lisp to automatically set a predefined layer current

[youngEIT]

i have created a XREF layer in our template and here's my plan:
instead of asking people to remember to set the XREF layer current before xref-ing drawings in, i would like to automate this with a lisp, so that, every time someone types xr or xref in the command line, the lisp would trigger and automatically set the XREF layer in the drawing current. this is in reason that i have seen a lot of situations where the xref drawing was brought in with the viewport or defpoints layer active and people go crazy trying to figure out why the xref does not plot or show up in plot preview. i would really appreciate if someone has a lisp handy to do this trick can pass it on. also, a little direction to how/where to put it so that it loads automatically would be of great help as well.also, along the same lines, is there a setting i can change in civil 3D so that the xref is not fixed path by default? i would like to make the xref operation as relative path by default.
regards...

 

[IFRs]

Put it in the Acad.lsp file.
Make sure Acad.lsp is loaded into every drawing (set ACADLSPASDOC=1)
The lisp you are looking for will be similar to:
( DEFUN C:XR ()
(SETQ CURRENTLAYER (GETVAR "CLAYER"))
(SETVAR "CLAYER" "XREF")
(COMMAND "XATTACH" "XREFNAME" "" "")
(SETVAR "CLAYER" CURRENTLAYER)
)
You will probably want to add code to check for the existence of the XREF layer etc.

 

[CarlB]

From a little reading I don't believe you can change the default; supposedly it defaults to the last selected option...

http://discussion.autodesk.com/forums/thread.jspa?messageID=6120484&tstart=0

 

[youngEIT]

thanks for the lisp IFRs. but i noticed that it only works when i type XR. if i type XREF at the command line, it will bring up the xref manager, and then if i click on ATTACH DRAWING button, it does not do it. do you think that is do-able?

 

[IFRs]

My young friend - you are going to have to read and understand the LISP fragment I hastily scribbled down. Then modify it for yourself and expand or copy it to another one that defines a new command "XREF".

For example:

DEFUN C:XR DEfines a new Function that is permenant by virtue of the "C:" and is called XR.

The SETQ defines a local varibvle I called "CURRENTLAYER" and sets it's value to the current layer name, to be used later.

The SETVAR line changes an AUTOCAD variable CLAYER (Current Layer) to "XREF", which works only if it exists, that is.

The COMMAND line executes an AUTOCAD command just as if you typed it on the command line, in this case "XATTACH" which is the same as attaching an xref from a fancy dialog box...

The final SETVAR sets the CLAYER (current layer) back to what it was before we started this program.

The more you know, the better able you are to propel yourself forward!!

Good luck (never give up / never surrender!!!)

 

[youngEIT]

copying the code for a defun c:xref was my initial thought; but it didnt work. that's when i thought i am mising something. also, i found that a better place to put the lisp was acaddoc.lsp that acad.lsp. anyway, i appreciate you taking the time in explaining, and thanks for the good explanation. i will take it and try to propel forward as you said!

 

[CarlB]

I believe it worked for you for "xr", as the lisp routine replaced a shortcut. But a lisp command function will not take precedence over the regular "xref" command. There are ways around this, including "undefining" the native xref' command, along with new functions for "xr", "xref" "-xref" "ddlxref" or whatever the dialog box version is. I believe use of 'reactors' is a cleaner way to do this, as in the example in the first link below. Good luck!

http://www.cadforum.cz/cadforum_en/qaID.asp?tip=5131

http://www.afralisp.net/lispa/lisp46.htm