Layer Drop-down menu

[hapnin]

I am looking to create a drop-down menu that has overall heading of "Layers" and then sub-categories for specific layers (such as floor, anno, roof) and then a fly-out for the layers that relate to the sucategories. I am not knowledgable with the creating and implmenting LISP routines but I am with Excel. I have been given the task to come up with customizing the Autocad (2009) in my office.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[alanjt]

I am looking to create a drop-down menu that has overall heading of "Layers" and then sub-categories for specific layers (such as floor, anno, roof) and then a fly-out for the layers that relate to the sucategories. I am not knowledgable with the creating and implmenting LISP routines but I am with Excel. I have been given the task to come up with customizing the Autocad (2009) in my office.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

you can create layer filters, even with sub-categories, and since you have 09, you can keep the layer manager open.

that'd be the easiest thing and you don't have to program anything.

[hapnin]

you can create layer filters, even with sub-categories, and since you have 09, you can keep the layer manager open.

that'd be the easiest thing and you don't have to program anything.

 

 

By doing it this way. will this let me click on the layer and have it load and make it the current layer also.

[alanjt]

By doing it this way. will this let me click on the layer and have it load and make it the current layer also.

 

the layer will have to be present in the drawing, but yes, it will set it as current. just use a template to create all layers.

[hapnin]

the layer will have to be present in the drawing, but yes, it will set it as current. just use a template to create all layers.

 

 

But what if it's not currently present in the drawing, will it add the layer and set it to current

 

Second, How do I add the layer filter to the pull-down menu??

[alanjt]

But what if it's not currently present in the drawing, will it add the layer and set it to current

 

Second, How do I add the layer filter to the pull-down menu??

 

then you are going to need a way to import the layers (not standard autocad).

you can create, modify filters from the layer properties manager 'layer'

[Glen Smith]

When you add a block containing objects on layers to a drawing, those layers are added to the drawing if they do not exist. You could create a block with a point or an invisible attribute on each layer that you want to create, your LISP would add that block to the drawing - thus adding your layer(S). I'm not yet qualified to change you to the layer that you want current.

 

Glen

[alanjt]

When you add a block containing objects on layers to a drawing, those layers are added to the drawing if they do not exist. You could create a block with a point or an invisible attribute on each layer that you want to create, your LISP would add that block to the drawing - thus adding your layer(S). I'm not yet qualified to change you to the layer that you want current.

 

Glen

you don't even have to go that far. just insert the block long enough to create the layers.

  (command "_.insert" "drawing=" nil)
 (command "_.purge" "_b" "drawing" "_n")

[flowerrobot]

Purhaps a macro?

Very simple, to do things and you dont need exprence just record do & play back

[The Buzzard]

I am looking to create a drop-down menu that has overall heading of "Layers" and then sub-categories for specific layers (such as floor, anno, roof) and then a fly-out for the layers that relate to the sucategories. I am not knowledgable with the creating and implmenting LISP routines but I am with Excel. I have been given the task to come up with customizing the Autocad (2009) in my office.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

 

I think this is what you may be asking for?

Please see attached A-LAYERS.zip for A-LAYERS.cui file.

Also the image will give you an idea what it looks like after its installed.

 

When you click on the desired layer, The layer will be created if its not in the drawing or set it current if it is. It will also set color, linetype and line weight.

 

Make sure it is in the Acad Search Support Path. Once installed you can modify it.

A-LAYERS.zip

[The Buzzard]

In this example here is the same menu, But for ACAD 2004.

This menu was originally created for 2004, But with the changes to AutoCAD from 2005 on up I had to do the import method.

 

Please see attached A-LAYERS.mns.zip for A-LAYERS.mns

It was done in Notepad and as you can see the whole menu is there to give you an idea as to what is involved. I just simply imported this menu into ACAD 2009 which converts it from A-LAYERS.mns to A-LAYERS.cui.

 

When you try to edit in 2009, You can only see one line at a time.

So I like the above method of working in Notepad and importing the file much better. Its just another option for you to see.

 

As you are aware I gave you an A-LAYERS.cui on the previous post, But you cannot edit that file with Notepad. It must be done in the CUI editor in 2009.

A-LAYERS.mns.zip

[alanjt]

I think this is what you may be asking for?

Please see attached A-LAYERS.zip for A-LAYERS.cui file.

Also the image will give you an idea what it looks like after its installed.

 

When you click on the desired layer, The layer will be created if its not in the drawing or set it current if it is. It will also set color, linetype and line weight.

