AutoCAD .NET :: Layer States / Layer State Masks In VB
Jun 10, 2011
My goal is to batch plots using VB in Visual Studio 2008, Autocad Map 3D 2010, Win 7 Pro 64. It all works but now I want to apply layerstates.
I am using the example in the dev. guide here: [URL]........
My questions:
1. If you use Option Strict, how do you convert from integer to "layerstatesmasks.color"? VS shows the error "Option Strict On disallows implicit conversions from 'Integer' to 'Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices.LayerStateMasks'." I can't figure out the conversion. Are the values documented somewhere? "clientmask" is not in the object browser or the dev. guide.
2. If you aren't sure what is masked, do you turn on all of the options on (on, color, linetype, lineweight, etc.)? Is there a sum of values that means "layerstatemasks.all"?
3. LAS files are DXF format. Do I have to read the LAS to detemine what the user wants?
4. The second argument to .restorelayerstate is the viewport id. The examples use objectid.null. I could have several layouts to plot, and maybe several viewports. Is the process a) Make the layout current, b) activate each viewport, c) set model space current, and d) restore the layerstate?
Everyone at the office where I work is having the same problem with AutoCAD 2014:
1. When creating a new layer state, and selecting all layers and clicking "remove from layer state" and then "okay", upon going back into the layer state, about 80% of the layers have returned and you have to select all and delete again and hit okay, and then go back in and do it again, about 7 or 8 times total before the layer state is cleared out and ready for you to add back just the desired layers. Even if you don't create a blank slate layer state to begin with, whatever layers you delete, once you hit okay and go back into the layer state, most of the ones you just deleted are back.
2. Even more of a problem is that sometimes all the already created layer states will suddenly reassimilate ALL layers in the drawing, and the above process has to be done to all existing layer states.
This takes an enormous amount of time to correct for multiple layer states, which we typically have in a drawing.
I'm using a clipping mask on a layer. The base layer that the clipping mask is referencing has a layer effect applied (in this case an inner shadow). I want to make it so the layer effect is only applied to the base layer and NOT the clipped layers.
Below is an example of what I'm talking about. as you can see, layer 1 has the base layer's inner shadow applied to it. I want the inner shadow to be hidden by Layer 1, but the clipping mask to still apply.
I am having trouble with using my layer masks. I can use the masks that are hidden (shown with black screen) and apply them with the white brush, but I cant get white or shown masks to be taken off with the black brush. Sometimes, not always I have trouble adjusting the opacity of white masks. I was playing around with actions I downloaded and after applying three actions to a photo, elements froze on me. I read about trashing preferences, I dont know what that does or means but I tried to hit cntrol alt shift when photoshop was opening and nothing happened. When it first opens it shows I can install the new inspiration browser ( i dont know what that is either) thinking it was a required update I tried to update and it gave me an error message, something about the installer has been mis-configured.
I have two viewports in a drawing file. One is for existing and new conditions and one is for existing and demolition conditions. So, I want one viewport to freeze some layers and the other viewport to freeze other layers. After picking and freezing certain layers in each viewport, I created New Layer States - One called New Floor Plan and the other called Demo Floor Plan.
When I click inside one of the viewports and select the appropriate layer state it changes both viewports to the same layer state. That is not what I want. Is it possible to have one layer state in one viewport and another layer state in another viewport?
I just started using 2012 and have few problems. I do MEP drafting and usually use multiple states within a dwg. we create bases and xref them into the various disciplines. When I toggle between the different saved states within a dwg, the layers in the dwg appear, but the xref layers turn off every time. is the a glitch?
Also i don't know how I turned this on, but there is a blue box that appears on my crosshairs and shows me the different lines that I select.
I work for a home builder and I receive the drawings in autocad format. Each house drawing comes in autocad but each floor plan and elevation is represented by a "layer state".
Each of these drawings has 7 to 9 pages and when I want to print each of those pages, I have to do it "one by one" as I have to switch between layer states.
So, each file has a layer state for: basement plan, main floor, second floor, etc. I want to find a way that I can print (convert to pdf), all these drawings, rather than going by each "layer state"
I have 3 states setup in the Layer States dialog box. I have even edited them to make sure they are setup. But, when I choose one and hit the Restore button, they don't. However, if I go thru the command line, they do work. Is the layer states dialog broken in 2013?
Using Vanilla 2014, Just recently upgraded to a Win7 pro 64bit box
1. Open drawing file
2. Activate paperspace viewport
3. Open classic layer manager
4. Open layer states manager
5. Selected a layer state defined in an xref
6, Pick Restore
7. Receive the error "The Selected Layer States Could Not Be Restored"
No further information is provided. This process has worked flawlessly on the old machine. What has changed within AutoCAD? Is this a 64bit thing? If I import the layer state directly from the xref or from an exported LAS file, the restore works fine.
Most our our plans sets have several (10+) plan sheets, all with the same reference drawings and layer states (properties) setup. Currently, if we need to change a particular color of a single layer, we need to open up all of the plans sheets individually and change the color (or import a layer state). This takes a lot of time.
We are looking for a third party program where we can run a batch program to update the layer states of several similar drawings automatically, without opening each individual drawing.
Running Autocad LT 2014 on Win 7 64bit..I believe the Layer States Manager/Editor is broken...
I created 5 layers and drew 5 lines in model space. Then assigned each line to a different layer. I then created 5 new layer states. When I edit those layer states in the layer state manager, I turned on only one layer for each layer state... When I got out of the layer state manager and select any of these 5 layer states, all layers are on.. Also when I delete layers in the layer states editor, get out of it, then go back into it, all those layers are back again..
