change one layer in all the layer states

say you have several layer states in your dwg and you want to change one
layers properties in all the states (or maybe selected states).

i would like to write a routine where i pick a layer and it gets the color,
linetpe, and lineweight after it was altered and then a list of all the
states are printed (eg.)

1. state1
2. state 2
3. state 3
4. state 4
5. state 5

1. all states 2. selected states
2
state1 (y/n)
Y
state2 (y/n)
N

etc... etc...

I am not sure if there is a tblsearch or maybe a vlax function that could be
best used to accomplish this.
Any tips before i get started would be appreciated. If successful i will
post it here when done.

Thanks, Alex

 

First, Look into the LayerState Object in the VBA help for properties and
methods that can be used with vlax-get, vlax-put, vlax-invoke.

Then, write a routine that has the layer name and layer properties saved in
varibles. Iterate through all the layer states and process in this order:
Restore Layer State - Restore Layer Properties - Delete Layer State - Save
Layer State.

jb

 

thanks.

I use this quite a bit ofter with a number a letter as a layer state name to
quicly change displays on the fly. But if i alter a layer and pull back
another state i lose the settings. maybe i will make an update all routine
all where all layer states will be compared to current layer settings - for
cases where different settings are not warranted.

; q.lsp sets layer on/off snapshots (not freeze and thaw) for work in a
dwg.
; Sq records a snapshot in var set x)
; q restores a snapshot from var set x)

(defun c:Sq ()
(setq ls (getstring "Enter layer state name to save: "))
(command "layer" "a" "d" ls "" "" "")
(command "layer" "a" "s" ls "" "" "")
(princ))

(defun c:q ()
(setq ls (getstring "Enter layer state name to restore: "))
(command "layer" "a" "r" ls "" "")
(princ))

 

How would you you word it so that you could save the certain properties you wanted back to the layer state? Here is how I have tried it, without success (A2K4):


Command: (setq LayStObj (vla-GetInterfaceObject (vlax-get-Acad-Object) "AutoCAD.AcadLayerStateManager.16"))
#<VLA-OBJECT IAcadLayerStateManager 030d9454>

Command: (vla-save LayStObj "Test" '("acColor"))
; error: lisp value has no coercion to VARIANT with this type: ("acColor")

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" '("acColor"))
; error: argument type mismatch: ("acColor")

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" "acColor")
; error: argument type mismatch: "acColor"

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" '("acLsColor"))
; error: argument type mismatch: ("acLsColor")

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" "acLsColor")
; error: argument type mismatch: "acLsColor"

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" acLsColor)
; error: AutoCAD.Application: Not initialized yet

Command: (vlax-invoke LayStObj 'save "Test" 'acLsColor)
; error: AutoCAD.Application: Not initialized yet

Thanks for any help.
Tim

 

This is what I use:

;;
;; Function to grab an item 'name' from a collection
(defun layexist (collection item / rslt)
(if
(not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(setq rslt
(vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-item
(list collection item)
);trap error
);end setq
);return T if successful, else nil
);end not
rslt; return object or nil
);end if
);end defun

;;
;; Function to obtain Layer Status for Layer Chosen
(defun get_layer_status ( layer_n / ado lyo lay )
(setq ado (vla-get-ActiveDocument (vlax-get-acad-object)));get pointer to activeDocument
(setq lyo (vla-get-layers ado))
(if layer_n
(progn
(setq lay (layexist5 lyo layer_n))
(if lay
(progn
(setq l_on 1
l_freeze 0
l_locked 0
l_color 255
l_linetype "Continuous"
l_plotstylename "Normal"
l_lineweight "Default"
); setq defaults
(if (= (vla-get-LayerOn lay) :vlax-false);is layer off?
(setq l_on 0)
);end if
(if (= (vla-get-Freeze lay) :vlax-true);is layer frozen?
(setq l_freeze 1)
);end if
(if (= (vla-get-Lock lay) :vlax-true);is layer locked?
(setq l_locked 1)
);end if
(setq l_color (eval (vlax-get-property lay 'Color)))
(setq l_lineType (eval (vlax-get-property lay 'Linetype)))
(setq l_lineweight (eval (vlax-get-property lay 'Lineweight)))
(setq l_plotstylename (eval (vlax-get-property lay 'PlotStyleName)))
); progn
); if
); progn
); if
(if ado (vlax-release-object ado))
(if lyo (vlax-release-object lyo))
(if lay (vlax-release-object lay))
(princ)
); end function get_layer_status

Bob
www.bobscadshop.com

 

Hi Tim,

Your last example was correct. Use a quoted symbol/constant. You can string them
together.

Notice the error. There's another step involved, shown below. Use the SetDatabase
method to associate the document database with the LayerStateManager object. See help
for more info.

Code:

(setq *acad* (vlax-get-Acad-Object))
(setq *doc* (vla-get-ActiveDocument *acad*))
(setq LayStObj (vla-GetInterfaceObject *acad* "AutoCAD.AcadLayerStateManager.16"))
(vla-setdatabase LayStObj (vla-get-database *doc*))) ;added
;save color and on/off status
(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save "Test" 'acLsColoracLsOn)

HTH
Joe Burke

 

Typo: extra right paren at the added line.

