Topic: Anyone have code for Listing a Layer in a Xref and it's color-linetype-etc

[doggarncity]

Hi All
   Anybody ever made code for a simple list a layer in an Xref? and have it show all it's layer properties.
I want to through a viewport select a entity in an xref. I just found that this would be very cool maybe save
some time.

Thanks in Advance
Mike

[Gliderider]

Try Express tools' Xlist command.

[Rob...]

That's a very useful command that I didn't know about.

Thanks lpseifert!

[mjfarrell]

Hi All
   Anybody ever made code for a simple list a layer in an Xref? and have it show all it's layer properties.
I want to through a viewport select a entity in an xref. I just found that this would be very cool maybe save
some time.

Thanks in Advance
Mike

I keep trying to figure out why you want to know an XREF layer, name and properties in the CURRENT drawing?
I can think of only a couple of reasons to do this, you are attempting to draw something; that most likely should be going into that XREF file, in the current drawing. Try REFEDIT and then just work in the xref, at that point the object(s) layer will be exposed to you.  Or open the XREF in question and work in that file.
Actually I can't think of another reason to 'know' anything about an objects layer properties in an XREF.
What are you really trying to do, as this question seems like an end around to the last one, regarding XREF layers.
Or instead of what are you trying to do, WHY do you want this information, and then WHAT are you doing with it?
I ask; because it could help us give you an alternate that will save even MORE time.

[Rob...]

I keep trying to figure out why you want to know an XREF layer, name and properties in the CURRENT drawing?
I can think of only a couple of reasons to do this, you are attempting to draw something; that most likely should be going into that XREF file, in the current drawing. Try REFEDIT and then just work in the xref, at that point the object(s) layer will be exposed to you.  Or open the XREF in question and work in that file.
Actually I can't think of another reason to 'know' anything about an objects layer properties in an XREF.
What are you really trying to do, as this question seems like an end around to the last one, regarding XREF layers.
Or instead of what are you trying to do, WHY do you want this information, and then WHAT are you doing with it?
I ask; because it could help us give you an alternate that will save even MORE time.
[/quote]

I just shared "XLIST" with about 6 people who all said that they wish they knew that command a long time ago. When you work with files from multiple sources that don't have the best drafting practices, sometimes it just isn't clear what an object is. Sometimes a rectangle is not a rectangle. It's a refrigerator, a storage cabinet, or fume hood.

[mjfarrell]

Yes, I know and have used XLIST extensively.

Refedit also works, for this.

However from the OP description in another post, it sounds as if he wants to actually DRAW stuff on the XREF layer.
I'm really afraid that we are about to help him do bad cad things, in the name of the already bad cad practices he decries to exist.

It seems there is a CAD crime in progress.     

[Matt__W]

I use the INSPECT command myself.

[mjfarrell]

To tell the truth most often when I need to know anything about another file, my most common practice is to attach to that file with MAP.  run a generic ALL query statement. Inspect the data I am interested in, and make note of relevant properties. This is usually done so that data from others, including Mapping information can later be successfully queried into the file from which the plans will be plotted.  This way one need not even be bothered by use of XREFS, and the saved query can be kept in a library for layer use, or to make the MAP again should any of the base data be modified. 
I think this user and the city staff would gain lot or productivity  using  MAP more, instead of brute force cad.

[T.Willey]

I rolled this one here [>Link<].  Just use the one in the first post.

[doggarncity]

Yes, I know and have used XLIST extensively.

Refedit also works, for this.

However from the OP description in another post, it sounds as if he wants to actually DRAW stuff on the XREF layer.
I'm really afraid that we are about to help him do bad cad things, in the name of the already bad cad practices he decries to exist.

It seems there is a CAD crime in progress.     

Hi Mike F
    Please don't assume anything. I want to identify the layer so when I do go back with xref edit I can find the stupid layer without a long drawn
out search. Don't do your bad cad on me. If you have an alternative other than Xlist please do tell. Almost think you are a Cad Gestapo in the making
tone it down. I appreciate your help but not the crap sometimes. The other post was a undefined question that after posting made me want to take it off
because the question wasn't well expressed for the problem at hand for me. I have alot of crap dwgs from other people before me that have no
idea of cad standards of anykind. So, when sifting thru the crap I want to find the offending layers and if possible put some order to the xref but it is
a research mission at best. You know search and destroy.

On the Xlist command idea Many thanks. That will do just right in my mission of search and destroy.

Mike

[doggarncity]

I rolled this one here [>Link<].  Just use the one in the first post.

Tim
   Wow, that is exactly what I wanted. Your NList routine is perfect. Many thanks.
Your are a awesome coder and have watched you for years and your work is always
in my best user lisp routines.

Mike

[mjfarrell]

blah blah blah

It is simply that I, or any of us here would be remiss in not trying to suggest best pratices when and where practical to do so.  If your other post had been just slightly clearer, I would have given you the XLIST solution that day.  Only it seemed from YOUR description of what you were attempting to do, that you should not have access to that tool for that use. 

And to be sure you would most likely love and hate working with me in the position of cad manager. 


And if you would use REFEDIT defferently you wouldn't need to go digging around trying to find that object on that layer.....so you still wouldn't need this tool.

[T.Willey]

I rolled this one here [>Link<].  Just use the one in the first post.

Tim
   Wow, that is exactly what I wanted. Your NList routine is perfect. Many thanks.
Your are a awesome coder and have watched you for years and your work is always
in my best user lisp routines.

Mike

Thanks Mike.  I'm glad you, and others, can use and appreciate the code.

[mjfarrell]

Tim,

Make no mistake I appreciate the code, and the time you spent refining it, even after it 'worked' for your your needs; to make it even batter!

[T.Willey]

Tim,

Make no mistake I appreciate the code, and the time you spent refining it, even after it 'worked' for your your needs; to make it even batter!

I meant nothing towards you Mike F..  Sorry if it seemed that way.  It just makes me happy that others can use the code that I do write, and use myself, and I took no offense my your posts.