How to create a new layer and set it as current in VBA for AutoCAD?

[Anonymous]

I thought this would be pretty simple, but still my method doesn't work.

This is the code that I tried to use:

ThisDrawing.SendCommand "-layer new EnterNameHere make EnterNameHere  "

This should create a layer called EnterNameHere, but it doesn't.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I found out what the problem was. When entering the name, spaces are used as text instead of the equivalent of hitting the enter-key. I had to use 'vbCr' as a equivalent.

The code below should do the trick:

ThisDrawing.SendCommand "-layer new PC" & vbCr & "make PC" & vbCr & vbCr

[Ed__Jobe · Accepted solution]

You're better off using the Layers api rather than SendCommand.

Sub LayerTest()
    Dim MyLayer As AcadLayer
    Dim color As AcadAcCmColor
    Set color = AcadApplication.GetInterfaceObject("AutoCAD.AcCmColor.22")
    color.SetRGB 80, 100, 244

    
    Set MyLayer = ThisDrawing.Layers.Add("LayerTest")
    With MyLayer
        .TrueColor = color
        .Freeze = False
        .Lineweight = acLnWt009
    End With
    
End Sub

http://help.autodesk.com/view/OARX/2018/ENU/?guid=GUID-14F28A52-81E5-4CD0-AA79-ADC09E91BB8C  

[Anonymous]

Hi @Ed__Jobe 

Thanks for the improvement. It works completely with the exception of assigning the color. But that's not a problem.

Is there any other way to activate the Layer then:

ThisDrawing.SendCommand "-layer make LayerTest" & vbCr & vbCr

[Ed__Jobe]

The CLAYER system variable controls the current layer. See the last line below.

Sub LayerTest()
    Dim MyLayer As AcadLayer
    Dim color As AcadAcCmColor
    Set color = AcadApplication.GetInterfaceObject("AutoCAD.AcCmColor.22")
    color.SetRGB 80, 100, 244

    
    Set MyLayer = ThisDrawing.Layers.Add("LayerTest")
    With MyLayer
        .TrueColor = color
        .Freeze = False
        .Lineweight = acLnWt009
    End With
    ThisDrawing.SetVariable("clayer") = MyLayer.Name
End Sub

 You probably didn't get the color to work because you don't have the right class ID. AutoCAD.AcCmColor.22 is for 2018, which is what I use. Check the registry at HKEY_Classes_Root for your installation.

[Anonymous]

Hey @Ed__Jobe ,

The color thing is not important to me.
But even if I only add the last line to my code I get the error message: "Compile error: Argument not optional"

I use AutoCAD 2020 by the way

[Ed__Jobe]

Sorry, it should have been:

ThisDrawing.SetVariable "clayer", MyLayer.Name