Layers from csv

Balu

Hello,

is there a way to create serveral layers at once by importing a csv or something like that?

zoomer

AFAIK, if you have a template file with these Layers, you could open both files and select and drag multiple Layers over in Drawing Explorer. I do not know any other way to import Layers. Which doesn't necessarily mean that there is no way.

If not, a workaround could be any other importable App file format, which may offer CSV imports or similar bulk editing. Like IFC (?)

(As I experienced, it would not work from Vectorworks by exporting a DWG, as VW will only write Layers in use to DWG. You would need to add objects to any empty Class in VW before or similar)

Balu

Thank for your answer.

I have no template file with the desired layers. I rather want to use excel to generate a list of layernames with counting numbers and after that, get these names into bricscad.

ALANH

If you write a CSV file from Excel its a simple task to make the layer reading the csv file.

Eg

layername,color,linetype

layername,color,linetype

layername,color,linetype

Do you know how to read a csv via lisp ?

Its_Alive

you could use layerstate's import/export. the resulting .las file is just a text file. you can get insperation from that if you want to roll your own

aridzv

if you use lisp see attached lisp and xlsx file sample.

(save the .xlsx file as csv, for some reason the forum don't allow share csv files)

.

aridzv.

layfcsv.lsp

Uploaded Mar 31, 20251.67 KB

laycsv.xlsx

Uploaded Mar 31, 20259.83 KB

Balu

Thanks a lot for all your answers.

I have no experience with lisp, but I'm pretty interested in trying it.

Unfortunately for the moment I have to concentrate on other tasks.

I will give feedback, when I tryed your suggestions.

off topic:

the picture below shows a vaulted ceiling I had to deal with two years ago.

Balu

aridzv

Mar 31, 2025

if you use lisp see attached lisp and xlsx file sample.

(save the .xlsx file as csv, for some reason the forum don't allow share csv files)

.

aridzv.

https://forum.bricsys.com/uploads/BNUFKISL5WXZ/layfcsv.lsp

https://forum.bricsys.com/uploads/IZXPXL22T7JI/laycsv.xlsx

Hi aridzv,

i tried your lisp and it will help me. Thank you.

ALANH

just a comment you can read a Excel file direct so make your layers.

Sounds like this scenario, for us we had a dwg template with all the correct layers set up around 200 +, we would open the other dwg, select all objects curl+c then go to dwg and paste to original coordinates, ready to go. Takes maybe 1 minute.

Sebastian

@Balu

I wrote this thanks to PyRx in Python, since I am not clever enough to learn Lisp. Maybe it is of use to you:

import traceback
from pyrx_imp import Rx, Ge, Gi, Db, Ap, Ed, Cv
    
import pandas as pd
    
print("added command - py_layerimport")
print("added command - py_layerexport")
    
def updateLayers(db, layers):
    layerMap = {}
    clr = Db.Color()
    lt = Db.LayerTable(db.layerTableId())
    for layer in layers:
        if lt.has(layer[0]):
            ltrid = lt.getAt(layer[0])
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord(ltrid,Db.OpenMode.kForWrite)
            clr.setColorIndex(layer[1])
            ltr.setColor(clr)
        else:
            lt.upgradeOpen()
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord()
            ltr.setName(layer[0])
            clr.setColorIndex(layer[1])
            ltr.setColor(clr)
            layerMap[layer[0]] = lt.add(ltr)
            lt.downgradeOpen()
    return layerMap
    
def PyRxCmd_py_layerexport() -> None:
    try:
        path = Ed.Core.getFileD("Enter file name for storing layer table", "mylayerfile.xlsx", "xlsx", 32)
        db = Db.curDb()
        lt = Db.LayerTable(db.layerTableId(), Db.OpenMode.kForRead)
        if not lt.hasFields:
            return
    
        layerTable = {
            "Name": [],
            "Color": [],
            "LineType": [],
            "LineWeight": [],
        }
    
