Load Layers

Merge the layers from a drawing saved on disk into an existing open drawing.

This function allows you to add one or more layers from an existing drawing to the current drawing. You can specify which layers are inserted.

If both drawings are in the Cartesian or Surveyor Coordinate System, the drawings are merged automatically. If not, you are prompted to indicate an insertion point for the drawing you are loading, as well as a scale and rotation to be applied.

All drawing objects from the loaded drawing, such as layers, linestyles, text styles, blocks, etc, are merged into the current drawing. If the name of an object being merged is the same as that of an object already in the current drawing, the object in the current drawing is retained and the duplicate discarded. Empty layers will not be loaded.

Procedure

1. In the Open window, specify the drawing containing the layers you require.

2. Use the Files of type dropdown list to select the type of drawing files to display. The types of drawings that are supported are:

• • AllyCAD (.dr4)

  • AutoCAD (.dwg and .dxf)AllyCAD 3.x (.drg)

  • Caddie Exchange (.cex)

  • Ultimate CAD Exchange (.ucx)

  • Bentley Microstation (.dgn)

3. Click Open.

4. The Layer List displays, populated with a list of the layers present in the selected drawing.

5. Select the layer or layers that you want to merge into the current drawing. Layers are selected by selecting the associated checkbox. Alternatively, you can select all the layers by clicking Select All. To deselect specific layers uncheck the appropriate checkboxes; or deselect all layers by clicking Select None.

6. Once the required layer(s) are selected, click OK.

7. If the drawings are drawn in the same coordinate system, all the selected layers from the drawing are merged into the current drawing.

8. However, if one of the drawings is in Cartesian mode and the other in Surveyor mode, you are prompted to:

Indicate new reference point position

9. Select a position on the opened drawing to position the loaded drawing. You can press [Enter] on the page to load the layers  about that point; or press [H] to position the drawing about your home (X: 0.000000 Y: 0.000000 Z: 0.000000) coordinates and then press [Enter]. Alternatively, press [U] to snap to exact coordinates.

10. The command area changes and you can input the coordinates in the text boxes.

You can press [Tab] to move between the text boxes and input your coordinates.

11. Once the coordinates are correct, press [Enter].

12. You are now prompted to enter the drawing scale and rotation.

The first number is the scale where anything larger than 1 increases the size of the drawing, and anything smaller than 1 decrease it. The second number is the rotation angle in degrees. The two numbers are separated by a space.

13. Press [Enter] to insert the drawing.