Plot style that applies automatically to layers?

[mbloswick]

I know that I can set up a plot style and assign it to layers. For example, I can create a plot style called "Survey" and assign that to all my layers starting with "S_".

Can I do this the other way around? If I create a layer that starts with "S_" can it take on the "Survey" plot style automatically?

We're moving away from CTB to STB for a client, and I want to make this as painless and thought-less as possible. My users aren't accustomed to setting a plot style when they create new layers, and I'm looking for any way to automate that.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

Hi,

not ootb, but

1. Programming is possible, but a bad idea

2. Prefered:

Set up a menu macro or script to assign a plotstyles to layers, you can use name pattern easily.

     Command: -LAYER

One button hit and all is fine

3. Teaching

    Teach your users to to create a new layer by copying an existing layers what have most of the properties they want.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

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@mbloswick wrote:

... I want to make this as painless and thought-less as possible. My users aren't accustomed to setting a plot style when they create new layers, and I'm looking for any way to automate that....

---

It's going to be something you will need to train, train and train some more for your users.

And lots of preset templates for your users to just naturally start using (your stock officewide template is now dead to them).

1-client? Must be a dang good contract, don't know many firms that go to that much trouble for just 1.

[mbloswick]

Well, we aren't switching everything-everything. But we are switching to a new standard for this client's projects. DOTs and other state agencies are generally big enough clients to jump through some hoops for.

*sigh* I know training is the solution, but training isn't foolproof. As in I can train people until I'm blue, and they will still do their own thing.

[mbloswick]

I like the macro/script idea. Probably easier to tell my users "run this one thing before you print" than to train them to set plot styles every single time. Not that I won't train them! Oh, yes, I will. But I have little hope of it sticking.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

I don't know about your Menumacro/script or Lisp skills, but if you don't need help, it will help others in the future:

Sample to attach Plotstyle "Style 1" to all layers, starting with "ST_"

Note: Of course, this only works if you have previously ensured (or it happens to be the case)
          that the referenced plot style table actually has a plot style with the name

Menumacro

'_.-LAYER;_pstyle;"Style 1";ST_*;;

Lisp statement

(command "'_.-LAYER" "_pstyle" "Style 1" "ST_*" "")

Script

;------------------

'_.-LAYER
_pstyle
"Style 1"
ST_*

;------------------