Changing Layer colors for hundreds of drawings

[eyde]

Autoscript will work on 64bit. It is an Autodesk product.

[irneb]

Actually no, it's a free product from Cadig: http://www.cadig.com/products/autocad-script-pro.php

 

I think you're referring to ScriptPro: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=4091678&linkID=9240618

They state that the CCSETUP is the entire customization suite which includes ScriptPro for 2004 to 2006. But that one will only work on a 32bit OS. The Script Pro 2.0 is supposed to run on a 64bit OS (as well), though from my experience it doesn't.

 

BTW, you might have the issue due to running a 32bit ACad 2004 on a 64bit operating system. I think the 64bit Script Pro is not going to work well in that case, or even at all (which is probably what you're experiencing). It might work if you run 2004 in a 32bit OS (preferably XP/2000).

 

I think in your case you'd be a lot better off using Lee/Tim's lisp workaround routines. They tend to not have issues with what version of ACad and what OS you're using.

[irneb]

@eyde, I think Layer Merge might also be a new Autocad Command, LAYMRG is an 'Unknown Command' back here in 2004

You're correct, it used to be part of Express Tools. I can't remember if the ET's command name is the same thing as the newer built-in Layer Merge - if you have Express Tools installed (it should be on your installation disc(s)) try to find the Layer Merge command in the Express menu.

 

BTW, from the discussion thus far I don't think LayMrg is exactly what you're after. You're stating all you want to do is change a layer's colour to a new standard. LayMrg doesn't do that ... it Merges one or more layers into another. It doesn't change the any layer's colour.

 

E.g. say you have 3 Layers: A, B & C. A's colour = Red, B's colour = Yellow, C's colour = Green. Then you run LayMrg and select B & C to merge into A. You'll end up having all linework which used to be on B & C, now placed in A. B & C would be purged out of the drawing and A's colour would still remain as Red. All the linework which were set to ByLayer on B & C (i.e Yellow & Green) will now display as red - seeing as they're now on layer A. Nowhere in that whole scenario has any layer's colour been changed - only layers have been removed.

 

If this is what you wanted, and I've misunderstood completely, then the script you had originally must use something like LayMrg (or whatever it used to be called in Express Tools).

[eyde]

Yes Autoscript is Autodesk and runs great on 64bit. Go to Autodesk website and search Autoscript it is there.

[Dadgad]

You're correct, it used to be part of Express Tools. I can't remember if the ET's command name is the same thing as the newer built-in Layer Merge - if you have Express Tools installed (it should be on your installation disc(s)) try to find the Layer Merge command in the Express menu.

 

BTW, from the discussion thus far I don't think LayMrg is exactly what you're after. You're stating all you want to do is change a layer's colour to a new standard. LayMrg doesn't do that ... it Merges one or more layers into another. It doesn't change the any layer's colour.

 

E.g. say you have 3 Layers: A, B & C. A's colour = Red, B's colour = Yellow, C's colour = Green. Then you run LayMrg and select B & C to merge into A. You'll end up having all linework which used to be on B & C, now placed in A. B & C would be purged out of the drawing and A's colour would still remain as Red. All the linework which were set to ByLayer on B & C (i.e Yellow & Green) will now display as red - seeing as they're now on layer A. Nowhere in that whole scenario has any layer's colour been changed - only layers have been removed.

 

If this is what you wanted, and I've misunderstood completely, then the script you had originally must use something like LayMrg (or whatever it used to be called in Express Tools).

 

 

The command alias is LAYMRG , a command the praises of which I frequently sing on the forum, for the deletion of troublesome layers. I do not see any way that it will be helpful with this problem.

[irneb]

Yes Autoscript is Autodesk and runs great on 64bit. Go to Autodesk website and search Autoscript it is there.

The only mentions I can find on AutoDesk's website of "AutoSCript" is in the forums where users suggest using it instead of ScriptPro, or where they're refering to the abandoned AutoScript which last worked in R12-R14 in the mid to late 90's: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/u/gsearch/results?siteID=123112&catID=123155&id=2088334&qt=autoscript

 

That's not the one which we are talking about. The program called AutoScript (at least the one we're talking about) is made by the company called Cadig, they just used the same name as that old one which is no longer in production by AutoDesk. Again you obtain it from the Cadig website (not from AutoDesk). Browse to the bottom of this page to get their newest version 3.0: http://www.cadig.com/download/#dw_as

 

Even if I click the Help>>Support option inside the AutoScript modeless dialog (inside AutoCAD) it opens a mail to support at cadig.com. Not to autodesk.com.

If I click on the "Website" option it opens this page: http://www.cadig.com/

Again: Cadig ... NOT AutoDesk ... unless ADesk bought them out at some stage .. which none of us know about as yet.

 

AutoDesk's own program (Script Pro) is an entirely different thing which runs outside of AutoCAD:

You can download that one from AutoDesk's web site: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=4091678&linkID=9240618

See it's called ScriptPro 2.0.

