Flatshot Layers

[johnedoucet]

Is there some way to get the flatshot command to draw the 2D lines on the same layer and the 3D solids?  Is there some system variable or does someone make an app for this?

Thanks

John

[john.vellek]

Hi John,

Flatshot will let you let you set color and linetypes to bylayer but it will not let you set any specific layers for it. I believe it always drops the lines onto layer 0. (I don't have a complex model to try this on so I am relying on some simple 3D solids I created.)

You could set the entities to a distinct color and use Qselect to select them quickly and change them to the layer you desire.

If you want to attach a sample file I would be happy to explore some more.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[Osnaping]

Hi, I usually use SOLPROF to create 2D profile images of 3D solids and then LAYMRG to merge them on a only one layer.

Regards

[john.vellek]

Hi Allan - thanks for the update.

Is it possible to attach a simple file and walk me through your process one step at a time and then indicate the final desired outcome? I am not too sure that I am following you so far. My bad - sorry.

[dbroad]

I select different colors for obscured and then use qselect to select by color in the block editor after flatshot generates the block.  The setbylayer command can then be used to set the layer for those entities.  You also need to set the lineweight of all flatshot entities since it defaults them to 0 lineweight (or has in the past).

[johnedoucet]

I have tried to attach a 3D model.  I keep getting an error message so I don't know if it's going to show up.  The model is of a piping skid.  The vessels (2) were separate xrefs and the structural skid was also an xref.  I have bond them to the drawing for simplicity.  Each vessel and the structural skid have their own drawings.  The piping drawings needs to show these but they are not important to the piping drawing and therefore need to be a lighter lineweight then the pipe.

Flatshot puts all visible objects on one layer.  I need one layer for pipe, one layer for the skid and vessels.  I want to control the lineweights of the pipe and skid/vessels without having to select each little piece of a line to change it's layer.  The 3D model was created with layers.  I'm looking for something that will make a flatshot with nested blocks and xrefs and retain the layer that the solid was created on.

Thanks

[johnedoucet]

I wrote an autolisp program that finds all entities with a hidden linetype and changes them to a hidden layer. I freeze that layer and select everything else to put on another layer. That's how I've been doing it in the past.

[john.vellek]

Hi @johnedoucet,

The file did not come attached. I think I understand where you are going though.  Flatshot doesn't allow for such filtering. I am wondering though if you could control some of it by freezing/thawing and creating individual flatshot blocks that could later be combined.  Just a thought.

[johnedoucet]

I want to thank everyone for their help.

The problem with creating two flatshots is that a lot of object lines would then need to be broken and their layer changed to hidden.  That would take as much time and selecting the already broken lines and changing their layers.

The model was too large I think.  I will try to cut it down, maybe only show one vessel.

[johnedoucet]

Does anyone know of an app or third party software that will do what I need?  I have looked at NYacad but their's works similar to Autocad with a few nice features but still doesn't put the object lines on the layer the solids were created on.

[john.vellek]

Hi @johnedoucet,

Just for grins, I took your model, ran VIEWBASE, created a few random projected views. I set the views to Visible lines with one of the views also shaded.

Then I did an ExportLayout to create a new drawing.  Is this not where you want to end up?  I have included a PDF of the Model drawing and the new exported drawing.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[johnedoucet]

John, Thanks for your patients and assistance.

I looked at the drawing you sent.  When I change the layer colors, I only find a few object in the iso view that are on the 'MD_Visible Narrow' layer.

I have attached two drawing of the piping skid I'm working on.  One is a flatshot of the plan view where I have changed the layer of all hidden line to a hidden layer, and the other is a plan view that I want as my end result.  You can see in the second drawing that I erase and trim alot of lines to simplify the drawing.  There are no hidden lines in the pipe except to show threads.  I only show hidden lines in the structural members to indicate beam and angle.  I trim out all hidden lines under the pipe to show the pipe better.  I don't expect flatshot to do that but those are the kind of changes I make to the view after flatshot.  You will also notice in the drawing that the structural beams and vessels are on the steel layer with a color of 9 and the pipe is on the pipe layer with a color of blue.  I guess I should have mentioned I still use color dependent drawings where color 9 is a light lineweight and blue is a heavy lineweight.

This is the most simple example of why I need the 2D lines on the same layer as the 3D solid.  Later I will be creating a drawing showing each pipe spool.  I like to show an iso view with only that one piece of pipe in blue and all other pipe, skid & vessels in color 9 to give a visual aid as to exactly which piece of pipe I'm detailing.  In the model you'll notice I put each piece of pipe on it's own layer.

[john.vellek]

Hi @johnedoucet,

I gave it another try but this time in the projected views I included the hidden lines.  Let me know if this is closer to what you want.

[johnedoucet]

John

I have attached another drawing showing the different iso drawings with each pipe spool shown in blue.  FYI these do not match the model I sent because I haven't done them yet.  They are from another skid design.

Thanks

John

[johnedoucet]

Again, only a few lines and arcs in the iso views show up on the 'narrow' layers.

[john.vellek]

HI @johnedoucet,

I'm afraid that's all I've got 😞

I think all of the linework is present and that Viewbase and Exportlayout is probably a lot quicker and more reliable than flatshot. Either way, some manual manipulation of the linework and layers is likely to be required.  You might try using EXPORTLAYOUT on your model (without Viewbase) to see if it gives you better results.

I hope that this at least gave you some ideas on alternative workflow.  If you desire additional layer control in the Flatshot command I suggest that you contact the Product Team.

You are also welcome to contact the product team directly through the Product Feedback page. The links below go into more detail about the best ways to make suggestions.
How to provide feedback on Autodesk products
Raising enhancement requests for Autodesk products

Another great option is to participate in the AutoCAD Customer Council. This is an opportunity for our customers to partner with the AutoCAD development team to improve future releases of AutoCAD by giving continuous feedback on ideas, designs, and early builds.
In order to get involved email [email protected] or [email protected]

[johnedoucet]

Exportlayout without viewbase creates a drawing with the 3D solids.  Thank you for trying and I will contact the product team with my suggestion.

[Anonymous]

Hello @johnedoucet

let me introduce my self first. i am sahril piping designer from indonesia. this the first time to me do discuss in this forum.
as long 10 years work with autocad. to my knowledge, the autocad didn't have facility that you want.
and now i am using CADWORX for all my piping jobs.
we can export the 3D drawings to 2D drawings but the layers still same with our 3D Drawings. ( check attached file )

i hope this can help you.

[AIR_123]

I have another issue with Flatshots and I can't understand logic in it...

Why line thickness in flatshot blocks always assigned to 0.00???

And why base point appears always in un-predictable place?

[AIR_123]

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@john.vellek wrote:

Hi John,

Flatshot will let you let you set color and linetypes to bylayer but it will not let you set any specific layers for it. I believe it always drops the lines onto layer 0. (I don't have a complex model to try this on so I am relying on some simple 3D solids I created.)

You could set the entities to a distinct color and use Qselect to select them quickly and change them to the layer you desire.

If you want to attach a sample file I would be happy to explore some more.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

---

"You could set the entities to a distinct color and use Qselect to select them quickly and change them to the layer you desire."

Why always to suggest workarounds? Why not give people what they need? We are working with this program everyday and paying money for it...

Flatshot lisp was't updated for years.... How difficult it is to include check box "Copy properties from 3d solid"? Please also include Linethickness drop downs besides Linetype and Color....