AutoCad :: Use Of Layer 0 In Blocks While Retaining Some Layer Management Abilities
Apr 24, 2012
I'm aware of the intricacies of layer zero, and the general rule-of-thumb to draw content inside of blocks on 0 so that the block takes on the properties of the layer it is inserted onto, can be isolated, etc.
I generally follow this rule, and where required, I change the line color inside of the block when I want to maintain a certain lineweight. (lineweights based on my plot settings for colors). My dilema is that i've got an intricate block. I'd like to be able to manipulate this block in a way that you'd isolate layers and change their properties. Is there any way to isolate a portion of lines inside of a block while still maintaining them either on layer zero or another (magical) sort of "transparent" layer?
As an example, i'll use the classic "existing", "proposed" door block. i'll draw the door, swing, and jamb all on layer zero. I will set the the swing portion red and dashed so that both existing and proposed swings appear the same. the door itself will then take on the properties of my existing and proposed door layers, respectively. Now say i'd like to edit my block. I want to isolate the swing portion and color it by layer. (obviously the example is lacking here since it would be easiest to just click on the arc) Can i group items inside of a block, or better yet, can i create a second layer and somehow edit the layer's properties so it is "dynamic", "transparent", or "magical" like layer 0?
I'm importing dxf files from the structural engineering program RAM Structural Systems where my buddy down the hall is modeling beams/columns/ etc in 3d. Importing is not a problem but I would like to know if there is someway to map the layers from his dxf to come in on my layers in cad instead of having to go through and select each object and place in on my desired layer. RAM does use layers for each member. For example :
when he models a beam in RAM its on an SBM layer. Is there a way I can make that SBM layer come in on my S-Beam layer that I have setup in cad?
In short I'm trying to find a way to not have to go through each dxf he emails me and place things on the layers I want them on in cad. I was curious if there was a way I could make cad recognize. SBM layer will be mapped to my layer S-Beam when imported.
i was working on a building layout that included soil & waste and hot & cold water routes, some detail was needed at 1:100 and some 1:50. i can set up viewports in ps to display the correct layers ok but the model space view got more and more untidy, all text and dimensions are in model space too. if i froze a model space layer to improve things obviously i lost that layer in ps. in the end i copied the xref and did the water services separate. is there a way of tidying up the model space without losing any layers in ps?
It appears that the Layer Filters functionality is broken again with 2013. Unchecking the "Apply layer filter to layer toolbar" disables the function of layer filters in the tool palette.
What is the general feeling about building blocks on layer 0 then using the layer controls to change the colors etc. after they are dropped into a particular layer?
In other words, I like to build a block labled "sample location" on layer 0 then depending on the layer it is placed in, it can be either red or blue (based on the test results).
I print out my drawings on letter sized paper in color.
Most of the time, my background image is a monochrome or greyscale tiff or a jpeg of a scanned in drawing.
Sometimes I will get a nice cad file to work with. with these drawings, I turn off all the extraneous layers that i don't need, and reset the layer colors to black and white. Often, though, the doors and windows are blocks on separate layers that I have to then modify to change the colors.
My script in VBA works perfect. Now i try to do the same with NET, but nothing happens. Here is the
Public Function CreateSelectionSet(ByVal SelectionSet As AcadSelectionSet, _ ByVal FilterCode As Integer, _ ByVal FilterValue As String) As Boolean Dim iFilterCode(0) As Integer Dim vFilterValue(0) As Object iFilterCode(0) = FilterCode vFilterValue(0) = FilterValue
[Code] .....
I can select something, but nothing happens... Where is the error?
How do I assign the blocks coming in from Architect's drawing (Partition Panels - about 50+ styles and each style is a different block) to a different layer along with those layer properties without having to explode & re-define?
I want to keep them as blocks but for uploading to a IWMS system which will only recognize certain layer names. They are changing over to the layer name I select, but their properties are not (example: color)
working with blocks, I want to be able to simple turn on and off certain layers of the blocks appropriate for the work I am doing at the time. However, no matter how I construct my blocks, on what layer i made them or insert them, I can only get one layer to turn on and off freely. Is there something I am missing with blocks to get it to work more smoothly?
Example... a door block with swing and frames. When you want to hatch a floor pattern, you have to click inside and outside the swing arc to hatch, and even then... there should be a line across the frame to close the opening... I just want to turn off the door and swing line, keeping the door frame and threshold line to make hatching easier.
Many of the blocks my company uses were created with the linework within the block on Layer 0, and set to ByLayer.
When I insert it into a drawing, I put the block on a layer other than 0, and use that layer to control the color & linetype.
If I Xref a drawing, and want to turn off or freeze a layer I use the Freeze and Off buttons in the layers section of the ribbon (I'm working in 2012). This way, I don't have to figure out what layer an object is on to turn it off.
Here's the problem: When I try to freeze or turn off a layer by clicking on a block, it doesn't do anything to the layer that the block is on. It tries to effect layer 0. Even if I use the list command to find out what layer an object is on, it says it's on 0.
I found this article that seems to explain how to use layer 0 in blocks: [URL] ....
It seems my company is doing things exactly as that writer recommends. But it still seems incredibly faulty.
What is the best way to design and work with blocks? I always try to avoid using layer 0, but that would waste a lot of time trying to override the company standards.
