Explayers

How long does it take to turn on and use EXPLAYERS? It is taking now about 2-4 minutes after the go ahead signal on just a few biggie drawings.

We are getting aerial maps on a disk in DXF format (ACAD1009) and once exploded they are getting up there in the K ranges. About 100 to 400 K each. The aerial photo guy who delivers the disk, as a matter of habit, turns off every single layer if used or not. It is taking me the initial four minute to even see EXPLAYERS, then another 40-50 to turn on each individual layer. One by one. Waste of time to me.

After a few uses, the on/off of the layers is overall faster. I would like to see if the TURN ON for EXPLAYERS can be speeded up, for later on after the drawing is developed and purged, it sort of stays the same time ratio of 2-4 minutes. No matter if on home computers or office one.

Wm.

Alright, you got me stumped. What the heck is EXPLAYERS?

I got to get out more often.

EXPLAYERS is the typewritten command for Explore Layers or that flashes on to the command box when you need to alter the charisteristics of layers, like for changing the dominant color, linetype or the name. It is normally up there for like one mini-second, but in my case up there for several minutes before disappearing, so I could then read the hang-up. Length of visable time varies either by count of layers or by size of viewed file. I think it is combined with another command often too.

Wm.

Are you using Autocad or something else?

EXPLAYERS results in "Unknown Command" for me on Autocad2010.

I've had a quick look around online and checked my Autocad command reference list and there is no sign of EXPLAYERS anywhere.

There does appear to be an EXPLAYERS command in ProgeCad though. Is that what you're using?

Are you using Autocad or something else?

EXPLAYERS results in "Unknown Command" for me on Autocad2010.

 

I've had a quick look around online and checked my Autocad command reference list and there is no sign of EXPLAYERS anywhere.

 

There does appear to be an EXPLAYERS command in ProgeCad though. Is that what you're using?

Although the manual says that you can jsut type in any command and it will take off and run, I do not always find that. I think that maybe there is a typewritten command set, and that triggering a few otehr hidden and now non-useable commands. The typing in of commands may be that they are in some sort of "Hidden or System" file then.

I use 2008 at work, simply typing in the command don't work there either. When things are real slow, I then see the EXPLAYERS come up, stay there long enogh to obtain a pencel and write down. There is some sort of command with puncuation beforehand that is normally used.

Still have not figured out as to just why it will hang up at EXPLAYERS for a few minutes, then go again. like it never was there. Reducing size of the files from 200 to 25 meg does near nothing, and reducing the layer count from thirty to seven does not mean much either.

Wm.

If it stays there that long then you can get a screen shot of it. Why don't you do that and post it here.

I too tried typing EXPLAYERS into 2007 and 2009 and neither recognized the command. I highly doubt this so-called "command" is a Hidden or System file. I've seen references to it however in IntelliCAD (very similar to ProgeCAD I believe).

The maps you say are provided in DXF format. That makes me wonder if the person producing them is using something other than AutoCAD to create them. Pick up the phone and ask. That way we are not left in the dark. Until then...we wait.

Found this re: Intellicad and Layers:

"Layer settings are most easily accessed using the IntelliCAD Drawing Explorer. You can enter the drawing explorer with the EXPLORER command, or go directly into layers with EXPLAYERS. Select a layer and then edit its properties using the right mouse click or by selecting from the Edit > Properties from the menu. Select a layer color and check again that the current color setting is BYLAYER."

Have you tried purging the drawing?

I do believe we are not talking about an AutoCAD command.

 

The maps you say are provided in DXF format. That makes me wonder if the person producing them is using something other than AutoCAD to create them. Pick up the phone and ask. That way we are not left in the dark. Until then...we wait.

I had never thought of that. For seems the delays are always associated with a drawing the aerial folks had their fingers in to. May be that they are altering something, and not knowing of it also. The aerial folks seem to have a template creating like 100 layers, and their files shrink about 20-40 K upon opening them up the initial time.

I took a trip over to their offices about 4-6 months ago, and was told they were using Acad 2006 (or some version) and no reported problems came up. As a habit they did some "SAVE-AS" an earlier version, just to make them more compatible with others. I read where the foreign brands are claiming to be 100% compatible. What I saw in their darkened room out back where the Kelsh plotters were at, it did not look like any of the Autocad versions I had once used, but then too was not there to critisize that one fact. It could have been some plotter propriatary version also.

I will telephone and ask next Tuesday then. Odd, in that our home-grown versions react in a mili-second, yet anything they worked on takes a couple of minutes to get going.

Wm.

100 layers? And are all the layers used? That's why I asked if you purged the drawings.

100 layers? And are all the layers used? That's why I asked if you purged the drawings.

Most often the secretary gets the disk, and she loads up the items, at her place, then gives us a note as to where they can be found then.

