home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
C!T ROM 5
/
ctrom5b.zip
/
ctrom5b
/
DOS
/
GRAFISCH
/
LAYMEM11
/
LAYMEMLT.DOC
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-11-08
|
9KB
|
260 lines
LAYMEM Lite v1.1
(c) Copyright 1994 John D. McCutcheon
All Rights Reserved
J.D. McCADD
233 N. Alarcon
Prescott, AZ 86301
U.S.A.
Page 1 LAYMEM Lite
Description
-----------
Laymem lite is an Autolisp(r) program that memorizes the current
ON/OFF and FREEZE/THAW status of all the layers in a drawing file and writes
those settings to a file, allowing those settings to be restored at any later
time.
This is a very useful capability for architectural and other
applications of AutoCAD(r) in which many different views or sheets of a set of
drawings are contained within one single drawing file and managed through the
manipulation of multiple layers for each sheet of a drawing set. For example,
the plan drawings of a building (Site, foundation, floor, framing, electrical,
plumbing, etc.) are often overlaid over each other within a drawing file, each
plan requiring several layers to distinguish between object lines, dimensions,
notes, symbols, etc. Even for a simple single family residence, the
manipulation of the layers required to display the desired information on
screen or for plotting can become very tedious. When dealing with a more
complicated multi-level building, the task of layer management can become
overwhelming, and consume time that might otherwise be more productive.
I developed LAYMEM to help simplify the task of layer management in
large architectural drawing files, although it would work just as well for
any application that requires the manipulation of large numbers of layers.
The full featured version of laymem allows the user to create an unlimited
number of files containing different layer settings. For the purposes of an
architectural drawing, LAYMEM would be used to create different layer setting
files for all of the different plan views, and for each level of the building
in the case of a multi-story building. This allows the user to quickly change
from one plan view to another, without having to manuever through the layer
dialogue boxes, or typing individual layer names in response to the LAYER
command itself. This can be a real time saver, especially when using longer,
more descriptive layer names, or when using the AIA layering guidelines.
Installation and Use
--------------------
Although the lite version of LAYMEM only allows saving and restoring
one layer file, using the name of the drawing as the default filename, the
utility of this program should be easily recognizable. It is fast, reliable,
and easy to use. The program file LAYMEMLT should be copied to your AutoCAD
directory or one of the support directories specified by the ACADPREFIX system
variable. Once the program has been copied to your hard drive, all that is
required to load the program into your current drawing editor session is the
AutoLisp (load) command as follows:
Command: (load "laymemlt")
Once LAYMEMLT is loaded, it may be invoked by typing LM<cr> (the <cr>
signifies pressing the Enter key) in response to the AutoCAD Command: prompt.
(c) Copyright 1994 by John D. McCutcheon
All rights reserved
Page 2 LAYMEMLT Command Options
------------------------
LAYMEMLT will prompt you for one of three options:
Save Entering S<cr> will automatically memorize and save the current
ON/OFF and FREEZE/THAW settings of all of the layers.
Restore Entering R<cr> will restore the layers to the ON/OFF and
FREEZE/THAW settings in effect the last time the Save option was
used for the drawing file being edited.
VportSet Entering V<cr> will FREEZE or THAW all layers in the current
viewport depending on their global ON/OFF and FREEZE/THAW settings.
All layers that are currently OFF or FROZEN will be frozen in the
current viewport. All others will be thawed in the current
viewport. This command only works if TILEMODE is set to 0.
VPORTSET Option
---------------
The ability to FREEZE/THAW layers in individual viewports was
introduced in Release 11 of AutoCAD along with Paper Space/Model Space. The
VportSet option was added to LAYMEM to increase it's functionality in
manipulating the layers through the VPLAYER command.
The following discussion assumes some familiarity with the use of the
TILEMODE variable, Paper Space/Model Space, and viewports. Briefly, in order
to create viewports, TILEMODE must be set to OFF or 0 enabling the use of
Paper Space/Model Space. Once TILEMODE is set to 0, you can use the MVIEW
command to create viewports.
The utility of the VportSet option is to simplify the setting of the
FREEZE/THAW status of layers in the current viewport, allowing multiple views
to be viewed or plotted on the same sheet in paper space. For instance, you
could turn on all of the floor framing and roof framing layers and have only
the floor framing layers appear in one viewport, and only the roof framing
layers appear in another viewport. You would accomplish this by first turning
layers ON or OFF to view the floor framing. Next, switch to the viewport you
would like to contain the floor framing plan and make it the current viewport.
Type LM<cr>V<cr>. After LAYMEMLT has set the layers in the current viewport,
switch to the viewport you would like to contain the roof framing. Turn off
the floor framing layers and turn the roof framing layers on. Once again
enter LM<cr>V<cr>. When LAYMEM has finished setting the layers in the current
viewport, you can turn the floor framing layers back on. Regenerate each of
the two viewports by issuing a REGENALL command. Once each of the viewports
has been regenerated, they should display the floor framing in one, and the
roof framing in the other.
As with the Save and Restore options, the VportSet option is limited
to setting the FREEZE/THAW status of the layers in the current viewport
according to the current global ON/OFF and FREEZE/THAW status. The full
featured version of laymem allows the setting of the layers per viewport using
any previously saved layer settings as a template.
(c) Copyright 1994 by John D. McCutcheon
All rights reserved
Page 3 Additional Features
-------------------
Additional features of the full version of LAYMEM are the use of the
standard file dialogue boxes in saving and restoring files for Release 12 or
later versions of AutoCAD. For versions prior to Release 12, LAYMEM prints
the names of the layer settings files in the screen menu area when prompting
for filenames to save or restore. LAYMEM also provides an option for deleting
existing layer settings files when operating on Rel. 11 or earlier versions
of AutoCAD. LAYMEM will also create script files for restoring layer settings
of drawings that may be passed on to consultants or clients that may not have
a licensed copy of LAYMEM.
One caveat worth noting in the operation of LAYMEM is that if layers
are added, renamed, or deleted subsequent to the creation of a layer settings
file, error messages may be received as LAYMEM attempts to restore that layer
setting file. This will not affect the integrity of your drawing, but may
have unpredictable results in what layers will be displayed. The results
should be correct for the layer names that were left unchanged, and will be
unpredictable only for those layers that were added, renamed or deleted after
the creation of the layer settings file.
Purchasing LAYMEM
-----------------
This limited version of LAYMEM is provided at no charge and may be
distributed freely as long as this documentation is included with each copy.
The file LAYMEM.EXE is provided for this purpose, as it contains both the
program and documentation.
If you would like to purchase the full-featured version of LAYMEM,
please send $25.00 (payable in U.S. dollars) and your current AutoCAD serial
number to:
J.D. McCADD
233 N. Alarcon
Prescott, AZ 86301
U.S.A.
jdmccadd@bslnet.com
* Please indicate if you intend to use LAYMEM with a version of AutoCAD that
does not utilize extended AutoLisp (Rel. 10 or older).
** If you have a modem and can receive your copy of LAYMEM via modem please
indicate.
(c) Copyright 1994 by John D. McCutcheon
All rights reserved
LAYMEM, LAYMEMLT and all functions contained within are copyrighted by
John D. McCutcheon. Any alteration or decompilation of these files is
prohibited except as provided by written agreement with the author.
AutoCAD and AutoLisp are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark office
by Autodesk, Inc.