Layer Extractor

[Lee Mac]

Spurred into life by this thread, I thought I'd update an old program of mine.

 

I have created this program to enable a user to extract the layer information from multiple drawings in a directory to either Text/CSV file.

 

 

 

Example of XML data output using XSL to display data in a CSS styled HTML Table:

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Lee

 

Code can be found here

Edited January 12, 2011 by Lee Mac

[pBe]

Nice code Lee.

Question.. Can you exclude Xref Layers.

 

Btw: can you put up a tutorial for Error trappin on you site

Its one of my many weaknesses

[Lee Mac]

Nice code Lee.

Question.. Can you exclude Xref Layers.

 

Thanks pBe

 

Nice idea - I'm thinking of creating a dialog for this in which the user can select directories/change & toggle headings/change the padding character - and now, with your idea: toggle display of XRef layers

 

Btw: can you put up a tutorial for Error trappin on you site

Its one of my many weaknesses

 

You mean the creation of Error handlers or using conditionals to allow to null user input?

[pBe]

Thanks pBe

You mean the creation of Error handlers

 

Yup... I'm basically zero on this one

 

Your welcome,

Glad i can contibute Lee Mac its the least i can do.

[Lee Mac]

Yup... I'm basically zero on this one

 

I did actually write an tutorial on the topic a while back - but it needs severe updating... will see what I can do when I get a minute

[pBe]

Great... no rush, I have all day

 

Thanks Lee ... l:D

[Lee Mac]

Code updated to Version 1.1

 

This version includes a far greater number of fields and allows the user to also write to an XML file.

 

Enjoy!

 

Lee

[irneb]

Lee, just as a suggestion. The colour of the layer could be the normal ACI number as your routine extracts. But what about RGB values? I suggest changing (itoa (vla-get-Color layer)) to:

(if (= (vla-get-ColorMethod (vla-get-TrueColor layer)) acColorMethodByACI)
 (itoa (vla-get-Color layer))
 (strcat "\"RGB:"
         (itoa (vla-get-Red (vla-get-TrueColor layer)))
         ","
         (itoa (vla-get-Green (vla-get-TrueColor layer)))
         ","
         (itoa (vla-get-Blue (vla-get-TrueColor layer)))
         "\""
 )
)

But then since the RGB uses commas to separate the values, this might interfere with CSV. That's why I've surrounded the value with double quotes, this usually solves that issue.

[Lee Mac]

Nice idea Irneb, I'll look to include that in the next version - thanks for the feedback mate

[kam1967]

I'm happy to get you back into the programming mode again, Lee Mac. I just downloaded the program and will let you know what I think. You're awesome already for having gone this far!

 

Spurred into life by this thread, I thought I'd update an old program of mine.

 

I have created this program to enable a user to extract the layer information from multiple drawings in a directory to either Text/CSV file.

 

The user can change the headings and, if writing to a text file, the padding character used (currently a space).

 

Enjoy!

 

Lee

 

Code can be found here

[Lee Mac]

I'm happy to get you back into the programming mode again, Lee Mac. I just downloaded the program and will let you know what I think. You're awesome already for having gone this far!

 

Thanks Kam

 

Your thread spurred me into updating some old code I had lying around and I just got a bit carried away with it

 

Hope you like it !

[kam1967]

Just got done testing it and I really love it, Lee. I noticed that there were a couple of suggestions on this new routine. I don't think they pertain to me. However, I wonder if it's possible to provide option for two things:

 

1) The option to extract directly from within the file or from a directory of files

2) The option to include or exclude the xref layer information

3) The option to extract each drawing's layer information into its own tab (not sure if it's possible)

 

I suggested these to save time, in case we have to format the file. Lastly, do you know of a software that would pull all these information back into Autocad? If not, I can find a way around it via a script.

 

You've gone above and beyond already, so I'm perfectly happy if you're beat and want to move on. Thanks again!!

[Lee Mac]

Glad you like the program Kam, I do have a few things I intend to add to it also

 

With regards to your suggestions:

 

1) The option to extract directly from within the file or from a directory of files

 

Maybe I have misunderstood, but this should already be possible with the current code...

 

 

2) The option to include or exclude the xref layer information

 

This will be added

 

3) The option to extract each drawing's layer information into its own tab (not sure if it's possible)

 

Not possible with a CSV (by the very nature of a CSV file), but possible if writing to Excel (may include this option in a later version - we shall see).

 

I suggested these to save time, in case we have to format the file. Lastly, do you know of a software that would pull all these information back into Autocad? If not, I can find a way around it via a script.

 

You mean alter the drawings to match the information in the CSV? Nice idea - I don't currently know of software, but I should think software could be created to do such.

 

You've gone above and beyond already, so I'm perfectly happy if you're beat and want to move on. Thanks again!!

 

Thanks Kam

[kam1967]

That's very cool. I appreciate the work you've done, Lee. Have a great one!

[pBe]

Minor thing Lee Mac

Notice when you extract layer information, it absolutely gather all information on a particular layer including custom linetypes?

Can you add info on the bottom of the text file the location of these custom linetypes, As an extra feature of course

[Lee Mac]

Minor thing Lee Mac

Notice when you extract layer information, it absolutely gather all information on a particular layer including custom linetypes?

Can you add info on the bottom of the text file the location of these custom linetypes, As an extra feature of course

 

Do you refer to the .lin definition file in which the linetypes are defined?

[Lee Mac]

Huge update to Version 1.2

 

Enjoy!

[kam1967]

Awesome layer extraction tool, Lee. You did a wonderful job with the LayerExtractor information web page as well. Hats off to you, really. I hope everyone appreciates the quality tool that you've provided. Cheers!

[pBe]

Do you refer to the .lin definition file in which the linetypes are defined?

 

Yup,only for those custom linetypes, settings not on the "out-of-the box" autocad really throws me off. like hatch patterns and the like. i had this crazy idea of recreating the custom linetype on the fly as soon as the code detects linetype other than the native ones. not even sure cad stores the path where the custom linetypes are? or is there?

Edited December 4, 2010 by pBe

[Lee Mac]

Awesome layer extraction tool, Lee. You did a wonderful job with the LayerExtractor information web page as well. Hats off to you, really. I hope everyone appreciates the quality tool that you've provided. Cheers!

 

Thanks once again Kam - I really enjoyed writing this one

 

Yup,only for those custom linetypes, settings not on the "out-of-the box" autocad really throws me off. like hatch patterns and the like. i had this crazy idea of recreating the custom linetype on the fly as soon as the code detects linetype other than the native ones. not even sure cad stores the path where the custom linetypes are? or is there?

 

I don't believe the location of the .lin file in which the linetype may be defined is disclosed, one would have to search all .lin files for the appearance of the definition should it be there at all.