Maybe ten times now I get the disk direct from Aerial firm, and install it myself. He usually sends along some copy of Leroy text, as that is what he uses most often, and we got a lot of copies of that file. All with same date.

The 100 layers, I think he sets as default. Most are for some sort of concrete wall, a contour, or whatever. The very few times I get a disk, open up the file, an error message pops on saying something of wrong menu, then just as fast goes away. As it is fast and not easily read, I assumed it to be related to autocad 2006. Is normally gone before I see it. The secretary has an automatic PURGE set up, and we never see anything other than active layers. Who ever got assigned the duty, is who then does the DXFIN command.

Am (or was) all jazzed as found the disk sitting on my chair Monday morning, which means may be able to put in a few more hours of work then this week. At 8AM telephone time, I am usually only one to come to office (other than Boy Genius or one of the partners) and begin some job. In seeing the disk in past it meant, "Here is" but do not begin for we got no $$$ from client yet.

A recent PURGE had taken place before I got to see the file usually. I may do another near end of the day. And usually, it asks PURGE layer... Y/N?

Wm.

The aerial firm uses AutoCAD 2006 and you know this for sure?

And your firm, what do you use?

I'm having trouble understanding why a DXF file is being generated instead of a DWG file.

How often do your two firms work together?

The aerial firm uses AutoCAD 2006 and you know this for sure?

 

And your firm, what do you use?

 

I'm having trouble understanding why a DXF file is being generated instead of a DWG file.

 

How often do your two firms work together?

The aerial firm "told" me they use Acad 2006 a few months ago. May not be as I understand.

Via tradition, they ship all disks out the front door in DXF (ACAD1009) format. Depending upon if it is a biggie file or what, it may be zip compressed or not.

We used to deal with them about twice per month. They got about 2/3rds of out RFP's. We did the ground surveying, they did the aerial, and topis of my last visit was Why doesn't our actual ground nmeasurements co-incide with their aerial. They were off near to two feet last time. And I was HOT after wasting three days of straight work on one project. No answer as to why the descrepancies. Now we are lucky to get one job of their firm every two months. Not too busy anymore around here. I heard their insurance costs went up - - substantially.

Wm.

Oh, forgot to mention. Using Acad 2008 (i think) at office, and R-14 at home.

Boy Genious is trying (unsucessfully) to take partners into upgrading to ACAD 2010, plus his personal revisons.

Don't need ten 2010 licenses if only have two employees using it. And I am confused too.

Wm.

When you say ACAD1009 you are referring to release 9?

Your office uses 2008. Alright. Then I see no reason why, if they are using 2006, for drawing data being exchanged in DXF format. They could save the drawing in straight 2006 drawing file format and hand it off to your firm directly. There would be no problem opening their drawing with 2008 AutoCAD. Something just doesn't add up. It sounds as though someone is trying to make this more difficult than it has to be. That's how I see it.

When you say ACAD1009 you are referring to release 9?

When you open up the dwg or dxf file using WordPad of something real simple, the first couple of lines I ahve seen say ACAD then usually 1009. Open up any low order file you have there and see. The numbering relates to some format used on R-11 and R-12 drawings. Is no numbers then untill 1014 with is equal to a R-14 file. The 1015 etc on up. Once they got away from the pen text, it changed many things.

My notes for R-9 or R-10 say look for 1008 in the header some place to amke it recognisable.

If you are using R-14 then it works OK. If you are using R-12 and see a 1014 header, then you get a quick Non-compatible Version error message. Can be lower, but not higher. Thus many times if you are shipping linework only via internet, send it as a R-12 file and it will be smaller and go quicker and can be opened up via more Acad systems.

Wm.

If you are using IntelliCAD, try Bricscad V10. It's much faster.

I I am selling it, so I am not neutral.

Also try PURGE first, then the command LA or "-LA" for LAYER without dialog box. Then Thaw and turn ON all layers.

Has anyone suggested exchanging dwg files instead of dxf files?

Is there any reason why two firms that use AutoCAD should be introducing a second piece of CAD software into this whole senario?

No, sorry if I misunderstood. I was referring to the original thread, the heading being "EXPLAYERS", an IntelliCAD command/dialog.

I think the thread starter uses an old version of IntelliCAD, and then he will be better off with Bricscad.

(If you already have AutoCAD 2007 or newer the main reasons to switch to Bricscad could be: Cost of software and maintenance, support from you local dealer, time spent on installation, licensing and startup.)

How long does it take to turn on and use EXPLAYERS? ...

Coosbaylumber is using "Pre 2000 Acad" according to his profile. I think he has some flavour of IntelliCAD.

In all this back-and-forth at no time did Coosbay say he was using any flavour of IntelliCAD. Don't you think that odd? Wouldn't you think by now he would have said so?