Change XREF layer name without losing modifications in host drawing

[Anonymous]

I apologize, I’m new to the forum & may have over explained this but bear with me please. -

The question basically is, is there an efficient way to rename xref layers without losing those layers’ property modifications in all of many, many plan sheets which are hosting that xref?

For example: 
An xref is referenced into 50 plan sheets aka host drawings. In that xref there is a layer called “MYNAME”. In each of the host drawings that xref’d layer’s properties (visibility, color, line type, etc) have been modified through the layer manager to accommodate the needs of that particular plan sheet. In the xref it’s color is white, but in one of the host drawings it might be red, in another it might be frozen, etc.

Now, in the xref, I need to change this “MYNAME” layer to be called “CLIENTNAME”.  The problem is when I do this and reload the xref, the host drawings will consider “CLIENTNAME” as an entirely new layer which results in all objects on that layer to revert to the properties which are assigned to the layer in the xref, instead of retaining all of the modifications made to it in the host drawings. From the previous scenario: In the host drawing where it’s color was changed to red, it’s now back to white and in the host drawing where it was frozen it’s now back to being thawed. Like I said, my understanding is that “CLIENTNAME” is technically a new layer that has apparently entirely overwritten the “MYNAME” layer. So, is there a way to bypass this? Some sort of lisp function or setting similar to Visretain? (Pretty sure visretain also sees this as a new layer & therefor retains nothing). 

The backstory if your interested is that unfortunately none of us drafters on the team were aware that a client who we have several massive projects with, some of which have been in the works for years,  requires us to submit our final design & as-built drawings using their standards at project close-outs. Well some of these projects have 30-100+ plan sheets and countless exhibits that will be effectively ruined by changing xref layer names without being able to hold onto the host dwgs modifications to those layers. So any advice would be extremely appreciated!

Additional info:

- All lines in xrefs use bylayer so that modifications can be made through the layer manager in individual host drawings. Property overrides are only used sparingly

- If you made it this far I appreciate your time

[RobDraw]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The question basically is, is there an efficient way to rename xref layers without losing those layers’ property modifications in all of many, many plan sheets which are hosting that xref?

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Nope. They are new layers and need to be addressed within each file.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Rob -

That’s what I figured. I think you’re probably right, but holding out to see if anyone knows of a lisp function or something that might at least make the process more efficient.. 

[RobDraw · Accepted solution]

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@Anonymous wrote:

but holding out to see if anyone knows of a lisp function or something that might at least make the process more efficient.. 

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There may be options but they would require careful planning and/or programming. Someone needs to input the desired output. It's going to take just as long, if not longer, to figure out how to set-up all of the layer properties for all the sheets. If this is something that you anticipate needing in the future, it MIGHT be worth it. Have a look at LAYERTRANS, it might be of some help but I'm not sure if it does XREF layers.