layer names in external files

im wanting to create a routine (lisp hopefully) that can allow me to have an external file (lets say layer.txt), that i can save default layer names to (ie toilets, vanities, towel rails etc to go on layer "bathroom").at present i can easily make a routine that has the layers hard coded in, but i want some flexiblility in it. question is - can this be done easily??

 

Yes-- many routines use such as an INI file... see if you can borrow ADT
(architectural desktop), I beleive that's what it does.

What you need to do is set a value to seek... say, layer name ... then use
(open ... to get the external file...then use a
(read-line Statement in your Lisp to read a line...
continue reading line by line until you reach your layer-name value

from there... repeat the read-line until you reach the end of specs
available... each spec on one line and enough to define your layer. you
could use a special character to speed the read-line loop until the
layername is reached... see partial INI format below.

(if (= "**" readline-value )(read-line)
(if (/= readline-value layername-value)
[ ... go to setup layer routine ... which would also close the INI
file ]
)
)

setup layer routine would handle all lines from ** to **... and close INI
file before processing next layer-name

**
layer_name1
color##1
linetype1
lineweight1
**
layer_name2
color##2
linetype2
lineweight2
**

 

What about a simple script file?



No additional programming required,



and can be use in Autocad and LT.



Like (modify the names to suit):





layer make "1" color 1 "" LW 0.18 ""



layer make "2" color 2 "" LW 0.25 ""



layer make "3" color 3 "" LW 0.35 ""



layer make "4" color 4 "" LW 0.50 ""



layer make "5" color 5 "" LW 0.70 ""



layer make "6" color 6 "" LW 1.00 ""



layer make "7" color 7 "" LW 0.05 ""



layer make "8" color 8 "" LW 0.00 ""



layer make "9" color 9 "" LW 0.09 ""





 



"dwane101" <> wrote in message news:...

im wanting to create a routine (lisp hopefully) that can allow me to have an external file (lets say layer.txt), that i can save default layer names to (ie toilets, vanities, towel rails etc to go on layer "bathroom").at present i can easily make a routine that has the layers hard coded in, but i want some flexiblility in it. question is - can this be done easily??

 

Yes, it can be done easily.  A lisp file can read such a text file



and set up the layers like you want.



 



What you ask is really the function of template files however.



Set up the layers as you want in a new drawing and save it



as a template.  Each time you start a new drawing, use that



template.



"dwane101" <> wrote in message news:...

im wanting to create a routine (lisp hopefully) that can allow me to have an external file (lets say layer.txt), that i can save default layer names to (ie toilets, vanities, towel rails etc to go on layer "bathroom").at present i can easily make a routine that has the layers hard coded in, but i want some flexiblility in it. question is - can this be done easily??

 

I use templates for different dwgs (ie: foundataion, conduit, structural, etc) that each use their own layers. When I need a certain layer, or group of layers, I open the templates in design center and drag and drop them into my dwg. That way I don't have unused layers just sitting around.