Layer Properties Manager - Auto Sorting

[4co2op0]

When using the Layer Properties Manager, I would like to know if there is a way to turn off Auto Sorting (Not sure if there is a technical name I am not aware of for this).

(I am switching layers from an outside CAD file to our company in-house color standards and linetype standards)

My problem is, when in the Layer Prop Manager, I start by changing all layers to a generic color first (252), sort by color, and then change the desired layers to the designated color/linetype for our office standards. The problem happens after I select the desired layers, change them to the required color or linetype, and press enter to confirm the change. more than half of the time it instantly readjusts the layer list to be sorted by color again. This becomes an issue when I have hundreds of layers and I constantly have to scroll back down and find the spot I left off at. On my previous computer It would stay in that location and not Auto-Sort until I clicked the tab at the top to make it sort again by color.

Is there a way to prevent it from Auto-Sorting after each color/linetype selection?

It is also de-selecting my selection. If I select 10 layers and change it to color "10", it auto-sorts and de-selects the selection I had. If I wanted to change all of those previously selected layers to "dashed" I would need to find and re-select them. This is adding a ton of time to my work.

Any help is appreciated.

Notes:

This happens on all AutoCAD Files for me.

It happens when selecting any color or linetype.

I am using the Only AutoCAD Computer in this office.

I am using AutoCAD 2019 (This problem didn't happen on previous computer with the same version of AutoCAD)

Windows 10 O.S.

[pendean]

Q: why are you changing layer colors one layer at a time instead of doing a whole stack of same-color layers all at once and together?

same for linetypes etc.

[cory.simons]

If you are unable to auto-sort it out to the way you are wanting, perhaps you could name your layers with a prefix (eg.: 01, 02, 03, etc...)

[4co2op0]

Either way, the same problem occurs. I actually do select multiple layers at once, but it doesn't change the issue I have of Auto-Sorting the layer list after each selection. The layers need to be changed to the required color based on the type of object it is (Curb goes to a specific color/linetype, storm drain another, trees another, easements another, etc...). After color or linetype selection, it auto-sorts and I need to scroll back down through hundreds of layers just to find where I left off and it is adding quite a bit of time to my every day process. time which was not wasted in the past on any computer/autocad version I have worked with over the past 20 years.

[4co2op0]

Re-naming of layers is not an option. I am changing X-ref layers of an AutoCAD file that was provided to us from an outside source. We actually have to maintain the layer names as they are and only adjust color/linetypes as needed. This is imprtant for when the file is returned or sent out to others, or if the XREF is going to be updated with an updated file from the same company.

[4co2op0]

Also, the Sorting is working just fine, It sorts as it should and the layers sort to how I want when I want them sorted, I just DON'T want it to Auto-Sort after every color selection or linetype selection.

I would like for it to sort when I click the tab at the top for what I want it sorted to, but then never to sort again until I click the desired tab and force it to sort.

This is the way it has always been for me, so I assume there is a setting of some type that will help.

[pendean]

Since you are sorting by color, any changes will resort: what older version did NOT do this? we are all old timers here, it has always behaved this way as far as I can recall (we do the same as you regularly on outside files for some projects).

[4co2op0]

Everything from 2000i to 2019 has not done this to me, or any of the people that I have worked with in the past for that matter. I just moved to a new location and have all new computer systems, but the previous systems never Auto-Sorted after each color/linetype selection.

In the past, I could select a single layer, or multiple layers, change the color or linetype, start a new selection of layers and change those colors/linetypes, and continue to do this an unlimited # of times and they would maintain their location in the layer list until I clicked the tab to tell it to sort again. When it Auto-Sorts and moves my view up a few hundred layers, it just adds time that is unnecessary in my opinion, and the amount of times it does this adds quite a bit more time to my work than is ideal.

Again, i am just hopeful that someone knows a way to change this setting if there is one. If there is not one then I will just have to deal with the added time to my work load, however, seeing how this has never happened in the past to me, I am confident the setting or fix is out there.

[neaton]

If you are sorting by color it will always resort by color when you make a change and hit enter as @pendean said. At least it has since R13 when I started using it . 

Did you have a LISP routine on the old computer that was a custom Layer Manager?

Nancy

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@4co2op0 wrote:

Notes:

This happens on all AutoCAD Files for me.

It happens when selecting any color or linetype.

I am using the Only AutoCAD Computer in this office.

I am using AutoCAD 2019 (This problem didn't happen on previous computer with the same version of AutoCAD)

Windows 10 O.S.

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[pendean]

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@4co2op0 wrote:

In the past, I could select a single layer, or multiple layers, change the color or linetype, start a new selection of layers and change those colors/linetypes, and continue to do this an unlimited # of times and they would maintain their location in the layer list until I clicked the tab to tell it to sort again. 

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CLASSICLAYER command behaves the way you describe it in R2019: perhaps that's what you've "always" used until today? You can make it your default "layer command".

[4co2op0]

No lisp routines for the layer manager are being used.

For me and the others in my office, we have never experienced this issue that I am having now. I even tested on another companies computer just now, and his 2018 AutoCAD is not Auto-Sorting and he has never seen it Auto-Sort in his experience either. He also has no solution for me since he has never had the same problem. It absolutely does not make sense to me that it will Auto-Sort without me telling it to do so, even tho I do understand that it should be a possibility and could be a benefit for others to have it this way. For me and my process, it is counter-productive.

I am old school and I like the software to do what I want, when I want. Not when it wants. haha.

While I would not like this to be an issue for me, I am willing to accept that something has changed and there is no actual solution to this problem now. Does not make me happy, but then again, it is AutoCAD so I should be used to it.

[pendean]

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@4co2op0 wrote:

I even tested on another companies computer just now, and his 2018 AutoCAD is not Auto-Sorting and he has never seen it Auto-Sort in his experience either.

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Not seeing that here in R2018 nor R2017 (only other seats I have access to): are they on a variant other than plain AutoCAD?

[4co2op0]

oh gosh... No! Please NO! (joking)

I haven't seen that classic layer manager in quite a while .... It is behaving how I have always experienced tho, if I could just get the new layer manager to behave how it has for me for years I will be a happy camper.

For now, it may help me to use the classic for this situation to speed things up a bit. Still hopeful there is an actual solution.

Thank you for that @pendean. It is a great temp fix

[4co2op0]

I have only used plain AutoCAD, his is plain as well.