Routine to change Lineweight of a Layer and a Xref Layer

[TerribleTim]

Hey gang. I need a little help. I don't know squat about LISP routines and writing them. I really need to get on top of that skill! But here is what I need to do. I have a set of about 30 drawings, every one of them needs a layer in the x-ref to have the lineweight of one layer (the same layer in every drawing) changed. Is there a fast way to do it as opposed to opening each one, making the change, and saving?

[Opie]

Same layer in the same XREF? Does the XREF have the same Reference name in each drawing?

Create a script file containing the command line inputs you would do if you had to do it manually. You might do one drawing and copy the command history to notepad to edit.

If you need help with that post back.

[TerribleTim]

Yes, the x-ref has the same name in each drawing. Also, i forgot I also have to change the lineweight on one layer in each drawing (not the x-ref, and again the same layer name in each drawing). So to sum it up, I need to change lineweight setting in one layer in each drawing, each one having the same layer name, and change one layer in the x-ref in each of those drawings. The problem is, I don't even know where to start with the LISP.

[Opie]

If you are just changing properties of layers, you can do that with the command line version of the LAYER command. Doing that, you can write a script file that you can execute on each drawing.

What are the two layer names and their desired property changes?

[TerribleTim]

Layer in the drawing is "G-ANNO-TTBL", lineweight needs to be 0.022. Layer in x-ref is "A-TBHT", lineweight needs to be 0.018. Thanks for the help thus far!

[Opie]

Layer in the drawing is "G-ANNO-TTBL", lineweight needs to be 0.022. Layer in x-ref is "A-TBHT", lineweight needs to be 0.018. Thanks for the help thus far!

What is the reference name of the XREF? You kind find this by listing the XREF. It will give you the name similar to a block name.

[tedg]

Here's a quick one you would run per drawing, you would need to put the exact xref name in where it seys "XREFNAME".

 (defun c:fixlayers ()
 (command "-layer" "lweight" "0.022" "G-ANNO-TTBL" "" "")
 (command "-layer" "lweight" "0.018" "XREFNAME|A-TBHT" "" "")
 (princ)
 )

Does that help?

[Opie]

Here's a quick one you would run per drawing, you would need to put the exact xref name in where it seys "XREFNAME".

 (defun c:fixlayers ()
 (command "-layer" "lweight" "0.022" "G-ANNO-TTBL" "" "")
 (command "-layer" "lweight" "0.018" "XREFNAME|A-TBHT" "" "")
 (princ)
 )

Does that help?

You could change the XREFNAME to an asterisk [*] to use it as a wild card for the string.

[TerribleTim]

Very cool, guess you don't need the x-ref name huh? It is "36023A-Border3042.dwg". But I think I could handle sticking that in. So you open the drawing and then run this script? Still have to open each one huh? Oh well, guess that's why I make the big bucks (LOL!). Thanks guys for all the help.

[tedg]

You could change the XREFNAME to an asterisk [*] to use it as a wild card for the string.

Oh yea, that would work too, (provided there's not another xref drawing with that layer name he doesn't want changed).

Good idea.

A script may be the way to go for this though, it works outside of AutoCAD and could open, modify, save and close the drawings when done.

I don't know how to write that code though, I can do simple scripts.