Is there a layer copy command or tool?

[BigEvents1]

Is there a command that will copy an entire layer and create a new layer with the elements of the layer copied? I am working with drawings that have road line segments over a 220 square mile area. I would like to copy a road layer so that I can join the line segments and add line segments to create closed areas so that I can measure the area of the road segments. Currently I am tracing the road line segments which requires a lot of time in LT. I am looking for a faster way to create these closed areas to calculate the area of these roads. Would consider purchasing a full seat of AutoCAD or Civil 3D if there are tools to expedite this task.  Thank You for your time and guidance.

[imadHabash]

Hi,

I suggest to try COPYTOLAYER (Command) . >> Click << 

[ВeekeeCZ]

The is no efficient/quick way to select the entire layer (not as efficient to pick one object and have a selection). Not in LT, nor in the full version.

I would tend to use LAYISO/LAYUNISO, especially with its OFF option. Then you can see all the objects, possibly select them all easily.

Other options worth exploring:

QSELECT

SELECTSIMILAR

FILTER

For this kind of job, I would definitely consider purchasing the full AutoCAD. Not because it has some significantly better built-in features for this particular job, but because you CAN add custom routines that can make your work tremendously more efficient. There is plenty free all over the Internet, or you can learn how to write your own.

BUT before you do that you need to LEARN how to use the current features that you already have.

[RobDraw]

It's a common misconception that the layers contain objects. Your quest would be much easier if that were the case. Layers are a set of properties assigned to objects. These properties, or the layer, can be used to filter selection sets or you can isolate the layer as suggested above.

[pendean]

COPYTOLAYER command, explained in HELP: easy to find if you searched COPY LAYER in HELP, or just started typing COPY and let the program suggest commands on screen at your cursor like it is designed to do (or did you turn that off).

FWIW Plain full AutoCAD without add-ons or knowledge of LISP or the other programming languages is about as useful as LT is for the uninitiated: it has no magic powers if you just load it and run it.
C3D has a learning curve nd it works best if your file was already created with C3D intelligent objects/roads/etc. Is it?

You could just install 30-day trials of both programs on your PC and discover as you see fit in each program. Do so now.

If you want some guidance with your joining/closing areas/measuring, post a sample DWG file and lots of folks around here can jump in with ideas for you to try.

TIA