Overview
Every office has their own way of handling layers...and...we should probably
just leave it at that. We wont try to change the world, but we will offer up some tips that we have
found helpful in our experiences. See Tips when setting up layer schemes
in our Tips and Tricks area.
There are basically two ways to set up APS layer schemes: From scratch
or by Importing
your existing layer schemes into the APS layer scheme system.
This process can take some time and can seem very tedious
but we HIGHLY recommend taking the time to do it and do it with
some careful thought. Once completed you won't have to do this again and
the amount of time and headache you will save later is well worth the
effort now.
The recommended steps to setting up a layer scheme from scratch are:
- Create a list of the drawing types you use
Examples might include: "Existing/As-Built Plans",
"Existing + New Plans", "Reflected Ceiling Plans",
"Building Sections", "Wall Sections",
"Details", "Enlarged Plans", "Floor Framing
Plans", "Elevations", etc. You will eventually create a
layer scheme for each.
- Create layer types common to all drawing
types.
In a separate list create layer types that will be common to every drawing
you create. A layer type could be considered a "reason" for a
layer. It often helps people to use the form "A layer for
______" when creating layer types. Instead of saying
"dimensions" (which could get confused with a layer name) we
could say "A layer for dimensions". We are just reserving a
space for a layer name later. So using our form above, examples of these
common layer types could include "A layer for notes & leaders",
"A layer for dimensions", "A layer for arch
symbols", "A layer for drawing titles", "A
layer for title blocks", "A layer for hatches &
fills", "A layer for non-plotting/scratch", etc.
- Create layer types for each drawing type
Under each drawing type you listed above list all the layer types you will
need for each drawing type. Once again, we are only defining the layer
types, so we might have "A layer for walls", "A
layer for doors", "A layer for casework",
"A layer for windows", and so on for a floor plan.
- Enter the layer types into the APS system.
Once you have your full list of all the layer types you will need for all
your drawing types enter them into the APS system. Open the APS-CONFIG
configuration command and select Layer
Control System from the list (you will probably have to scroll down to
get it).
 Under
where it says "Create/Customize Layer Types" you will see four
buttons. The layer types are divided into four sections: Common, Elevation,
Plan, and Sect/Detl.(Section/Detail). Enter your layer types into the appropriate sections.
Don't worry what drawing type they come from just divide them into the
appropriate sections. See Customizing layer
types for more information.
- Assign layer types to APS commands
This is where we tell all of the APS commands which layer type to use. Once
again open the APS-CONFIG
configuration command and select Layer
Control System from the list (you will probably have to scroll down to
get it). This time select the
button and assign all the APS commands and command types a layer type. An
example might be assigning the KEYNOT command to use the "Layer for arch
symbols". See Assigning
layer types to commands for more information.
- Create a layer scheme for each of the drawing types.
The list of drawing types that you created in the first step above is also
the list of layer schemes that you will now create. Using the SCHEMEDIT
command do the following for each of your drawing types:
- Create the layer scheme.
Press the "ADD Scheme" button and a new scheme will appear called "New
Layer Scheme" (edit the "Full layer scheme name:" when creating the layers
in the step below in the "Layer Scheme Editor" to change the title). You
may create a maximum of 16 layer schemes in each layer scheme file so if
you have more than 16 layer types you will have to create more than one
layer scheme file.
- Edit the newly created scheme
Double click your new scheme (probably called "New Layer Scheme" at this
point) or select the scheme and press the "Edit Scheme" button.
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Depending on the type of layer scheme you are creating you should
usually only have to complete the "Common" portion and the one
other section that is applicable to your layer scheme.
Once you have completed the above steps using the SCHEMEDIT
command for each of your layer schemes you are ready to get to work using them.
See Using Layer Schemes for more
information.
This process is very similar to the process you would have to go
through when starting from scratch except some of the layer decisions and
planning has already been done for you.
The recommended steps to setting up APS layer schemes from existing
layer schemes:
- List out your current layer schemes
Somehow get your existing layer schemes listed on paper so you can see not
only how many schemes you have but also the information for each of the
layers in each scheme ie: name, color, linetype, and lineweight.
- One way to print them out (if you don't have them otherwise
documented) is to perform a screen capture from the layer properties
manager in AutoCAD. To do this open the layer properties manager in
AutoCAD and stretch it as big as you can to show as many layers as
possible with all the properties for each layer visible. When the layer
manager is just the way you want it press <Alt><PrtScn>.
Alt+Print-screen copies the current window to the clipboard. Now open
paint (or any other bitmap editor) and under the "Edit"
pull-down select "Paste". The layer manager image will appear
in your paint program. You can save this file and/or print it. Repeat
this process until you have all the information for your layers and
layer schemes documented.
