Layer States and Updating Xref'd File

[payingtoomuch]

This is a little complicated to explain but hopefully someone can follow.

-I have a drawing that is used as an xref in another drawing that has layer states set up so that for a particular plan (think demo vs floor plan) the correct layers show up for each floor plan when the layer state is selected in model space. In this xref, only ms layer states exist because no layouts will be used.

-The way this has been designed to work is that the xref is xref'd in for multiple plans distributed in ms and those xrefd plans are, with the correct layer states assigned in model space, are viewed correctly in paperspace through a viewport with no overrides applied to the viewport.

-The idea is to do all overrides (actually changes) to the XREF so drawings stay clean and easily understandable

-The way I have been doing this so far, which is cumbersome at best, is to use visretain.

-When I make a change to the xref, I change visretain to 0 and reload the xref and any color changes, lineweights assigned to layers, linetype changes etc and everything is updated properly.

-Then I change back to visretain1 so that changes that will occur (explained next) in the xref don't update in the host drawing (the drawing the xref is brought into).

-The way I am currently loading these many xref plans (15+/-) into the host drawing is one at a time through the xref manager for the individually saved xref files of the same xref in the host for the individual floor plan types as explained above.

• So, I open the xref> apply the layer state I need> save the xref> select the host file for the xref> select the xref that matches the settings in the xref current layer state> then reload the xref.
• This updates the xref for the particular plan type to whatever changes were made since I last loaded it.> Save the host drawing
• Then I repeat this process for all of the other floor plans in the xref because they will have been changed as well.

This all actually works pretty well for my purposes but it sure would be nice to be able to somehow have the layer states linked or something to the xref so the layer states would be updated in the host drawing as they are changed in the xref.... because that is really the big issue with this setup I think.

When I look at the layer state dropdown list on the ribbon in the host drawing (that doesn't have any layer states actually created in it) I see a long list of layer states that are available for model space. These layer states look like they are for each of the xrefs (same xref with different layer state applied) that I've loaded in with the name of each layer state that I have created in the xref appended to the name of each one of the xrefs. So I'm seeing say "Floor Plan_Sprinkler Plan", "Floor Plan_Roof Plan" And similarly "Roof Plan_Sprinkler Plan", "Roof Plan_Floor Plan"..... Again the first part of the name of the layer state in the host drawing is the name of the xref and the 2nd part of the name are all the individual layer states I have in the xref.

I have no idea how I might use these individual layer states in the host drawing to help with reloading all the changes.... if they are linked or whatever. Also have no idea how I might accomplish creating new layer states that might help me with getting everything updated without having to go back and forth between the xref and the host drawing as described above.

Anyone following? Suggestions?

[fatal.error]

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

...I have no idea how I might use these individual layer states in the host drawing to help with reloading all the changes.... if they are linked or whatever. Also have no idea how I might accomplish creating new layer states that might help me with getting everything updated without having to go back and forth between the xref and the host drawing as described above...

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Once you've set all the desired states in the base xref file, jump to the host file's Layer States Manager (type LAYERS on the command line) and double-click the desired layer state. Make sure that "Don't list layer states in Xrefs" is unchecked.

In addition, you can Import/Export .las files between drawings with the selected layer state.

[payingtoomuch]

If this is working the way I think it's working then this is the tip of the year!

So, when I view the layers in the layer states manager for the xrefs find the one I want and double click on it, I'm actually updating that layer state in the xref in the host drawing?

I did a test and it seems to be working.

Am I right about this?

[payingtoomuch]

Or more like I'm USING the layer state that is contained in the xref and applying it to the xref in the host drawing..... updating it. Right?

[payingtoomuch]

I think I'm also following the importing exporting of the layer states. Thinking that for the purposes of the xrefs however it probably makes sense (if my understanding above is correct) to NOT import the layer state from the xref because might inadvertantly use it in the host drawing.... somehow. In other words maybe just not necessary to have it in the host drawing.

I can however definitely see how I could use the import export function between different drawings where the intent is to xref them and I want to keep layer states consistent project to project.

Am I missing something about this functionality for the task at hand?

Another couple of related questions.....

- When I double click the layer state in the host drawing for the particular xref, all the other xref info goes away in model space. I can see how that might be as intended. However, is there a way to get back to all the layers on and thawed and the correct layer states for the various xrefs? Right now I'm just using layon and laythw.

-Then there is the long list I have of the various layer states for the individual xrefs that show up in the drop down menus. Most of them don't apply to the actual layer states I need (Only need "Floor Plan_Floor Plan" & Site Plan_Site Plan"..... etc (Not "Floor Plan_Reflected Ceiling Plan" & "Floor Plan_Roof Plan" as example). So wondering if there is a way to clean this up? I get that I can turn off "show layer states for xrefs" in the layer states manager and I'm guessing there is probably a way to get the xref layer states to not show up in the ribbon dropdown, but need to see them to be able to update them..... but only want to see the ones I'm actually using. Maybe it gets back to the xref.... Someway to only assign a layer state created to only one layer state..... Might not make sense. Oh well, I'm satisfied with being over a huge hurdle here! This is all gravy if I can get it sorted out.

A huge thanks for your help!

[fatal.error · Accepted solution]

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

...is there a way to get back to all the layers on and thawed and the correct layer states for the various xrefs?

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Before switching layer states, create an "original/backup" state to restore on demand.

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@payingtoomuch wrote:

I get that I can turn off "show layer states for xrefs" in the layer states manager and I'm guessing there is probably a way to get the xref layer states to not show up in the ribbon dropdown. 

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If you keep any xref linked but unloaded, their layer states wont show up on the dropdown anymore:

Just open the External Reference palette, right-click on the file and click Unload (click Reload to get them back).

[payingtoomuch]

Thanks for your help fatal.error.