How to make data shortcuts retain layers and structures

[troyLTUXK]

Hello Forum,

I have data-shortcut'd a pipe network, the network has all the layers set, and all the styles tuned.

however if i try and bring the network into a new drawing via shortcut, all layers are reset to the 0 layer (meaning i have to change each of the 5 layers 1 by 1 which is too tedious) and then redefine every structures style type. This would take a ridiculous amount of time, and the issue is one of the actions that will be done with it.

We want the fully formatted pipe network to be brought in via data shortcut (layers and styles and all that already set based off the source network), promote the network, and then manipulate it and changing angles.

I could just copy the network as a whole and paste it into the drawing... i think, but i thought the idea of data shortcuts is to save that time and effort which can really pile up on bigger files.

Is this just not a thing that can be done with data shortcuts? i feel like i have seen this done before.

[J-Porter]

There is not layer data saved with data shortuts.  It is a data shortcut . . . stress the word "data".  That means that a pipe with a diameter and length will come across into another drawing trying to find the same pipe type, diameter, and length.  Therefore, the other drawing in which you are importing the data shortcut must use the same drawing template and pipe catalog.  The drawing template will control styles and layers.  The pipe catalog will control part types and sizes.  

[troyLTUXK]

but like, identical layers are in the new dwg. both of these files were made from the same template.

that is to say, the file i want to bring in the network via shortcut, has all the same structure styles, pipe styles, and layers. yet it defaults on everything to layer 0 and standard styles.

I have seen a C3D setup that bringing in a data shortcut of a network, populates layers, styles, label styles, etc.

[J-Porter]

Does this new drawing using the same parts list and pointing to the same part catalog?  The part catalog pushes the types of parts to your parts list, but the parts list controls what styles you will be using.  

[troyLTUXK]

they have the same parts list and are referencing the same styles and what not.

all the structures had their style set via prop manager. what vexes me most is im pretty sure i did network it in with all the styles, not the layers had to do that manually, but cant recreate it. and as ive mentioned ive worked on C3D for other companies where it did work as i describe, preserving the layers for plan and prof, and styles. bringing it all over as if i was copy pasting from one dwg to another and it adds the style and layers over. i wonder if there is some setting when making the data shortcut to bring that over.

[J-Porter]

Does this happen in a every new drawing you create or just this one?  Did you run an AUDIT on the drawing?  Can you post the drawing?

[rl_jackson]

I would say compare the Object Layers in drawing settings and perhaps go to the Pipe Network on the Settings Tab and Expand Commands and Edit the CreateNetworkReference command settings to reflect what you have in the other drawing.

[sirjoelsph]

Data Shortcuts work by assigning styles from the parts list in the target drawing.  Two things have to happen in order to have the same styles (layers) from the source drawing to the target drawing.  1 - the pipe catalogs and parts lists must be identical in both drawings.  2 - the pipes and structures must be using the default styles assigned in the parts list.

For example, if I create a pipe in the source drawing using a style called "Ex Storm", then the target drawing will draw that pipe with the "Ex Storm" style.  But if I create that same pipe using "Ex Storm" but then change the style to "Prop Storm" after creation, the target drawing will still use "Ex Storm" since it's the parts list default.  Essentially, when you data shortcut pipes into a target drawing, it's the same as creating them from scratch (for styles at least).  If you want things to match across drawings, you need to have a full parts list set up with all the correct styles to create or swap them directly from the parts lists.  Manual style changes after creation will not carry over through data shortcuts.  It's a pain, but can be useful / detrimental depending on how you use it.