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pythonpython-3.xautocaddxfezdxf

How to turn off property print settings using ezdxf?

I want to know how to turn off the property print setting using ezdxf.

I can hide, freeze and lock on and off. However, printing cannot be set on or off.

my_lines.on()
my_lines.off()   # switch layer off, will not shown in CAD programs/viewers
my_lines.lock()  # layer is not editable in CAD programs
my_lines.freeze()

Can you turn printing on and off like this?

Solution

  • The plotting (i.e. printing) flag for the layer is represented by DXF group 290, which accepts a value of 0 (meaning the layer is not plotted) or 1 (meaning the layer is plotted).

    This DXF group is represented in ezdxf by the plot property - as such, you can disable plotting for a layer using the code:

    my_lines.dxf.plot = 0

    To turn off or freeze layers which are not set to plot, you can use the following basic for loop:

    for lay in dwg.layers:
    if lay.dxf.plot = 0: # if layer is not plotted
        lay.off() # turn layer off
        lay.freeze() # freeze layer

    However, since does not test whether or not a layer is current before enabling bit 1 for DXF group 70, you may want to include this check prior to invoking the freeze method, as the current layer cannot be frozen:

    for lay in dwg.layers:
    if lay.dxf.plot = 0: # if layer is not plotted
        lay.off() # turn layer off
        if dwg.header['$CLAYER'] != lay.dxf.name: # current layer cannot be frozen
            lay.freeze() # freeze layer

    Obviously it would be more efficient to bound the current layer name to a local variable outside of the for loop, since this value will not change within the loop, but I'll leave that to you.