Topic: Wildcards

[VerticalMojo]

I know that when I use this macro it will lock all my layers....

^C^C_-layer;lock;*;;

What if I wanted to only lock the layers that only have the first 2 letters the same? Is there a way to do this?

[MikePerry]

^C^C_-layer;lock;*;;

What if I wanted to only lock the layers that only have the first 2 letters the same? Is there a way to do this?

Hi

Maybe....

^C^C_.-Layer;_Lock;AB*;;

Have a good one, Mike

[daron]

Wildcards work many ways. The best way to understand them is to go to a computer that has lisp capabilities, open up the acad_dev.chm <-help file and read up on wcmatch. The wild cards listed are pretty standard all around. Give a few of them a try.

[whdjr]

How would you go about setting this to a boole function (toggle on or off)?
Is it better to use a macro button like this? incorporate diesel? or just lisp it out?

[MikePerry]

Hi

As "VerticalMojo" is using AutoCAD LT (info taken from Signature) I would guess it would have to be Command Macro or Diesel....

Have a good one, Mike

[MP]

<Going WAY off topic for the nerds, but thinking outside la box ...>

One approach might be to create a basic mechanism that makes it
easy to apply modifications to the layer table. For example:

<programmer's tangent ...>

:)

[CADaver]

er... thanks Michael...

ummm...  Wildcards... ahh yes wildcards are kewl and there are several that can be used in conjunction.

~ = "except"
? = single character
* = group of characters
# = numeric character
@ = alpha character
[] = Matches any one of the characters enclosed; for example,

[AB]C matches AC and BC
[/list:u]
You can get the whole list from HELP in Acad.

They're great in the layer dialog box for listing just what you want to see.

~*|* will list everything NOT an xref'd layer
*|#* will list xref'd layers that start with a number
will list only layers with 3 characters
base*|* will list layers for xrefs whose names start with base
[/list:u]
BTW, you did know that you can rename xrefs using the RENAME command.  I generally prefix Civ\Str drawing with a z and mechanical drawings with a y to sort them to the bottom of the layer list.

[whdjr]

Thanks Randy.

I will use that tidbit of info.

[VerticalMojo]

Thanks Mike and Randy.... very useful info.

[CADaver]

You're welcome guys. I use the wildcards instead of layer filters (though layer filters add flexibility with display features FRZ/THAW ON/OFF).  Just bang in the wildcard string in the line at the top of the dialog box.  Added advantage is checking the little box to show only those in the pull-down.