 

Here's an old version of the original AutoDesk-AutoScript (the one you're referring to I guess): http://www.freecadapps.com/swdetails.php?orgvalue=ACG&page=category&review=3591&rowcolor=ffffcc&value=ACG-ARX

Though it only works on Win95/98/NT (i.e. pre 2000) ... it won't even try to install itself on any 64bit windows.

Even that one does not seem to be an AutoDesk product at all. The Readme file contains an email to the developer himself and he's noted he's uploaded the latest version to http://www.cadalog.com/, though that site no longer contains any such thing. So AFAICT even that was not an AutoDesk product either.

 

There are two other similar programs that I know of (again not ADesk products, and the 2nd one's not free @ $90):

EZScript: http://ezscript.wikispaces.com/

Batch Script Processor: http://www.cadfx.com/batchscr/

[DreadPirateRoberts]

LAYMRG does sound a like an incredibly useful function, but I don't think its quite what I should use here since I need to keep all my layers. My progress so far...

 

I downloaded ScriptPro 2.0 from this website labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ADN_plugins/catalog/

both on my work (64bit) and home laptop (32bit). ScriptPro 2.0 does not work with either, but I think that is because I am running AutoCAD 2004. The description for ScriptPro says it is supported for AutoCAD 2008 and later...I even dug through the help files and found that it ~should~ work for earlier versions, but I guess it doesn't.

 

I also downloaded Autoscript from the Cadig website, even though the description says it only works on AutoCAD 2007. Turns out, they were not kidding, it does not work with AutoCAD 2004 as far as I can tell. No where to actually activate the Autoscript stuff from within AutoCAD 2004

 

I just downloaded LeeMac's ScriptWriter:

http://www.lee-mac.com/scriptwriter.html

and am playing with that right now... I do have a question about the 'Script Line:' section.

This is where I put my own script right? I put in the following:

_open *file* _layer color magenta Guidleines  qsave close  

and then have the "Include Sub-Directories" box checked, BUT it only runs the script on the first file in that folder.

What am I doing wrong!??!?

 

Besides, you know, using outdated software, and dabbling in things I know nothing about

 

Thanks again everybody

[Lee Mac]

I do have a question about the 'Script Line:' section.

This is where I put my own script right? I put in the following:

_open *file* _layer color magenta Guidleines  qsave close  

and then have the "Include Sub-Directories" box checked, BUT it only runs the script on the first file in that folder.

What am I doing wrong!??!?

 

Correct, the 'Script Line' should be all of the operations you wish to perform on a drawing in the set.

 

Try using:

 

_.open *file* _.-layer _c 6 Guidelines  _.qsave _.close

 

After a quick test, the above works for me.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

After a quick test on my side, your suggested changes worked perfectly, Lee Mac. I will be running it on ALL my drawings later today I hope, and will let ya know how it goes.

 

Thank you all for your help, I think I may have spent more time trying to figure it out than it would have taken to do this drawing by drawing anyway...BUT I guess that is not the point. Now when the fickle powers that be decide to change the color (or some other attribute) I will be prepared.

I guess I can also add this to the list reasons why we need to upgrade to a more current version of AutoCAD....

thanks again

[Lee Mac]

After a quick test on my side, your suggested changes worked perfectly, Lee Mac. I will be running it on ALL my drawings later today I hope, and will let ya know how it goes.

 

Excellent, glad it works for you.

 

I guess I can also add this to the list reasons why we need to upgrade to a more current version of AutoCAD....

 

One day I'll get around to updating my ScriptWriter program so you hopefully won't have to...

[irneb]

LAYMRG does sound a like an incredibly useful function, but I don't think its quite what I should use here since I need to keep all my layers. My progress so far...

 

I downloaded ScriptPro 2.0 from this website labs.autodesk.com/utilities/ADN_plugins/catalog/

both on my work (64bit) and home laptop (32bit). ScriptPro 2.0 does not work with either, but I think that is because I am running AutoCAD 2004. The description for ScriptPro says it is supported for AutoCAD 2008 and later...I even dug through the help files and found that it ~should~ work for earlier versions, but I guess it doesn't.

No neither of those will work for your version of ACad.

I think you're referring to ScriptPro: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=4091678&linkID=9240618

They state that the CCSETUP is the entire customization suite which includes ScriptPro for 2004 to 2006. But that one will only work on a 32bit OS...

So you're stuck between a rock and a hard place

 

Glad you could come right with Lee's one though! I think all this Lisp based batch script runners are the way to go, they mostly work on any version of ACad (at least 2000+ ) and doesn't matter too much what OS you're working on. E.g. Someone's even trying out Tim's on BricsCAD.

 

The only gripe I have with these is that they're not working as easily as ScriptPro/AutoScript. But then i can even note some mods to make those more efficient from the UI side.

 

Actually I just wish ADesk would give us a way to use Lisp over multiple DWGs - like BricsCAD has ... so it's not impossible, it's just that ADesk doesn't want to do anything for us Lispers. Some sort of politics about thinking "Lisp is not a real programming language", though it's more of a programming language than most others (in actual fact). Some would actually say it's THE programming language all others strive to be. But that's a complaint for a different thread