 

Make sure it is in the Acad Search Support Path. Once installed you can modify it.

what a great idea. that's the one problem with learning to program, you forget the simplest of ideas. i'd hate to think how much time was spent on this.

[hapnin]

I think this is what you may be asking for?

Please see attached A-LAYERS.zip for A-LAYERS.cui file.

Also the image will give you an idea what it looks like after its installed.

 

When you click on the desired layer, The layer will be created if its not in the drawing or set it current if it is. It will also set color, linetype and line weight.

 

Make sure it is in the Acad Search Support Path. Once installed you can modify it.

 

 

Thank you BUZZARD!! This is exactly what I wanted to do, I really appreciate it. I can use this as a base and modify to our needs.

 

Thank you again

[The Buzzard]

Thank you BUZZARD!! This is exactly what I wanted to do, I really appreciate it. I can use this as a base and modify to our needs.

 

Thank you again

 

Glad this works for you.

 

I guess there was no problem loading it?

Any questions, Just ask.

 

The Buzzard

[alanjt]

Glad this works for you.

 

I guess there was no problem loading it?

Any questions, Just ask.

 

The Buzzard

did you have to make that one yourself?

[The Buzzard]

did you have to make that one yourself?

 

Hey Alan,

 

I made that menu a while back for someone else using ACAD 2004.

To use it with the new releases, I just imported it in.

As I mentioned a few posts back I still prefer to edit the mns file in notepad and just import.

The cui editor seems to show only the line your highlighted on.

So I do not like to edit the cui in ACAD 2009.

 

What ever floats your boat I guess.

I am stuck to the old ways.

[alanjt]

Hey Alan,

 

I made that menu a while back for someone else using ACAD 2004.

To use it with the new releases, I just imported it in.

As I mentioned a few posts back I still prefer to edit the mns file in notepad and just import.

The cui editor seems to show only the line your highlighted on.

So I do not like to edit the cui in ACAD 2009.

 

What ever floats your boat I guess.

I am stuck to the old ways.

 

Sorry, must have missed that comment, very nice work.

I'm completely with you, I still have a .mnu file I load. I understand the CUI editor a lot better than I did in v06, but I still hate it. It's still easier and less aggravating to just edit a .mnu file. I know Autodesk had the best intentions, but it's a huge pain to deal with, takes forever to load, can be extremely confusing and has a lovely tendacy to crash, negating ALL work.

 

I was really excited about the aspects of the Ribbon, but everytime I sad down to make some for our .cui at work, I would get 5 minutes into edits and it would crash. After the 5th time, I said screw it and happily went back to toolbars and pulldowns.

[The Buzzard]

Sorry, must have missed that comment, very nice work.

I'm completely with you, I still have a .mnu file I load. I understand the CUI editor a lot better than I did in v06, but I still hate it. It's still easier and less aggravating to just edit a .mnu file. I know Autodesk had the best intentions, but it's a huge pain to deal with, takes forever to load, can be extremely confusing and has a lovely tendacy to crash, negating ALL work.

 

I was really excited about the aspects of the Ribbon, but everytime I sad down to make some for our .cui at work, I would get 5 minutes into edits and it would crash. After the 5th time, I said screw it and happily went back to toolbars and pulldowns.

 

I find 2009 kind of a disappointment. I went from 2004 to 2009 and it was like hitting a wall. I have been making menu macros and and simple command lisps since 1989. I have only been programming more complicated lisps within the last 3 years. Its nice to go back once in a while. Customizing was much simpler then.

[hapnin]

what would I have to add if i wanted it to fill in the description in the layer manager?

 

How would I modify it if my layer were either a no plot of the linetype was 30% screened?

 

Thanks again

Hapnin

[The Buzzard]

what would I have to add if i wanted it to fill in the description in the layer manager?

 

How would I modify it if my layer were either a no plot of the linetype was 30% screened?

 

Thanks again

Hapnin

 

Here this will make a layer called A-ANNO-NPLT a no plot layer with a description NON-PLOT.

 

ID_091    [A-ANNO-NPLT]     ^C^C^P(command "_-layer" "_make" "A-ANNO-NPLT"      "_color" "5"  "" "_ltype" "continuous" "" "_lweight" "0.18" "" "_plot" "_no" "" "_DESCRIPTION" "NON-PLOT LAYER" "A-ANNO-NPLT" "" "") ^P

 

As far as the 30% screening, I would think you set that in your plot style.