Importing/Exporting Layer Filters

[Anonymous]

So, I used to have two icons in the top left of my Layer Manager that would allow me to Save Filter Groups, and to Import Filter Groups.  I used it, I liked it.  But then my Civil 3d 2018-2 installation crashed, I installed it again, and those icons are gone.  I looked in my new installation of 2019 that I'll be rolling out to my group here soon, and they're not in there either.  Does anyone know how to get those dudes back?

Thanks for any help!!

[cwr-pae]

I would think this was more of a ACAD than a C3D issue. A similar issue thread from the ACAD forum. And I remember reading about something more your issue there in the past, have your searched there?

[Anonymous]

Hmmm... that links to someone losing their Layer Manager icons, which is a different animal.
From what I've been told, those Layer Filter buttons are only available in the peripherals, ie Architectural and Civil.  They are not in Vanilla.  I know they exist; my coworker still has those showing on his installation.

[copper.chadwick · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous,

That is unfortunate. Welcome back to the Civil 3d forums. I looked deeper into what you had described. Your question was about the layer groups icons. As seen in C3D 2016 below:

In closer review it appears as though that functionality was removed. I am not sure why, but this is an opportunity to go to the Civil 3D Ideas  and request that functionality be replaced. I hope I had helped answer your question. There does seem to be some less articulate functionality but not in the manner to which you were used to seeing it present.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post fully answers the question.​ Thank you for your participation, your accepting a solution adds value to the post for the community as a whole, and helps other members find answers to their issues.

[aausummit]

The command is still there. 

LAYERLOADFILTERTREE

My guess is that not enough people were using the icon so we lost it. 

[JohnPachol]

I tried LAYERLOADFILETERTREE in Civil 3D 2019 and in Civil 3D 2020 with an LFT created using Civil 3D 2018.  It acted like the command was going to work but then it did not do anything. 

Using a CAD standard developed for Public Works engineers (as opposed to the National CAD Standard which was developed for architects on building projects), we have 1580 standard layers geared specifically toward roadway, drainage, utilities, and site design projects.  Standard layer filters were a great benefit in handling the many layers in any given DWG file.  It is very disappointing that Autodesk discontinued such a useful function.  I wonder how much trouble it would be to bring it back.

Do you know if there is another way to import the layer filters?

[bjolma]

You may have misspelled "LAYERLOADFILTERTREE." It still worked for me...I opened the drawing containing the layer filters I wanted, typed "LAYERSAVEFILTERTREE," then opened the drawing in which I wanted the layer filters imported and type "LAYERLOADFILTERTREE." 

Hope that helps!

[JohnPachol]

Thanks for catching that.  However, I did enter it into AutoCAD with the correct spelling and it acted like it worked but then didn't work, or at least I thought so.  Later, I switched to another DWG file and then back again to the original DWG and the layer filter tree appeared.  So, it actually did work for me, too.  I've used it several times since then, but each time I had to switch DWG files or end the session of AutoCAD for it to appear.  I'm thinking that glitch may have something to do with Windows and not AutoCAD.

[Anonymous]

The Layer Filters showed up for me by closing the Layer Manager and reopening.

[JohnPachol]

It has been posted.  Thanks.

[AllenJessup]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The Layer Filters showed up for me by closing the Layer Manager and reopening.

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Yes. I exported an LFT from 2019 and imported it into 2020. The Filters didn't show until I closed and reopened Layer Manager.

[aausummit · Accepted solution]

Well, lookie here. It didn't go away, it just got lost in the upgrade shuffle. Simply edit one entry in the registry, reopen C3D and viola! I found this hack from mwright as seen in this thread>>. Your registry path may vary as it did in mine. 

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Fair warning: one mistake editing your registry could ruin your entire day.

1. Start --> Run --> type in Regedit

2. Expand --> Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R23.1\ACAD-3000:409\Applications\AcLayer\Extensions

3. Select ADT the Right-click and choose Modify

4. Enter: AeclayerManagerEx.dll into the data value

5. Reopen C3D and your Layer Filter import/export icons will be restored. 

[aausummit · Accepted solution]

3. Select ADT the Right-click and choose Modify

4. Enter: AeclayerManagerEx.dll into the data value

[aausummit · Accepted solution]

5. Reopen C3D and your Layer Filter import/export icons will be restored. 

[aausummit · Accepted solution]

[aausummit · Accepted solution]

[pghcivil3d]

Thanks everyone for the info! I was also surprised to see the buttons were removed in Civil 3D 2020, although the following commands do still work.  You may also need to close/reopen the Layer Properties dialog to "refresh" it.

Save/Export - "LAYERSAVEFILTERTREE"

Import - "LAYERLOADFILTERTREE"  

[EngrRajaSherazAhmed]

Man you help me alot.. since 5 hours i was struggling for this & finally I got it.. Thanks Alot

[EngrRajaSherazAhmed]

all layer colors goes to white layer