Changing layer names

[Matt Mercer]

A general question about changing layer names to different layer names. I was wondering if anyone has a lisp routine that they are willing to share that changes a certain layer name to a different layer name, Obvious I would have to modify the lisp routine to fit the names I use. Thanks for any input. Matt

[Opie]

A general question about changing layer names to different layer names. I was wondering if anyone has a lisp routine that they are willing to share that changes a certain layer name to a different layer name, Obvious I would have to modify the lisp routine to fit the names I use. Thanks for any input. Matt

Have you tried the Layer Translator within AutoCAD?

[T.Willey]

(vla-put-Name
 (vla-Item
  (vla-get-Layers
   (vla-get-ActiveDocument
    (vlax-get-Acad-Object)
   )
  )
  "Layer1" ; Old layer name
 )
 "HappyTest" ; New layer name
)

Will error if old layer name doesn't exist, or if new layer name alread exist, but shows you how to do it. If you don't already have it loading, you will have to add
(vl-load-com)
So that you can use the ActiveX controls in lisp.

[Matt Mercer]

Thanks - I can't wait to try it out.

Matt

[tyeelaw13]

you can also use the RENAME command

[Matt Mercer]

Thanks CiphDRMRS - This is what I've wanted. I do have a problem with it. I was wondering if there is a way around it. Lets say I have a couple of layers that are from a client that I want to name the same - It will not allow me to do that I get this error message." ; error: Automation Error. Duplicate record name"

any suggustions?

Matt

[peter]

You could rename the matching layers to a similar name like adding a 01, 02 to the end of the layername and then use the layer merge express tool to combine them.


It is possible to search through each of the blocks collection of and iterate through each item and change the layer names to merge them yourself. The only difficulty is compound objects like normal weight polylines and blocks with attributes. Special attention needs to be paid to these objects, especially the seqend object which must be accessed though using entnext from the block entity or pline entity.

Hope this helps.

Peter Jamtgaard

[Matt Mercer]

Thanks that does seem to work, with the lisp routine and layer merge tool - its going to be a lot faster now, I still wish there was a way of eliminating the express tool in the lisp routine - but I'm not going to complain because its again a lot faster than the old way.
Thanks for everyone who responded.

Matt

[T.Willey]

If you don't want to use the Express tool, then you will have to write the code yourself. It might be hard, but could also be a great learning project. Maybe just work on it when you have time, and until you finish it use the ET one.

Glad you got something that works for you.

[Matt Mercer]

; error: Automation Error. Key not found

Does anyone know what this means?