Short description
📤 Export_Layer_Filter is an AutoCAD AutoLISP tool for exporting layer property filters to reusable .lft files.
🗂️ It adds a DCL interface for multi-filter selection, xref prefix handling, predefined project folders, and folder management.
Command:
🚀 Export command: ExpFltr
📥 Import command included: ImpFltr
🧪 Debug command: ExpFltrDebug
🗂️ The DCL workflow supports Select All, Select None, Use Xref, Prefix, Suffix, predefined folders, and Manage Folders.
Description:
📤 Export_Layer_Filter is an SEO-friendly AutoCAD layer filter export utility for transferring property layer filters between drawings and projects.
🧱 Based on the gile layer filter export and import concept, this enhanced version writes selected AutoCAD layer filters to an .lft file using a v2 multi-filter format with a //COUNT header.
🔤 Prefix and suffix controls can modify NAME== patterns in the exported filter expressions, making the workflow practical for xref-layer naming standards such as DrawingName|LayerName.
🗂️ Predefined folder shortcuts help store layer-filter exports in project Layer_Status directories instead of manually browsing every time.
📌 This is useful for Civil 3D project templates, xref layer visibility standards, layer-state administration, CAD QA checks, and drawing setup automation.
Helper function: (if any)
🧩 EF_str->lst and EF_JoinStr handle list string parsing for multi-selection and export data preparation.
🧩 EF_ApplyPrefix and EF_ApplyPrefixSuffix modify NAME== rules before writing the .lft export.
🧩 EF_LoadPFOpts and EF_SavePFOpts persist predefined folder options.
🧩 EF_ManageFolders opens a dedicated DCL manager for adding, updating, removing, and saving folder shortcuts.
🧩 getFilterDatas reads ACAD_LAYERFILTERS and ACLYDICTIONARY xrecord data from the active drawing.
🧩 addLayerFilter can rebuild exported layer-filter data in a target drawing.
Functionalities:
✅ Export one or many AutoCAD property layer filters to a single .lft file.
✅ Use a DCL list with multi-select, Select All, and Select None.
✅ Apply xref-aware prefixes and suffixes to NAME== layer patterns during export.
✅ Use predefined folders for fast project-specific save locations.
✅ Manage folder presets directly from the dialog.
✅ Import v1 and v2 .lft files or layer filters from DWG and DWT sources.
✅ Include a debug command to verify DCL creation and dialog loading.
Result:
🎯 The result is a portable .lft layer-filter export file that can be reused in other drawings.
🟢 Multiple filters can be exported together, reducing repetitive AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager setup work.
Images, animations etc.
XAML code:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:src="clr-namespace:Autodesk.Windows;assembly=AdWindows"> <src:RibbonToolTip x:Key="Export_Layer_Filter"> <src:RibbonToolTip.ExpandedContent> <StackPanel> <TextBlock Background="AntiqueWhite" TextAlignment="Left"> <Bold>Function Syntax: ExpFltr / ImpFltr / ExpFltrDebug</Bold> <LineBreak/> <Bold>Version: 1.1 Date: 20.06.2026 6:38:53PM</Bold> <LineBreak/> <Hyperlink>https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/visual-lisp-autolisp-and-general/lisp-to-export-import-the-layers-properties-filter-in-autocad/td-p/10379159</Hyperlink> <LineBreak/> <Bold>Description</Bold><LineBreak/> This program allows the user to <Run Foreground="Blue">export a named layer property filter</Run> from the current drawing to an external file.<LineBreak/> The output is saved as a <Run Foreground="DarkGreen">.lft</Run> file.<LineBreak/> <Bold>Purpose</Bold><LineBreak/> The function simplifies the transfer of <Run Foreground="DarkCyan">layer filters</Run> between drawings by allowing you to export them individually.<LineBreak/> <TextBlock> <Bold>Main Functionalities</Bold><LineBreak/> • Accesses the drawing's <Run Foreground="DarkCyan">Extension Dictionary</Run> to locate layer filter data.<LineBreak/> • Retrieves all available <Run Foreground="DarkGreen">layer property filters</Run>.<LineBreak/> • Displays a list of filters using a <Run Foreground="Purple">ListBox</Run> for user selection.<LineBreak/> • Prompts the user to choose a location and name for the export file.<LineBreak/> • Saves the selected filter's data in a structured format to a <Run Foreground="DarkGreen">.lft</Run> file.<LineBreak/> • Adds a note at the top of the file: <Run Foreground="Red">//Layer filter export, DO NOT MODIFY.</Run><LineBreak/> </TextBlock> <LineBreak/> <Bold>User Prompts</Bold><LineBreak/> • Prompts the user with: <Run Foreground="Purple">"Choose the filter to export"</Run>.<LineBreak/> • Then opens a <Run Foreground="Blue">file dialog</Run> to save the export file.<LineBreak/> <Bold>Error Handling</Bold><LineBreak/> If no property layer filters exist in the drawing, the program displays:<LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="Red">"None property layer filter in this drawing"</Run><LineBreak/> <Bold>Notes</Bold><LineBreak/> • Uses the <Run Foreground="DarkCyan">ObjectARX COM API</Run> via <Run Foreground="DarkGreen">vlax</Run> and <Run Foreground="DarkGreen">vla</Run> functions.<LineBreak/> • The exported file can later be imported into other drawings using the complementary <Run Foreground="Blue">IMPFLTR</Run> function (not shown here).<LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="DodgerBlue">Description</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">📤 Export_Layer_Filter is an AutoCAD AutoLISP tool for exporting layer property filters to reusable .lft files.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🗂️ It adds a DCL interface for multi-filter selection, xref prefix handling, predefined project folders, and folder management.