Joe

 

Hey Joe,

Thanks again. I looked in the help before I posted, and saw the "SetDatabse" thing, but didn't know where to use it. I also noticed that if you have a layer state by the same name it won't work, so you have to delete that one then save it.

Thanks.
Tim

 

New problem.

I want to save a layer state before my routine changes anything, that is no problem. The problem is that I can't save a layer state with all the properties saved. This is my attempt

(setq LayStObj (vla-GetInterfaceObject (vlax-get-Acad-Object) "AutoCAD.AcadLayerStateManager.16"))
(vla-SetDatabase LayStObj (vla-get-Database ActDoc))
(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save "---TempLayerState---" 'acLsAll)

It doesn't seem to work. Anyone know how to save it?

Ok... so I have two problems.

I get my string on what properties to save, but I can't seem to pass the string to the LayStObj. Here is how I am attempting to do it.
(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save State (read (cdr RtnOptions)))

Where RtnOptions is formatted like.
(vlax-false :vlax-false :vlax-false :vlax-false :vlax-true) .
"acLsColoracLsFrozenacLsOn")

If you don't think this is enough info, and the lisp would help, I could post that also.

Thanks in advance.
Tim

 

I didn't look carefully, but I did notice 'acLsAll. I think it should just
be acLsAll ( no ' ).
--
James Allen, EIT
Malicoat-Winslow Engineers, P.C.
Columbia, MO

no problem. The problem is that I can't save a layer state with all the
properties saved. This is my attempt

string to the LayStObj. Here is how I am attempting to do it.

 

Hi Tim,

Sorry, seems I steered you wrong. I didn't look past the fact a layer state was
created with the correct name.

James is right. If you want to specify a single constant it should not be quoted.
Both of these work for me and they do the same thing.

(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save "---TempLayerState---" acLsAll)
(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save "---TempLayerState---" 65535)

Given your other example: color, frozen and on:

(vlax-invoke LayStObj 'Save "---TempLayerState---" (+ 32 2 1))

See help under the Mask property of the LayerStateManager object for the values of
the various constants.

Joe Burke

 

Tim,

Here's some functions by Tony which deal with layer states. I haven't used them. Just
something I stashed away. Either useful as is, or maybe to provide some insight into
the questions you asked. I tried a few of them. They worked as expected with 2004.

Formatting isn't what it should be. They were posted by someone other than Tony.

Hope this compensates for my previous mis-information.

Joe Burke

Code:

;|
REQUIREMENTS: AutoCAD ver 2000+

OBJECT:   Save and Restore Layer States compatible with AutoCAD's Layer
Manager.

SUBR's:   (lsave name bit)
(lrestore name)
(ldelete name)

---------------------------------------------------------
Layer Bit Settings                     Bit Value


All layer properties================== 65535
Color================================= 32
Frozen or thawed====================== 2
Linetype============================== 64
Lineweight============================ 128
Locked or unlocked==================== 4
New viewport layers frozen or thawed== 16

None================================== 0
On or off============================= 1
Plotting on or off==================== 8
Plot style============================ 256
---------------------------------------------------------
|;

;;;Author: Tony Tanzillo
(defun LayerGetObject (ProgId / Result)
;; First try using explicit version-dependent progid:
(setq result
(vla-getinterfaceobject
(vlax-get-acad-object)
(strcat ProgId "." (substr (getvar "acadver") 1 2))
)
)
;; Else try the version-independent progid:
(if (not result)
(setq result
(vla-getinterfaceobject
(vlax-get-acad-object)
progid
)
)
)
result
) ;end

(setq *lsman* (LayerGetObject "autocad.acadlayerstatemanager"))
(vla-setdatabase *lsman* (vla-get-database (vla-get-activedocument
(vlax-get-acad-object))))

(defun lsave (nam bit)
(setq nam (strcase nam))
(if (member nam (getstatenames))
(vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-delete (list *lsman* nam))
)
(vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-save (list *lsman* nam bit))
(prompt (strcat "\n" nam " Saved"))
(princ)
)

(defun lrestore (nam)
(if (member (setq nam (strcase nam)) (getstatenames))
(progn (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-restore (list *lsman* nam))
(vl-cmdf "_.regenall")
(prompt (strcat "\n" nam " Restored"))
)
)
(princ)
)

(defun ldelete (nam)
(if (member (setq nam (strcase nam)) (getstatenames))
(progn (vl-catch-all-apply 'vla-delete (list *lsman* nam))
(prompt (strcat "\n" nam " Deleted"))
)
)
(princ)
)

;;;Utility Return Saved States
(defun getstatenames (/ nams dict obj)
(setq dict (vla-getextensiondictionary
(vla-get-layers
(vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-acad-object))
)
)
)
(if (not
(vl-catch-all-error-p
(setq obj (vl-catch-all-apply
(function (lambda () (vla-item dict "ACAD_LAYERSTATES")))
)
)
)
)
(vlax-for n obj
(setq nams (cons (strcase (vla-get-name n)) nams))
)
)
(if nams
(acad_strlsort nams)
)
) ;end

 

Hi Tim,

You're welcome. Glad we finally got it straight... learning as we go.

I loaded what you posted. Looks pretty slick. I haven't beat on it yet, but I will
when I have some time.

Regards
Joe Burke

 

Thanks Joe. Hope it holds up to all the weird testing you will do to it.

Tim