How to Importing Layers

[gemma.humphray]

Hi,

I have been using Draft sight and set up several layers in draft sight which correspond to my print configuration. I want to import this layers into Autocad so that I can use these layers in Autocad too. I have managed to export the layers to a .xml file but I am unable to import these into Autocad. Does anyone have any advice on how i can do this.

I have tried importing the file using the CUI and importing the file as a customisation file. I was able to import the file this way but then cannot access the layers. If anyone has any suggestions that'd be great 😄

Thanks in advance

[cadffm]

Hi,

sorry,

but layers have nothing to do with an XML or CUI, so we currently don't know what you are talking about!
Layers are part of a drawing file (DWT/DXF/DWG), nothing else.
You open the file (whether in DraftSight or AutoCAD) and you're done.

So: what do you really mean by "layer" ???

You probably can't use menus.
Without having tested it, but that would be very unlikely.

Can you take screenshots of what you mean?
Or you said XML, show us your XML!
Maybe this will help us to formulate (and answer) your question correctly.

[Kevin.Spear]

Im not familliar with draftsight. But if you can save your drawing as a DWG file, then you can simply open the file in AutoCAD.

[cadffm]

---

@Kevin.Spear  schrieb:

Im not familliar with draftsight.

This program is 1. Very good 2. very cheap 3. and the native file format is DWG like in AutoCAD too.

Because of this, I guess the TO means something different than "Layers",

a menu or toolbar, robbin context or like that.

Take a look

https://sourceforge.net/software/compare/ARES-Commander-vs-DraftSight-vs-BricsCAD-vs-AutoCAD/

[gemma.humphray]

I think this is my problem. Its not the layers of the drawing but more so I've set up a menu bar in draftsight which has all my layers on it and then I can essentially import these to each drawings so that my layers are coherent across all drawings. I wanted to achieve the same in Autocad but I'm not sure if this is possible

[Kevin.Spear]

That is called a template in autocad. In AutoCAD open the DWG file with the layers and SAVEAS a drawing template. Next time you need to make a new drawing, use the NEW command and pick the template you just created.

[gemma.humphray]

Will all my layers be saved into this template?

[Kevin.Spear · Accepted solution]

Yes, a template is the same as a drawing except it becomes the starting point for a new drawing. If you template contains linework, then the new file will also contain that same linework. 

IF you don't want linework in the template, delete it then save as a template.

[tboehler]

For a good start to a template or for some good examples - open some of the AutoDesk supplied templates (*.dwt files).  Typically found in the support folders.  Do a search for *.dwt.

A template can have the dwt or dwg extension.  You can save a dwg as a dwt. 

Cheers!

[cadffm]

A menu is not called template.

A template is, as in DS too, a good way to set up layers, styles, and so on 

for NEW files.

-

If you want to import / create layers in exist drawings,

as in DS,

you can create Layers by a menu macro (which create layers)

or a macro which insert a file what contains your Layers.

Again: share your XML, so we can see the content 

and our answers will match your task.