Changing Layer colors for hundreds of drawings

[Dadgad]

Perhaps you could use STANDARDS and a .dws to make such a simple change?

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Dadgad, I just made a .dws and forced the color from yellow to magenta using the 'Check Standards' option. Worked great. But...it still doesn't solve the problem of having to do this 500+ times right?
Also...Check standards is great!! I've been using a template file to keep constant settings, but I like being able to double check and force changes now.

(haven't had a chance to look at scriptwriter yet...)

[DreadPirateRoberts]

I've written this bit of script which works:

open "C:\Users\roberth\Desktop\AC-Outlets-NewColor\HBL5252BK.dwg" -layer color magenta Guidelines  qsave close
open "C:\Users\roberth\Desktop\AC-Outlets-NewColor\LEV5320CP.dwg" -layer color magenta Guidelines  qsave close 
...

At ReMark's suggestion, I tried pointing it to the file where my drawings are: "C:\Users\roberth\Desktop\AC-Outlets-NewColor" hoping it would batch process the entire folder if I save it as .bat

But that doesn't work. I double click on the new .bat file and the windows command prompt pops up for half a second and disappears. My files are unchanged. Clearly .bat and .scr files are written a little differently. Any suggestions? I'm going to poke around in previous posts some more.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Anyone have experience with ScriptPro? I think it could solve my problems, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. I use the wizard to set everything up, my script runs fine if I run it from within AutoCAD.
I load up all the files I want to run the script on, click run, and AutoCAD pops open, then closes, without doing anything to my files.
My script now is:

-layer color magenta Guidelines  qsave close

[dong95]

In my experience once you installed the script pro, you will need to input your script and your drawing files then press start. But in the office, you will need an administrator permission for installation, so i recommend the suggestion of Lee using script writer lisp or the suggestion of Remark using a batch file.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Fortunately I'm an administrator on my computer here at the office, so I at least don't have to worry about that! (I just have to do some extensive persuading before I install/download anything...the interwebs is a dangerous place you know...)
I've started Script Pro, loaded my script and chosen my drawing files, only to have the problem I mentioned before. Also, after I click start/run Script pro freezes and no matter how many times I click 'stop', nothing happens.
Bizarre, I seem to be doing everything right according to their help file too.
Thanks again for the help

[irneb]

Are you on a 64bit system? I know SriptPro had a requirement to only run on 32bits. I think there's an update somewhere on AutoDesk labs which is supposed to work, though I haven't had much success with it.

Also ScriptPro opens a new ACad for each DWG you selected, it could get a bit slow. Perhaps try something called AutoScript, it runs inside ACad itself instead of an external program which calls acad.

Make sure your scrip has a newline at the end, and try to rather use Enters (i.e. new lines) instead of spaces. Sometimes ScriptPro / AutoScript goes haywire with the spaces.

Alternatively Lee's proggy also works decently, or you can try Tim's one over here: http://www.theswamp.org/index.php?topic=41546.0
He's looking for people to give him some feedback.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Ah! Yes, I am running a 64bit system...maybe I will switch the spaces to enters too though, see if that helps.
I'll try some of the other methods (hopefully today) you mentioned and let you know how it goes.
Thanks

[eyde]

Layer Merge is the command you want. LAYMRG

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Looking through some info on Autoscript, and it seems to only work on AutoCAD 2007 and above...I'm stuck with 2004. I think I'm going to try ScriptPro on my home computer (32bit) tomorrow night, and also probably Lee Mac's program as well. I'll let you know my results.
@eyde, I think Layer Merge might also be a new Autocad Command, LAYMRG is an 'Unknown Command' back here in 2004