At work we have been using layer states to set line weights and colors in multiple xref's for plotting demo and install drawings.
So what is happening is that we continue to receive updated files from other groups and I'm unclear on how to update the layer state to include the new layers that have been included in the updated xrefs.
I was trying to use layer states and layer filters, the way when I use the layer state 1, for example, it will only be shown in my layer panel the layers on/unfrozen for this layer state. I checked the layer management panel and removed the layers I didnt want to be shown from this layer state 1 and hit ok/close, but they're still being showed. So i created a filter, turned it on and saved my layer state with this filter ON, and nothing was changed.
issue I'm having in my plot files. The way our office sets up our drawings is that we have a set of base files (which is where we do all our plans and details, etc), and then those drawings get xrefed into a different files located in a "plot" folder that that has our titleblock and viewports of the xrefed base files.
The problem is that the plot files have started to NOT save any of my layer states that are associated with the base files. For example, I have a base floor plan that has demolition, construction, RCP layer states that are toggled with LMAN. But if I open the plot file for the RCP and set up the viewports so only the RCP layers are visible...the next time I open the drawing the RCP layer state is abandoned...now ALL the layers are on and I need to redo the viewport layer states...
I have been searching for a solution to better manage xrefs. We work with arch. dwgs and they often contain several nested xrefs. While working in our "base.dwg", I need a method to correct the problem of some layers in the xrefs from displaying in the base.dwg when they're frozen in the xref dwgs. VISRETAIN is at 1. What I'm having to do is click on the problem geometry, identify what xref it's in, open that xref to record the layer state(all the layers that should be frozen or thawed), go back to the base dwg, look in Layer Manager to indentify that xref's layers and freeze the layers I need frozen. However, if I open the xref all those layers that should be frozen ARE frozen, but back in the base dwg they are displayed (not frozen). It's very frustrating...espec. when you've got half a dozen or more xrefs in many of their dwgs; which are all multiplied in the base of course so I've got two dozen or more xrefs to sift thru. It's just such a pain. I guess I need a "tip" on how to properly manage xrefs.
What would be neat is to be able independently manage all the Layer States for the xrefs separate from the base dwg's Layer States--meaning they(the xrefs' states) DON'T affect the other layers in the base(or other xrefs). LS Manager lists all layer states and if you restore one of them, it affects the entire dwg. I don't want that. I want the Layer States to control ONLY those states that apply to the xref it was created in. That way, all I'd need to do is click on the xref in Layer Manager(from the base dwg) and restore that particular xref's layer state and be DONE. That way you could manage all your xref Layer States individually (and independently from) the base dwg. Thus, if you make changes in the xrefs you can easily save/restore those states from within the base.
I'm working with AutoCAD LT 2013. Just recently my layer State has not allowed me access. When I try to add a layer or edit a layer I can't get access and I get a pop-up note which reads:
"ALL LAYERS ALREADY INCLUDED IN THIS LAYER STATE. NO LAYERS CAN BE ADDED"
When I access layer states manager I can add a new layer-BUT it does not show up in Layers. Acts like the Layer State is Frozen to further modifications.
When I restore a saved layer state in one viewport the adjacent viewport (with a different saved layer state) changes. I also don’t seem to be able to save these edited layer states so that they retain my edits.
We recently upgraded from 2006 to 2013. We had a lisp routine in 06 that would reload all the xref's in a sheet so the layer states would update since simply reloading the xref did not always work. Below is the code we used. Now, in 2013, when we run it, I lose all layer states.
Why is it, when I restore a layer state to a blank drawing, it cannot load the linetypes saved to those layers? I get an error that says Linetypes not loaded and then wind up with a full set of layers all with CONTINUOUS linetype.
If I bring in a block from a toolpalette that has a new linetype and layer, it will create them for me just by inserting the block. Am I missing something??
I am working on a massive project with many x-refs. We are using an STB, along with layer states for line weights. We are plotting from a sheet file, where our, and consultants' drawings, are x-reffed in.
If we apply the layer state in the SHEET file, we will need to know all layers of our consultants. If we apply the layer state in the MODEL file, we will need vis-retain set to 0, and therefore we will need to redefine all of the layers of the x-ref to print grey every time we plot.
Can you apply plot styles around different sheets more efficiently?
Can you set an STB to look at the prefix of layers (ie. every layer starting with XXX, or every layer from a certain x-ref) be a certain plot style (ie. 60% grey)?
- different layer state visible in each view port OR different saved view visible in each view port.
I cannot for the life of me figure it out. At the moment, every time i change the layer state (or saved view) in one view port, it changes in all 3 view ports so that they all show the exact same thing.
I'm working with AutoCAD Architecture 2011 and working in the xref. I have my layer states set up, no problem. However, I have a layer that still shows up in all states even tho it is not saved in the layer states. If i click on it, it shows as off. It is a block, I have it on the ByLayer and the correct layer.
In autocad 2013 there was a pull down menu in the layer panel for layer states. 2014 does not have that. How to get that to show up in 2014? I also need the pull down menu for dimension styles.
Unless im missing something it seems like it takes more move to do some basic stuff in 2014.
Im having a layer state issue with ACADE 2013;Vive saved a Layer state ("trial state") that has about 30 layers and some of them have been frozen.
I made the trial state the current layer state, however, when I save and close the drawing and then reopen it, "Trial State" is no longer the current state. Instead the layer state is changed to "Unsaved Layer state", and I have to manually select my trial state each time. I haven't even modified any layers or added more layers and it does this.
Im wondering if there is any way to keep/lock my customized layer state on a drawing.
