Setting properties of an AutoCAD layer using EXCEL VBA

Introduction

Setting the properties of an image layer (layer) is very important to improve the efficiency of your work in AutoCAD.
This article details how to set layer properties in AutoCAD using Excel VBA.

Layer property settings

Basic VBA Codes

First, here is some basic VBA code to set the properties of a picture layer in AutoCAD.

Sub SetLayerProperties()
  Dim acadApp As Object
  Dim acadDoc As Object
  Dim layer As Object
  
  'Retrieve the AutoCAD application
  Set acadApp = GetObject(,"AutoCAD.Application")
  Set acadDoc = acadApp.ActiveDocument
  
  'Get the target layer
  On Error Resume Next
  Set Layer = acadDoc.Layers.Item("TargetLayerName")
  On Error GoTo 0
  
  'Handle case when the target layer does not exist
  If layer Is Nothing Then
    MsgBox "The target layer was not found."
    Exit Sub
  End If
  
  'Set properties for the layer
  layer.Color = acBlue  'Color
  layer.LineType = "LineTypeName"  'Line type
  layer.LineWeight = acLnWt030  'Line weight
  layer.PlotStyleName = "PlotStyleName"  'Plot style
  layer.Transparency = 0  'Transparency
  layer.Description = "This layer contains important drawings."  'Description
End Sub

Detailed Description

Get the AutoCAD application using the GetObject function.
Get the current document using the ActiveDocument property.
Get the target image layer using the Layers.Item method.
Set the layer attributes using the Coler, LineType, lineWeight, and Description properties.

For the LineType property, enter the name of the line type used in the layer.

Property Details

Color settings

Color is set using the Color property.

Line type setting

The line type is set using the LineType property. Use the name of the linetype loaded in the drawing. To check the line type loaded in the drawing, open AutoCAD, type “LUNETYPE” in the command line, and press the Enter key. This dialog box allows you to check the linetype.

Line thickness setting

Line thickness is set using the LineWeight property.

Print Style Settings

The print style is set using the PlotStyleName property.
Use the name used for the print style table active in the drawing.
To check the print style table, open AutoCAD, type “PLOTSTYLE” in the command line and press Enter to display the “Select Print Style” dialog box. You can check it in this dialog box.

Transparency Settings

Transparency is set using the Transparency property.
The range of transparency should be set from 0 to 90.

Setting Description

Description is set using the Description property. This is used to add a note or description for a layer.

summary

Setting up the properties of a picture layer is a fundamental step in streamlining your AutoCAD work; with VBA, you can automate these operations and save time.

Did you know you can tell someone’s personality by how they manage layers?
Organized layers: Perfectionist.
Random numbers for layers: Adventurer.
Everything on Layer 0: Absolute chaos.