Layer Names

As the sharing of CADD drawings increases amongst users, the benefits of following a Layer Naming Convention and utilizing Standard Layer Names become greater.

Some benefits of a Layer Naming Convention and Standard Layer Names:

• Production efficiency - time is reduced creating layers and setting their properties when starting a new drawing.

• Plotting consistency - similar drawing entities will plot alike from drawing to drawing. Plotting guesswork is reduced.

• Drawing exchange - time is not wasted making adjustments to layers of shared drawings.

• Layer names and their meanings are easier to understand.

NRCS New York Layer Naming Convention

Layer Name Fields

Each layer name contains up to four fields. These fields are shown below in the order of their appearance in layers created in accordance with the NRCS New York Layer Naming Convention. An underscore (_) is used to separate the fields. A dash (-) is used to separate letters or words within an individual field. Some layers, such as those generated by the software, will not conform to the convention.

Status_Entity_Object_Description

Each field has several approved variables. Variables for the Status and Entity fields can be viewed by clicking the links below. Variables for the Object and Description fields are derived from the Standard Survey Feature Codes.

All approved variables for the layer name fields are accessible when you import the NRCS NY Layer Standard into a drawing, and use the AutoCAD Layer Manager tool to create new layers. You can also import pre-built layers from the NRCS NY Layer Standard Layer Master Drawing which is discussed later in this page.

• Status

The status of the objects drawn on the layer (ie: proposed, existing, alternative). There is a two (2) character limit in this field. An entry is required in this field.

• Entity

The type of entity drawn on the layer (ie: L = line, T = text)
There is a one (1) character limit in this field. An entry is required in this field.

• Object

The object drawn (examples: F fence, RD road). There is a ten (10) character limit in this field. An entry is required in this field. Standard Survey Feature Codes are recommended to specify objects. The link above will direct you to the NRCS New York Standard Survey Feature Codes Web site. Download the code lists to view the approved variables for the object field.

• Description

A description for the object drawn. There is a (10) character limit in this field. An entry is not required in this field, but is recommended. Standard Survey Feature Codes are recommended to describe objects, or develop your own. The link above will direct you to the NRCS New York Standard Survey Feature Codes Web site. Download the code lists to view the approved variables for the description field.
 

NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing

The New York CADD Committee has developed a list of Standard Layer Names that are common to engineering drawings produced by NRCS and SWCD staff. The names are based on the NRCS New York Layer Naming Convention. However, there are some layer names that do not conform to the convention.

The Standard Layers are available by downloading the NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing. Users can import them into an open drawing using the AutoCAD Design Center tool.

A named plot style from the NRCS-NY Standard Plot Style Table 1 has been assigned to each Standard Layer, as well as a color and line type. This helps eliminate the guesswork when deciding which plot properties should be assigned to which layers or entities. The results is a predictable and consistent plot appearance. Users are free to alter the color of the standard layers to suit their tastes. This change will not effect the plot color.

For consistency amongst CADD workstations, users are recommended to place this file in the NY Library\layer standard directory of their home drive.

View the New York Library directory structure.

This file requires AutoCAD.

NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing (DWG; 64 KB)

Updated May 10, 2006

Please do not edit any part of the NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing.

The NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing will be updated as additional layers are created and released. You should visit this Web site periodically to access the most recent version.

NRCS-New York Layer Standard

The NRCS-NY Layer Standard is not a file that is placed in the Land Desktop program directory. The layer standard can only be imported from a drawing that already contains the standard.

The NRCS New York Layer Standard Master Drawing contains the NRCS New York Layer Standard. Once imported into a drawing, the standard is accessed with the Layer Manager tool. Layer Manager is used to create new layers in accordance with the layer standard.

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