Xref layers & layer filters

[Spiderguy]

Hello!

 

I have a problem/ question!

 

My company uses tons of Xrefs - wonderful, however problem comes when having to navigate through 100's of layers to get to the main drawings layers. So I tried using the layer filters to just show my main drawings layers. Here is the problem, I you can select show all layers, not good, can select just the xrefs (show all of them or show just one of them, etc...), or you can show just the used layers - I tried that, but when you create a new layer it is not included in that filter. I tried setting up a custome layer filter, however, I don't know how to right the name or what selection to make that would allow me to exclude a set of layers. Anyone know how to fix this?

[designerstuart]

you can select xref only and then click the "invert filter" box bottom left of dialog box - any good?

[Spiderguy]

excelent! you know, if I had just looked around a bit! Thanks!!!!!!

[rkent]

Hello!

 

I have a problem/ question!

 

My company uses tons of Xrefs - wonderful, however problem comes when having to navigate through 100's of layers to get to the main drawings layers. So I tried using the layer filters to just show my main drawings layers. Here is the problem, I you can select show all layers, not good, can select just the xrefs (show all of them or show just one of them, etc...), or you can show just the used layers - I tried that, but when you create a new layer it is not included in that filter. I tried setting up a custome layer filter, however, I don't know how to right the name or what selection to make that would allow me to exclude a set of layers. Anyone know how to fix this?

 

I found this lisp routine on one of the forums and have been using it ever since. Add it to your acaddoc.lsp file so it loads each time and you can type xrefnot and you have a filter that will work for what you want. Just another way to do the same thing.

XREFNOT.LSP

[Spiderguy]

well, I have found an issue with the invert filter - it doesn't invert the filter for the drop down layer tool in the ribbon.

I will have to ask our CAD manager to see if he would put that in our menu.

[kenboldt]

Create a new filter, and in the "NAME" column, enter (without the quotes) "~*|*"

 

The tilde ~ means NOT

The asterisk * is a wildcard

 

Every Xref layer will have a pipe | in the name, so filtering for names that don't have a pipe | in them will leave just native layers showing.

 

Note that the pipe | is not a lowercase L. It is a vertical line usually created with shift+\

 

Hope this helps.

[Spiderguy]

I will give that a shot!

[nestly]

well, I have found an issue with the invert filter - it doesn't invert the filter for the drop down layer tool in the ribbon.

 

In the Layer Manager, go to Settings and check to see if "Apply layer filter to Layer toolbar" is checked.

[Spiderguy]

Kenboldt - it works perfectly !

nestly - I had tried that before, for some reason it doesn't work .

[tzframpton]

Create a new filter, and in the "NAME" column, enter (without the quotes) "~*|*"

 

The tilde ~ means NOT

The asterisk * is a wildcard

 

Every Xref layer will have a pipe | in the name, so filtering for names that don't have a pipe | in them will leave just native layers showing.

 

Note that the pipe | is not a lowercase L. It is a vertical line usually created with shift+\

 

Hope this helps.

Beat me to it. This is exactly how I set my layer filter up too. Gotta love the Wildcard matches.

 

Another tip, be sure to put this in your Template file so that you'll never have to keep recreating this layer filter.

[alexb119]

New question:

How can I get rid of all the xref-named filters? I mean' for each loaded xref, i see a filter.

Thanks

[tzframpton]

New question:

How can I get rid of all the xref-named filters? I mean' for each loaded xref, i see a filter.

Thanks

1. Type LA at the command line.
   
2. Right click "All" under Filters, click "New Properties Filter".
   
3. In "Filter Name" box, name it. I name mine "No XREF"
   
4. Under Filter Definition > Name, type ~*|* and click OK.
   

 

Make sure the new Filter is highlighted and close the Layer Manager. Check your Layer Dropdown, it should hide all XREF's now.

 

*EDIT* Save this in your Template file so it's always there.

[alexb119]

Thanks for replying, but this is not what I meant.

I know how to hide xref layers from the display list.

Again, the problem is that I see - for each xref - a filter bearing the name of the xref

i.e. if I have 2 xrefs X1 and CHAIR, I see two filters named X1| and CHAIR|. Note the pipe after the name.

The filters remain even after I delete, via a small lisp program, all filters.

For each newly attached xref, a new filter appears and,conversely, detaching an xref erases the filter.

 

How do I get rid of those?

TIA

[kelbury]

Does anybody know how to set this layer filter as the default when you open a drawing (2013)?

 

I xref the architects drawings into mine so my layer dropdown is filled with literally hundreds of layers from the xrefs. I never draw on this layers so not sure why they would be listed by default?

 

I tried the lisp routing mentioned earlier in the thread but no workie.

[tzframpton]

I don't think you can. It's a known issue. Every time I open a drawing I have to set it manually - no matter what.