Layer Properties

[BlackBox]

VISRETAIN is a drawing level system variable, and has nothing to do with SSM. Layer states can be applied in any drawing, the difference of if those settings persist is determined by VISRETAIN.

If you have a different setting when creating drawings via SSM, that somehow differ from that which is created by QNEW, then methinks you simply neglected to properly configure SSM to use the same drawing template specified in the Files tab of the Options dialog for your given Profile.

[rkmcswain]

Thanks for the feedback. Is the ToolPac a paid add-on?

Yes. See: http://www.dotsoft.com/toolpac.htm

[rkmcswain]

Welcome to AUGI!

I just wrote my own (albeit some time ago, could probably use some updating):

Just needs support for truecolor!

[BlackBox]

Just needs support for truecolor!

That can be added, if you like?

We don't use TrueColor here for production (hence it's absence in my offering).

[Tom Beauford]

Is there a way to change layer properties (specifically color) by choosing an object that is on the layer I want to change? Thanks for any help in advance.

If you're using 2011 or newer with the ribbon pick the object, then the layer combo control, then the color box and set the layer color to whatever you want. The layer combo control is the first thing I add to my quick access toolbar with each upgrade.

[rkmcswain]

If you're using 2011....

Good one Tom. I forget about that.

[StDoodle]

VISRETAIN is a drawing level system variable, and has nothing to do with SSM.

Ok, make a new project with some model space views that have different layer snapshots saved with them, and place these views on sheets through SSM. Then, make a change to some layer properties in the model. With VISRETAIN = 1, those changes won't propagate to the sheet views. So, to get your xref'd layer properties in sync, change VISRETAIN = 0. Now reload your xref; what happened to the layer snapshots?

My question was whether there's an easy way to make use of layer snapshots to avoid what happens above, as I'm unfamiliar with using them.

[BlackBox]

Ok, make a new project with some model space views that have different layer snapshots saved with them, and place these views on sheets through SSM. Then, make a change to some layer properties in the model. With VISRETAIN = 1, those changes won't propagate to the sheet views. So, to get your xref'd layer properties in sync, change VISRETAIN = 0. Now reload your xref; what happened to the layer snapshots?

My question was whether there's an easy way to make use of layer snapshots to avoid what happens above, as I'm unfamiliar with using them.

By changing VISRETAIN = 0 then reloading your XREF, you've effectively reset your snapshot on-screen.

Now, I am unsure if snapshots == Layer States, but with the latter, one can simply restore the Layer State and all is put back as it was (be sure to set VISRETAIN = 1 for those settings to remain).

Say you have five sheets, each with VISRETAIN = 1 and the same Layer State applied, and you need to make a change to that Layer State. Open the first drawing of the five, and make the necessary changes, and re-save the Layer State. But that doesn't update the other four drawings... For that you'd need to export the Layer State (we use .LAS saved to the project directory), and then open each of the other four drawings, delete your Layer State, and re-import/apply.

This can become cumbersome if you have a large number of drawings, so we've automated the process with tools to expedite using the LayerState-* LISP functions.

HTH