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="DodgerBlue">Function Syntax</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🚀 Export command: </Run><Bold><Run Foreground="Orange">ExpFltr</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">📥 Import command included: </Run><Bold><Run Foreground="Orange">ImpFltr</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧪 Debug command: </Run><Bold><Run Foreground="Orange">ExpFltrDebug</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🗂️ The DCL workflow supports Select All, Select None, Use Xref, Prefix, Suffix, predefined folders, and Manage Folders.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="DodgerBlue">SEO Optimized Overview</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">📤 Export_Layer_Filter is an SEO-friendly AutoCAD layer filter export utility for transferring property layer filters between drawings and projects.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧱 Based on the gile layer filter export and import concept, this enhanced version writes selected AutoCAD layer filters to an .lft file using a v2 multi-filter format with a //COUNT header.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🔤 Prefix and suffix controls can modify NAME== patterns in the exported filter expressions, making the workflow practical for xref-layer naming standards such as DrawingName|LayerName.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🗂️ Predefined folder shortcuts help store layer-filter exports in project Layer_Status directories instead of manually browsing every time.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">📌 This is useful for Civil 3D project templates, xref layer visibility standards, layer-state administration, CAD QA checks, and drawing setup automation.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="LimeGreen">Primary Workflow</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">1️⃣ Load the AutoLISP file in AutoCAD or Civil 3D with APPLOAD or your menu loader.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">2️⃣ Run the command shown above from the AutoCAD command line.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">3️⃣ Follow the dialog, selection prompts, or file prompts used by Export_Layer_Filter.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">4️⃣ Review the command-line report and drawing result before continuing production work.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="LimeGreen">Functionalities</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Export one or many AutoCAD property layer filters to a single .lft file.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Use a DCL list with multi-select, Select All, and Select None.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Apply xref-aware prefixes and suffixes to NAME== layer patterns during export.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Use predefined folders for fast project-specific save locations.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Manage folder presets directly from the dialog.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Import v1 and v2 .lft files or layer filters from DWG and DWT sources.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">✅ Include a debug command to verify DCL creation and dialog loading.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="DodgerBlue">Important Functions and AutoCAD API</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 EF_str->lst and EF_JoinStr handle list string parsing for multi-selection and export data preparation.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 EF_ApplyPrefix and EF_ApplyPrefixSuffix modify NAME== rules before writing the .lft export.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 EF_LoadPFOpts and EF_SavePFOpts persist predefined folder options.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 EF_ManageFolders opens a dedicated DCL manager for adding, updating, removing, and saving folder shortcuts.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 getFilterDatas reads ACAD_LAYERFILTERS and ACLYDICTIONARY xrecord data from the active drawing.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧩 addLayerFilter can rebuild exported layer-filter data in a target drawing.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="LimeGreen">Result</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🎯 The result is a portable .lft layer-filter export file that can be reused in other drawings.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🟢 Multiple filters can be exported together, reducing repetitive AutoCAD Layer Properties Manager setup work.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="DarkOrange">Operational Notes and Limitations</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">⚠️ The exported .lft file contains AutoCAD layer filter xrecord data and should not be manually edited unless you know the structure.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">🧠 Prefix and suffix logic is intended for layer-name pattern rules; verify results when applying it to complex filters.</Run><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="White">📌 The routine works with AutoCAD layer property filters stored in the drawing extension dictionaries.</Run><LineBreak/> <LineBreak/> <Bold><Run Foreground="Yellow">Tags</Run></Bold><LineBreak/> <Run Foreground="Yellow">🏷️ AutoCAD, 🏷️ AutoLISP, 🏷️ Civil 3D, 🏷️ Layer Filters, 🏷️ Layer Management, 🏷️ Xref Layers, 🏷️ DCL Dialog, 🏷️ LFT Export, 🏷️ CAD Standards</Run><LineBreak/> </TextBlock> <!-- Use MediaElement for GIF (static first frame) and Image as fallback --> </StackPanel> </src:RibbonToolTip.ExpandedContent> </src:RibbonToolTip> </ResourceDictionary>