        for record in lt.recordIds():
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord(record)
            layerTable["Name"].append(ltr.name())
            layerTable["Color"].append(ltr.color().colorIndex())
            layerTable["LineType"].append(ltr.linetypeObjectId().handle())
            layerTable["LineWeight"].append(ltr.lineWeight())
    
        df = pd.DataFrame(layerTable)
        with pd.ExcelWriter(path, engine="openpyxl") as writer:
            df.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Layers", index=False)
    
    except Exception as err:
        traceback.print_exception(err)
    
def PyRxCmd_py_layerimport() -> None:
    try:
        path = Ed.Core.getFileD("Enter file name for storing layer table", "mylayerfile.xlsx", "xlsx", 32)
        db = Db.curDb()
    
        try:
            df = pd.read_excel(path, sheet_name="Layers")
        except:
            print("\nCould not read source file")
            return
        layerMap = updateLayers(db, df.values.tolist())
    
    except Exception as err:
        traceback.print_exception(err)

Its_Alive

Sebastian

7:00 am

@Balu

I wrote this thanks to PyRx in Python, since I am not clever enough to learn Lisp. Maybe it is of use to you:

import traceback
from pyrx_imp import Rx, Ge, Gi, Db, Ap, Ed, Cv
    
import pandas as pd
    
print("added command - py_layerimport")
print("added command - py_layerexport")
    
def updateLayers(db, layers):
    layerMap = {}
    clr = Db.Color()
    lt = Db.LayerTable(db.layerTableId())
    for layer in layers:
        if lt.has(layer[0]):
            ltrid = lt.getAt(layer[0])
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord(ltrid,Db.OpenMode.kForWrite)
            clr.setColorIndex(layer[1])
            ltr.setColor(clr)
        else:
            lt.upgradeOpen()
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord()
            ltr.setName(layer[0])
            clr.setColorIndex(layer[1])
            ltr.setColor(clr)
            layerMap[layer[0]] = lt.add(ltr)
            lt.downgradeOpen()
    return layerMap
    
def PyRxCmd_py_layerexport() -> None:
    try:
        path = Ed.Core.getFileD("Enter file name for storing layer table", "mylayerfile.xlsx", "xlsx", 32)
        db = Db.curDb()
        lt = Db.LayerTable(db.layerTableId(), Db.OpenMode.kForRead)
        if not lt.hasFields:
            return
    
        layerTable = {
            "Name": [],
            "Color": [],
            "LineType": [],
            "LineWeight": [],
        }
    
        for record in lt.recordIds():
            ltr = Db.LayerTableRecord(record)
            layerTable["Name"].append(ltr.name())
            layerTable["Color"].append(ltr.color().colorIndex())
            layerTable["LineType"].append(ltr.linetypeObjectId().handle())
            layerTable["LineWeight"].append(ltr.lineWeight())
    
        df = pd.DataFrame(layerTable)
        with pd.ExcelWriter(path, engine="openpyxl") as writer:
            df.to_excel(writer, sheet_name="Layers", index=False)
    
    except Exception as err:
        traceback.print_exception(err)
    
def PyRxCmd_py_layerimport() -> None:
    try:
        path = Ed.Core.getFileD("Enter file name for storing layer table", "mylayerfile.xlsx", "xlsx", 32)
        db = Db.curDb()
    
        try:
            df = pd.read_excel(path, sheet_name="Layers")
        except:
            print("\nCould not read source file")
            return
        layerMap = updateLayers(db, df.values.tolist())
    
    except Exception as err:
        traceback.print_exception(err)

Masterpiece !

aridzv

Here is an updated lisp and xlsx table (convert to csv after download).

1. the table has an header row to make it more readble.
2. The table must have at least one column for layer name
3. the table has a column for color number - must be a valid number up to 255. if ommited, above 255, not an integer or text it will set to 7 (white)
4. the table has a column for line type - must be a valid line type name. if ommited or has an invalid name the linetype will be set to "Continuous".
   layfcsv2.lsp

   Uploaded 3:11 pm2 KB
   it will set to "Continuous".
   lay.xlsx

   Uploaded 2:48 pm9.95 KB