A Layer naming standard is the cornerstone of any CAD system and is at the heart of efficient drawing production. So now let’s see how to use layernames to manage drawing data.
Benefits of a layer naming Standard:
- No time wasted thinking what to call a new layer definition.
- No time wasted working out the function of an existing layer.
- No confusion over the order of or abbreviation of layer name fields.
- Drafters are interchangeable without confusion.
- Drawings are shareable without confusion.
- Layers with common characteristics can be managed using wild-cards.
- Editing time is reduced.
- Accuracy is improved.
Much effort has been put into a producing a Layer naming Standard. In Europe the outcome was ISO/DIS 13567, a generic system applicable to all professions. The result was somewhat complex as it tried to be all things to all people. Nevertheless the principles are very sound and will provide a basis for your own custom system. The US developed its own system based somewhat on ISO/DIS 13567. Neither of the two, or any other system that I know of, has provided a consistently workable standard capable of practical adoption.
Nevertheless systematic layer naming is the key to good data management. Any system is better than none but Layer naming continues to be one of the most tedious and time-consuming, yet most important, tasks in CAD.
Layer properties
MycadLAYERS, like many other layer naming standards, extends the implied properties of objects by embodying properties in the LAYERNAME itself. Such properties could be Object-type, Job-status, Drawing-type, View-point and Location of the objects in a drawing set. For example: “BRI 3 7 X 511 P 02” (expanded for readability) that means: “BRIck color3(green) line-type dashed(7) Xisting Plan-view level 02”. This defines the building element’s drawn graphics, its project status, drawing type and location in a drawing set. Looking a little closer it can be seen that the first five characters define drawn nature of the object and the last seven where they belong in a drawing set. If a drawing has a simple single purpose there is no need to include the latter seven characters. A five character layer name may be sufficient and in fact for many simple drawings any more is a waste of time. So much for complex national layer-naming standards. MycadLAYERS provides an automated system for generating and managing layernames and their properties and permits the use of either five or twelve character layernames or may simply be turned OFF when not needed.
MycadLAYERS makes the following AutoCAD commands virtually redundant:
- LMAN
- VPLAYER Newfrz and Vpvisdflt options
- LAYERPALETTE
- LAYERSTATE
Layer name length
MycadLAYERS provides for two different layer name lengths of either five or twelve characters, or may be turned OFF, depending upon the drawing requirements; twelve for drawings with defined Workzones and five for simple one-level one-concept drawings or OFF if a naming standard is not required.
When MycadLAYERS control is set to 5 or 12 characters new layer names created by MycadLAYERS adopt the correct length and format according to the current setting of layer-name length. When layer control is OFF, uncontrolled entry of layer names is permitted. A one-off uncontrolled entry may also be achieved without re-setting the current-layer-name length by pressing ` (back quote) prior to entering the layer name. This has the effect of turning layer-name length to OFF for the current entry only. (similar to invoking a generic Autocad command using a MycadKEYS alias).
By default MycadLAYERS starts up with layername control OFF. The user toggles between: OFF, 5chr, or 12chr by entering the alias $7<enter> or pressing Function Key 7 repeatedly until the required number of layers is set.
Saving MycadLAYERS layer settings
Layername length and associated WORKZONE settings are saved with the drawing from session to session and may be easily changed at any time. The results are displayed in AutoCAD’s status line.