I'm working on a map which contains a large number of data points. One set of points represents a number of signalized intersections. Each point has object data associated with it, including information that I want to use to theme. In order to get the theme to work correctly, I have exported the points to SDF and then connected to that file using the FDO.
Once connected to the data, I created a theme that I am using to display the points. The points are set to display as blocks (all the same block) which only vary in fill color based on one item of the object data. So far, all of that works; all blocks display as desired and in the correct color.
The problem that I am having is in trying to make a dynamic label a part of the block. What I want is to display the contents of one field from the object data as text immediately below the block. To do that, I open the block in the block editor, then add an annotative text field (mapanntext command). I set the properties that I want with regard to text size, position, rotation, etc., and set the value to be the appropriate field from the object data table. However, when I try to display these blocks in the map, the text does not show up. I've checked the basic issues (text would be large enough to see, layer is set to visible, etc.), but I can't figure why everything else displays with no text.
I have a dwg that is converted from vectorworks with 100+ blocks of different names. All line-weight and color is set to 0.00mm and white.
I want to be able to organize multiple Block into same layer so I can color them by layer and change visibility (hide/Lock) by layer. but when I select everything to organizes "by layer" only non-block line can be organized.
Is there a way I can change multiple block into same layer without exploding them?
I try:
1. select block and change layer in properties. Failed.
2. "set to by layer" Problem: layer of block is still not changed when open with reference edit.
I need to convert all polylines on layer to blocks. Each polyline gets replaced with a block that is near the approximate center of polyline. it can also be at the first or last node of pline. or just near the center. (polylines are rectangular).
I have a drawing with alot of blocks in it. All the blocks are were created on layer Default and I want to change that to 0. is there a command that will do this, so that i dont have to open every block?
I thought when you created a tool pallet with blocks on a certain layer and put them in your drawing that the block would be placed on the layer it was created on? When I put a block that was created on 0 layer it will insert on my current layer? These blocks are on a network and I am the only one that has rights to modify them.
I have a dynamic block symbol. It is a circle with two separate attribute elements at its side, with a line horizontally between them. No, this line is not a text underline; it is a separate line element that in one visibility state of the block must disappear.
My best results for blocks come when the element color of a block's geometry is set to "ByBlock" (attributes I leave as "ByLayer" color), and all of my elements, no matter what, I place on Layer 0. But in the case of this line, it always ends up matching the symbology of the block geometry. This I do not like.
When I insert a block, I use Attribute Editor to change the attributes' layer to the project's appropriate text layer. That way, in case I have to freeze a text layer, the attributes disappear also. What I want is for that line to be able to do the same.
Can an element's layer somehow be dynamically changed to automatically match the layer of another element, without having to Block Editor the block every time this is used from project to project?
I would like to select blocks based on the layer of one or more attributes. The obvious method would be to isolate that layer and select the ones with attributes that display. But many of the values are empty!
I have found that when I use the Layer Styles on one layer and then make a new layer or select a shape that creates a new layer that when I go to add Styles to the new layer/new shape the previous layer is affected by how I set the Bevel & Emboss, Direction, Altitude, Drop Shadow etc etc.
For instance, let's say I have a ...
BG > New Layer > draw an ellipse and then add a Bevel with an > Angle of 89 and an Altitude of 30 and then I add a New Layer > open the Styles and go to change the Angle to say +89 or whatever and the Altitude to say 45 ... the first Layer/Shape Effects change.
How I can keep one Layer from being affected by an other Layers Effects'?
I have found that if I Rasterize a Layer Effect that I can add a "double" effect on the same layer but I haven't tried the to do this with separate layers. However, for most of the work I am doing I cannot use the Raster because everything needs to be true vectors.
I have a Dell Laptop/Windows 7 Home Premium that's a 64 bit
how to quick select all the blocks from a specific layer (for instance XPTO) and export them along with their attributes, exactly as we do by quick selecting them and then, through AutoCAD Express -> Attribute Export Info, but in a script...
I want to change the color, line type, width and layer of all my blocks in my drawing. is there a way to do this with out opening all the blocks for editing? I am using AutoCAD 2009.
When i click on the green line has you can see on the image. The layer toolbar wont show me the right layer, like if it's not working. But i can see the right layer inside propreties.
Is there a system variable to ajust to see my layers inside the Layer tool bar?
A drawing with hundreds of layers should be simplified for our customer by decreasing the numbers of and renaming the layers (there is yet no target file existing). In order to solve this, I generated group filters and assigned every single layer to them (all printing properties are assigned to objects). The layer groups show the desired layer structure after the transformation (still a three-digit number).
Unfortunately, the LAYTRANS dialog doesn't let me choose layers by group filters or remarks. It seems as all the work was for the birds.
Is there any way to translate my layers using filters or remarks?
I have a bunch of objects on a particular layer, and they're all different colors and linetypes and lineweights, and i want them to all take on the color / linetype / lineweight that i chose for that layer.. how do i do this?
I have a drawing where I need to open the layer manager to turn on a layer in a view port but cannot get to that particular column. As you look across the top of the layer manager I can see all the headings of each column beginning with "Name", "Status", "On" and so forth. The last column heading I see is "Description" but I need to go even further to the right to get to the column I need to be at but can't get there. There is no scroll button on the bottom of the layer manager which would allow me to do that.
I have a client experiencing a layer manager dialog box issue - the layer names are disappearing... This is not happening all the time - and in different files.