- Compile a list of the drawing types you use
This is simply a list of all the layer schemes that you use. Examples might include: "Existing/As-Built Plans",
"Existing + New Plans", "Reflected Ceiling Plans",
"Building Sections", "Wall Sections",
"Details", "Enlarged Plans", "Floor Framing
Plans", "Elevations", etc. You will eventually create an
APS layer scheme for each.
- Create layer types common to all your existing drawing
types
In a separate list create layer types that will be common to every drawing
you create. A layer type could be considered a "reason" for a
layer. It often helps people to use the form "A layer for
______" when defining layer types. Instead of saying
"dimensions" (which could get confused with a layer name) we
could say "A layer for dimensions". We are just reserving a
space for a layer name later. In your existing layer schemes you will
generally have a few layer types common to all your schemes. So using our form above, examples of these
common layer types might include "A layer for notes & leaders",
"A layer for dimensions", "A layer for arch
symbols", "A layer for drawing titles", "A
layer for title blocks", "A layer for hatches &
fills", "A layer for non-plotting/scratch", etc.
- Create the remaining layer types from each of your
drawing types
Now create three lists with the headings: "Plan layer types",
"Elevation layer types", and "Section & Detail layer types" We will now create
layer types under each of these headings from your existing layer schemes. For
each layer in each of your existing layer schemes create a layer type under the
appropriate heading (Remember a layer type is "A layer for _____").
If possible try to
create layer types under each heading that will cover layers from more than
one of your layer schemes that fit under that heading.
Example: Under the "Elevation layer types"
heading rather than having "A layer for cabinet elevations" and "A layer for electrical plan symbols" both as layer types
maybe we could just have "A layer for symbols" layer type that
covers both. Remember we are just
reserving a space for a layer name later. Even if these two schemes will have
a different layer name for their "symbols" all we are doing is reserving a
spot for "A layer for symbols".
- Enter the layer types into the APS system.
Open the APS-CONFIG
configuration command and select Layer
Control System from the list (you will probably have to scroll down to
get it).
Under
where it says "Create/Customize Layer Types" you will see four
buttons corresponding to the layer type groupings that you have created. Enter your layer types into the appropriate sections.
See Customizing layer
types for more information.
- Assign layer types to APS commands
This is where we tell all of the APS commands which layer type to use. Once
again open the APS-CONFIG
configuration command and select Layer
Control System from the list (you will probably have to scroll down to
get it). This time select the
button and assign all the APS commands and command types a layer type. An
example might be assigning the KEYNOT command to use the "Layer for arch
symbols". See Assigning
layer types to commands for more information.
- Create a layer scheme for each of the drawing types.
Using the SCHEMEDIT
command do the following for each of your drawing types:
- Create the layer schemes.
Press the "ADD Scheme" button and a new scheme will appear called "New
Layer Scheme" (edit the "Full layer scheme name:" when creating the layers in
the step below in the "Layer Scheme Editor" to change the title). You may
create a maximum of 16 layer schemes in each layer scheme file so if you have
more than 16 layer types you will have to create more than one layer scheme
file.
- Edit the newly created schemes
Double click your new scheme (probably called "New Layer Scheme" at this
point) or select the scheme and press the "Edit Scheme" button.
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- Add layers
to the scheme from layers in the current drawing
At the bottom of the dialog press the
button and the following dialog will appear:
The layers that are in the current drawing and that are NOT a part
of the current layer scheme will be listed in the box on the
right. If you want all the layers shown to be added to your layer
scheme press "OK". Otherwise use the buttons in the
middle to arrange it so that only the layers that you want added
to the layer scheme are shown in the right side box. Use
<Ctrl> and <Shift> to select multiple layers. When the
layers are added to the layer scheme they will be entered with the
same color, linetype, and lineweight as the layers have in the
current drawing.
- Add
layers to the scheme from an exported layer state file
At the bottom of the dialog press the
button and you will be prompted to locate the layer state file you
would like to import.
Locate the layer state file that you would like to import and all
the layers that are not already a part of the current scheme will
be imported.
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- Add
layers to the scheme manually
Select a location under which you would like to add a layer then
press the "ADD Layer" button...
A new "blank" line will appear in the layer scheme.
Double click on this new "blank" layer or press the
"EDIT Layer" button and the following dialog will appear:
 Enter the layer
name at the top and then an eight character abbreviation or
description of the layer. This abbreviation is what will be
displayed in either the screen menu area or the layer pull-down. It
can be any 8 characters that quickly convey to you the layer name.
Sometimes the actual layer name can get a little cryptic so it can
be a translation like using "TITLBLK"
as the abbreviation for a layer called "A-ANNO-TTLB".
Also enter the linetype, color (how
to select colors), and lineweight for the layer. When done press
"OK" and the layer will be added to the layer scheme.
Once you have completed the above steps for each of your layer schemes you are ready to get to work using them.
See Using Layer Schemes for more
information. |
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