Tips and tricks for mastering layer management

This article brings together practical tips and tricks for getting the most out of the layer system in LusoCAD: seeing at a glance what's in each layer, normalising layers between files, purging “stubborn” layers and adjusting layer properties from XREFs directly in the master file. If you work with layer standards or receive DWGs from several partners, these techniques will save you time and headaches.

How to use LusoCAD Layer Walk?

Have you ever been confused about which layer the objects you've created are in? When you work with a layer standard, you can have dozens or even hundreds of layers in your drawing. Finding out which one is on the wrong layer can be a time-consuming job. Here's a tip: type in the command “LAYWALK” to activate this tool. Alternatively, go to the menu: “Format > Layer Tools > Layer Walk”. Or, in the Ribbon, go to: Home tab > layers panel > Layer Walk.

With this tool, you can quickly check that your objects are correctly placed in their layer. You can deactivate the “Restore on exit” option if you find something placed in the wrong layer and want to move it.

Maintain a layer

You can show several layers by pressing the Ctrl key and making a selection. Or, if you don't like pressing Ctrl, right-click and choose “Hold selection” from the context menu.

Creating layer states

Another interesting thing you can do is create a layer state. Creating a state can be a bit time-consuming, but with Layer Walk it's simple! Just select all the layers you want to link. It's easy because it's quick and you can see the changes on the screen straight away. Now right-click and choose “Save layer state” from the context menu. Enter the name of the layer state and you're done! Pretty easy, right?

How can you save time converting file layers with Layer Translator?

If you've ever received a set of DWG files from a client and want to clean up the layers according to their design standards, how do you do it without taking days or having to write code?

The solution is quite simple and powerful. With the Layer Translator tool, you can read the layers of a specific drawing or a DWS (Drawing Standards) file and use them as a destination; then select the drawings you want to translate the layers from to your standard layers and map them.

You can access the Layer Translator by typing the command “LAYTRANS” or from the menu: “Format > Layer Tools > Layer Translator”.

For example, you can map and translate layers with the same name, as shown below:

With the Layer Translator settings, you can configure the properties to be translated to the assigned layer of your drawing standards:

Force Object Color to BYLAYER: specifies whether all translated objects take on the colour assigned to their layer.

• Force Object Linetype to BYLAYER: specifies whether all translated objects take on the linetype assigned to their layer.
• Translate Objects in Blocks: specifies whether objects nested in blocks are translated.
• Write Transaction Log: specifies whether a log file is created with the results of the translation. If you select this option, a log file is created in the same folder as the translated drawing, with the same name and extension “.log”.
• Show Layer Contents When Selected: specifies which layers will be displayed in the drawing area.

When you have finished, you will be asked to save the mapping data for use again in a “.DWS” (Drawing Standards) file.

How do you purge layers that won't let themselves be purged?

Want to clear your drawings of extra layers or “rubbish”? The obvious way to purge layers is to use the “PURGE” command, but sometimes that's not enough. You may need to run Purge several times. Make sure you select “Purge nested items”. Note that in the Purge dialogue box, there are items that you can't purge:

• the active or current layer
• layers with objects
• a layer 0
• the Defpoints layer (it can be purged by removing all quotas)
• layers in XREFs (XREF-dependent layers)

Here are some tips for purging unwanted layers:

• Layers can exist nested in blocks. They can be used by empty text strings (you can use “QTEXTMODE” to show them), by lines with no length or even by viewports with the layer frozen.
• “LAYMRG” (Layer Merge) or “LAYDEL” (Layer Delete) can help: merge the layer, for example, with layer 0; or, if you don't care what's on that layer, delete it.
• “LAYWALK” is also useful for seeing what's on each layer and can purge unreferenced layers.
• “LAYTRANS” can also purge layers. In the Layer Translator, right-click on the “Translate From” list. Click on “Purge Layers”.

• Using the filters in the Properties palette (“QSelect”) can also work, but you may have to explode several objects first.

• Another way to purge a drawing is to create a “WBLOCK” of the entire drawing to a new file; use “WBLOCK” with “” for the entire drawing; or create a WBLOCK of only the selected objects.

• You can also try to isolate the problem by deleting 50% from the drawing, trying to purge and repeating until nothing remains. If the layer remains, it may be being used by some kind of object that is not purged with the simple “PURGE” command.
• “DXF” can also help. Save as DXF or use the “DXFOUT” command, open in a text editor and search for the layer to see where it is being used.

How do I change the layer properties of a file referenced in the master file?

When you work with engineers and architects, they can use your structural drawings as a reference for theirs. The problem is that each engineer probably has their own standard. You may need to change the layer properties of their drawings to fit your standard. How can you do this? Do you have to create a copy of the drawing, make the necessary changes and then use it as a reference? That would go against the purpose of XREF, wouldn't it?

Changing layer properties in the master file

Before we begin, let's define a naming convention to avoid confusion:

• We'll call the file where you attach the external references the master file.
• We'll call the attached reference the referenced file.

1. Attach an XREF (external reference).
2. Open the Layer Properties Manager. This also lists the layers in the referenced file.
3. In the XREF category you will see the name of all the files referenced. When you select the file name, only the layers in that file will be listed. You should see the layers as FILE NAME | LAYER NAME.

• You can change the properties here. What you do here doesn't change the original properties of the layer. Try changing the colour, line thickness, freeze/unfreeze, etc.
• Save the master file and open the referenced file. You'll see that the properties of the original file haven't changed. The properties are specific to the master file.