PDMS Draft to AutoCAD Layer Mapping

This facility allows you to automatically move entities from DRAFT layers to AutoCAD layers by mapping the DRAFT layers onto user-defined AutoCAD layers. (These user-defined layers will be created automatically if they do not already exist.)

The operation of this facility depends upon the contents of a user-defined text file named pdmslaymap.txt, which must exist in the user’s local directory and which must have read access. Each line of the file may contain the following four fields:

1. The name of the DRAFT layer.
2. The name of the corresponding user-defined AutoCAD layer.
3. The colour number for the AutoCAD layer (in the range 1-255).
4. The linestyle for the AutoCAD layer (in the range 1-255).Note:   Not all of the above need be included. Fields 1. and 2. are compulsory. The allowable optional fields are 3. or 3. and 4. (i.e. having fields 1., 2., and 4. only would be illegal).

Each field should be separated by a single space or a <tab> character only. Comment text may be inserted, denoted by having ‘$*’ as the first two characters of the line.

If the AutoCAD layer does not exist it will be created with the supplied colour and linestyle. If it does exist then the supplied colour and linestyle will be ignored. If the colour number is not supplied, and if the AutoCAD layer is to be created, then it will be created using colour 7 (white). Similarly, if the linestyle is not supplied, and if the AutoCAD layer is to be created, then it will be created with linestyle GTSOLID.

Command:	pdms_layer_mapping
Menu Selection:	PDMS Draw>PDMS Layer Mapping
Initial Prompt:	Do you want to apply layer mapping ? <NO>:
Use:	Press Enter to abort, or enter yes (or YES) and press Enter to proceed.Assuming the pdmslaymap.txt file exists and is correctly structured, the appropriate actions (see above) will be carried out.
Example:	Suppose pdmslaymap.txt contains the following text, and that layer LAY1 does not currently exist on the drawing, but that LAY2 does: $*First layer GT_1 LAY1 5 GTSOLID $*Second layer GT_2 LAY2 6 GTDASH On applying the layer mapping utility, AutoDRAFT will move all entities from DRAFT layer GT_1 to AutoCAD layer LAY1. Layer LAY1 will be created in colour 5 (blue), and linetype GTSOLID. All entities on DRAFT layer GT_2 will be moved to AutoCAD layer LAY2. Since layer LAY2 already exists the supplied colour number (6, magenta) and linestyle (GTDASH) will be ignored. Note that empty DRAFT layers will not be deleted. (It is suggested that these empty layers are removed by using the AutoCAD PURGE command.) An entity whose linestyle is set to BYLAYER on its DRAFT layer will also have its linestyle set to BYLAYER when it is moved to the AutoCAD layer. However, if the linestyle setting for an entity differs from that of the owning DRAFT layer, then the entity-level setting will be preserved when it is moved to the AutoCAD layer. This rule also applies to the colour attribute. If an ‘update’ operation is applied (i.e. if the Update existing Drawing button is pressed on the AutoDRAFT Drawing Editor form; see the DRAFT User Guide) to a drawing which has already had the pdms_layer_mapping command applied to it, then it is likely that multiple copies of some or all of the DRAFT entities will appear on the drawing. It is therefore not advisable to apply the pdms_layer_mapping command to a drawing which requires further DRAFT updates.