LayList.tml

Terramodel Version Note: LayList.tml is compatible for Terramodel Version 9.80 and higher.

Scenario:

You have spent several days organizing one project by creating layers and assigning colors and linetypes. You have created Layer Lists to group layers together specifically for dynaviews. Only now, you have to repeat this tedious task for all projects.

Solution:

The TML Guy has created a TML just for you...

LayList.tml will:

• Import and export Layer Lists between projects
• Quickly add or remove one or more layers from one or all Layer Lists
• Export layers and layer properties including visibility, snap, color, point color, linetype, lock and display links
• Generate a report of layers in each Layer List

Why Terramodel Layer Lists are helpful

A Layer List is a method in Terramodel to group multiple layers. When Layer Lists are assigned to dynaviews, only the layers in the Layer List will be visible in the dynaview regardless of the layers visible in the layer setting (or LSET) command.

One example of Layer Lists assigned to dynaviews: A set of plans consisting of a Striping Plan and a Topo Plan. Both sets of data exist in one project, however, you probably do not want to plot all of the striping lines on the Topo plan. And you probably do not want to plot all of the Topo lines and symbols on the striping plan. And usually you have some common lines such as a centerline and edge of pavement. With Layer Lists, you assign a list of layers (for example: centerline, edge of pavement, striping lines, ...) to a dynaview for the striping plan. And assign a list of layers (for example: centerline, edge of pavement, telephone poles, vegetation, flow lines, ...) to a dynaview for the topo plan.
When plotting either plan, you do not have to remember to turn on and off layer visibility's, thus decreasing the chances of missing data.

Layer Lists are extremely powerful and help keep the project organized. However, there has never been a way to copy Layer Lists between project files... until now.

How to use LayList.tml

After downloading LayList.* to theTerramodel installation folder\Terramodel\tmls folder, open a Terramodel project and type laylist at the command line and press the < enter > key.

You will see the following:

EDIT

Click Edit to modify Layer Lists. Highlight one or more Layer Lists, or click Select All to highlight all of the Layer Lists. Click Clear All to deselect Layer Lists. And click the button between Select All and Clear All to toggle the selection. Click Add to add layers to the selected Layer Lists. If more than one Layer List is selected, then the layer(s) are added to each selected Layer List.
Click Remove to remove one or more layers from the selected Layer Lists. If more than one Layer List is selected, then the layer(s) are removed from each selected Layer List.

Note: When adding layers, LayList will only display the layers NOT assigned to the selected Layer List, making the task of finding layers that should be in the Layer List easier. When removing layers, only the layers currently assigned to the Layer List are displayed.

IMPORT

Click Import to browse for a Layer List file that was previously exported from another project. If the layers assigned to the Layer List are not presently defined in the current project, the layers will be created. If the layers are defined in the current project, then you are given the options of changing layer attributes such as layer visibility, snap, color, point color, linetype, lock and displaying links.

Note: When importing Layer Lists, if a layer is created or modified, you are notified in the message area as follows:

EXPORT

Click Export to export the Layer Lists from the current project. Highlight one or all of the Layer Lists, use the Select All button to select of the Layer Lists. Click Save then type a name to save the Layer List file. A text file will be created and available to import in other projects.

REPORT

Click on Report to view a list of layers in each Layer List. Highlight one or all of the Layer Lists and click Report.

A report containing the following will be generated:

• Layer List name
• Layers assigned to each Layer List
• Layers assigned to background prominence

Programmer's Note:

As a Terramodel user, I have wanted this functionality of Layer Lists for years. While increasing the efficiency of your Terramodel working environment, I hope you enjoy this command as much as I do.