate ( / new old ssl col lay dan) 
  
  (setq old (if (setq ssl (ssget "_I"))
	      (cdr (assoc 8 (entget (ssname ssl 0))))
	      (getvar 'CLAYER))
	new old)
  (while (not dan)
    (setq new (lisped new))
    (cond ((= new 0)
	   (setq new nil
		 dan T))
	  ((not (snvalid new 0))
	   (alert "Invalid layer name!"))
	  ((tblsearch "LAYER" new)
	   (alert (strcat "Layer already exists!\n" new " layer is now current!"))
	   (command "_.-layer" "_t" new "_s" new "")
	   (setq new nil
		 dan T))
	  ((setq dan T))))
  (if new
    (progn
      (if (:CopyLayer new old)
	(setvar 'CLAYER new))
;;;      (if (setq col (acad_colordlg (cdr (assoc 62 (setq lay (entget (tblobjname "LAYER" new))))) T))
;;;	(entmod (subst (cons 62 col)
;;;		       (assoc 62 lay)
;;;		       lay)))
      ))
  (if ssl (sssetfirst nil nil))
  (princ)
  )

Re: Automatic Layer Attributes

Sea-Haven — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 00:11:09 GMT

If 10 then make a dwt with the correct layers set can easily purge the unused layers.