Topic: Importing Layer controls without opening drawings

[MSTG007]

I was wondering if there is a possible way for a user to select certain drawings within the same directory (folder) and inject a new layer with its color without the user having to physically open each drawing and creating them?

[Lee Mac]

Download & load my ObjectDBX Wrapper function & Get Files Dialog function, and then try the following code:

Code - Auto/Visual Lisp: [Select]

1. (defun c:test ( / lst )
2.     (if (setq lst (LM:getfiles "Select drawings to process" "" "dwg;dwt;dws"))
3.         (LM:odbx '(lambda ( doc ) (vla-put-color (vla-add (vla-get-layers doc) "MyLayer") acred)) lst t)
4.     )
5.     (princ)
6. )

The above will create a red layer called "MyLayer" in selected drawings, or will make this layer red if it already exists.

[MSTG007]

Geesh! Wow! I have a user who is not very tech savvy. How can I get them to use this?

[Lee Mac]

Geesh! Wow! I have a user who is not very tech savvy. How can I get them to use this?

Show them how to use it?

[MSTG007]

I can definitely try too. I guess I was thinking that there would be a way that the user can launch the command, pops up a box to select what files and then prompt what layer name and color to use.

[Lee Mac]

I guess I was thinking that there would be a way that the user can launch the command, pops up a box to select what files and then prompt what layer name and color to use.

Yes, this is possible -

Code - Auto/Visual Lisp: [Select]

1. (defun c:test ( / col lay lst )
2.     (while (not (or (= "" (setq lay (getstring t "\nSpecify layer name: "))) (snvalid lay)))
3.         (princ "\nInvalid layer name.")
4.     )
5.     (if (and (/= "" lay)
6.              (setq col (acad_colordlg 7 nil))
7.              (setq lst (LM:getfiles "Select drawings to process" "" "dwg;dwt;dws"))
8.         )
9.         (LM:odbx '(lambda ( doc ) (vla-put-color (vla-add (vla-get-layers doc) lay) col)) lst t)
10.     )
11.     (princ)
12. )

[MSTG007]

I will give it a try!

[MSTG007]

Ok. I am having a problem. I can not figure out how to run your lisp! lol (sorry)!

[irneb]

Ok. I am having a problem. I can not figure out how to run your lisp! lol (sorry)!

Did you do this also?

Download & load my ObjectDBX Wrapper function & Get Files Dialog function...

You'd need both those in addition to Lee's code, since it's calling those 2 functions. Thus you'd have to load those functions as well, or simply paste all of them into the same LSP file.

[HasanCAD]

Find attached

[duotu007]

I guess I was thinking that there would be a way that the user can launch the command, pops up a box to select what files and then prompt what layer name and color to use.

Yes, this is possible -

Code - Auto/Visual Lisp: [Select]

1. (defun c:test ( / col lay lst )
2.     (while (not (or (= "" (setq lay (getstring t "\nSpecify layer name: "))) (snvalid lay)))
3.         (princ "\nInvalid layer name.")
4.     )
5.     (if (and (/= "" lay)
6.              (setq col (acad_colordlg 7 nil))
7.              (setq lst (LM:getfiles "Select drawings to process" "" "dwg;dwt;dws"))
8.         )
9.         (LM:odbx '(lambda ( doc ) (vla-put-color (vla-add (vla-get-layers doc) lay) col)) lst t)
10.     )
11.     (princ)
12. )

hi,LM,some fun like vla-purgeall  vla-zoomextents can't work with ObjectDBX?

[MSTG007]

Thank you all for your help! Just another dumb question to go with this... Is there a way to run another lisp inside or script file? If not that's ok. Just curious!

[Kerry]

yes. just load it from the scoipt and call it.

Have a play.

[Lee Mac]

@Irné & Hasan, thank you for assisting in my absence. 

@duotu007, only ActiveX methods derived from the document object will be available from ObjectDBX, and even then there are limitations. Since zoomextents is a method of the application, this certainly cannot be used, but I have not tried the purgeall method through an ObjectDBX interface - let me know how you get on. 

[MSTG007]

I guess I was thinking that there would be a way that the user can launch the command, pops up a box to select what files and then prompt what layer name and color to use.

Yes, this is possible -

Code - Auto/Visual Lisp: [Select]

1. (defun c:test ( / col lay lst )
2.     (while (not (or (= "" (setq lay (getstring t "\nSpecify layer name: "))) (snvalid lay)))
3.         (princ "\nInvalid layer name.")
4.     )
5.     (if (and (/= "" lay)
6.              (setq col (acad_colordlg 7 nil))
7.              (setq lst (LM:getfiles "Select drawings to process" "" "dwg;dwt;dws"))
8.         )
9.         (LM:odbx '(lambda ( doc ) (vla-put-color (vla-add (vla-get-layers doc) lay) col)) lst t)
10.     )
11.     (princ)
12. )

hi,LM,some fun like vla-purgeall  vla-zoomextents can't work with ObjectDBX?

I have been working on this for a few... no such luck with calling a script. However, this is pretty powerful stuff!:)
The script is on my C root drive...