How to make a key of all layers used in a drawing

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I have been googling away without finding any answer to this.

I want to make a Key table that holds all my layers i have used and make a block out of it i can insert on my Layout tab so my project manager can tell what each of my layers colors represent.

Currently i just draw a line in that layer and then put the tittle next to it explaining what the layer is and i do this 1 by 1 then surround it with a box and call it the KEY.

Is there an easier way to do this?

Here is an example -

-

Thank you in advance for any help i may get.

[CodeDing · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous ,

Your question seems a bit vague in my opinion. Or, there's some piece of information that we do not know.. because nothing is preventing you from creating a block with your layers and saving that block somewhere.. Is your layering not consistent? Do you have different layers for each drawing? If that's the case then you might need to use some kind of Lisp / programming approach to get what you desire.

In the mean time, it's not much, but I would personally start with a block like this (attached) just to make formatting / alignment easier on me. the defpoint box is just for spacing / alignment.

Can you explain your situation further?

Best,

~DD

[Anonymous]

What you are saying makes complete sense to me. I am trying to create a standardized Set of Layers. I am very new to AutoCAD. I have recently been assigned to putting together Site plans for my companies pool and landscape/ Structures ( Non Engineered versions) for getting past city permits and HOA restrictions.

I know Autocad is the right way to go for Accuracy reasons, However, my process has been super slow lately as I do not know all the outs and ins of Autocad. I'm not sure how you made that Defpoint box. But I think using that and making a block with my standardized layers is the way to go.

If you want to see kind what I am doing I have attached a DWG I'm currently working on. Thank you so much for your help. I am constantly on Google and Youtube trying to learn and it's nice to have a real direct answer to my exact issues. You are Awesome.

I guess my main questions that will solve this post is how did you create that def point box, or do you have a good reference page I can check out related to that?

[CodeDing · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous ,

Ok cool, well welcome to the community!

Well since you're pretty new with the program, let's get you in a good direction to start with.

Defpoints is a layer in AutoCAD by default. Anything created on this layer will Not plot (this is intentional). If you don't have that layer in your drawing, you can create one and call it "Defpoints" and the rest will take care of itself. I created that box by creating a rectangle (RECTANG command) and placing it on the Defpoints layer.

You can read more about Defpoints here: https://autocad.fandom.com/wiki/Defpoints_Layer 

The item I attached for you is called a Block. ANYTHING that you will be creating duplicates of, should probably be created as a block. There are exceptions, but if you find yourself drawing something multiple times or copying many times, that item should probably be a block.

You can read more about what blocks are here: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/getting-started/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-2DA2ADA1-C8CC-4E61-9598-06580FFD3544-htm.html#:~:text=In%20AutoCAD%2C%20a%20block%20is,for%20a%20D%2Dsize%20drawing. 

And here's the process to create one, very simple: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-architecture/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2020/ENU/AutoCAD-Architecture/files/GUID-D05CF3C5-B72C-4687-887F-010FBD09EFE4-htm.html 

Once you become more familiar with blocks, then you can start creating "more-fancy" blocks, called Dynamic Blocks. These will allow you to have an item that you have already created (a block), but also make it 'flexible' in a way. You can scale, stretch, manipulate, show different views, etc. Very capable items.

You can read more about Dynamic Blocks here:https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2019/ENU/AutoCAD-Core/files/GUID-3C2FB982-3AF6-437B-987F-4EDF81EA0662-htm.html#:~:text=Dynamic%20blocks%20contain%20rules%20and,when%20you%20create%20new%20blocks. 

And, as always, you can come back to the forums when you get stuck. Please try to research as best you can before asking a new question. Often times these questions have been answered before. I will go to Google search and start with "AutoCAD [rest of my question here]".

Here's the Dynamic Blocks forum, if you ever get a question for them: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/dynamic-blocks-forum/bd-p/154 

Best,

~DD

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for all the helpful information. This was extremely helpful!

Have a great day DD!

Regards,

Tim

[RobDraw]

Most companies have a written standard that applies to all drawings. Start that document with what you have so far and add to it as you develop the standard layers. This document could be in the form of a drawing template that you start every drawing with so that you don't have to keep on recreating layers, blocks, and styles with every drawing.