Example 2: Create a Table of Properties for Layers before making change

The Issue

You want to rename and change descriptions of many layers in drawings, but not sure what are the existing layer names, and what new name suits it best. You haven't figured out any pattern yet. Therefore, you want to see all layers of all drawings in a table of properties, then enter new values later.

Step by Step

1. Open JTB Batch Change.xlsx
2. Switch to "Change CrossTab" sheet. Let's start with an empty sheet.
3. Go to cell A4, click the drop-down list button and select "Layer". You can do the same to create Table Of Properties for other object types as well.
4. Click "Add Properties Columns" button on the top of the sheet, then select "Name" and "Description". Actually, you can select all property columns to have them all.

   

5. Click OK, and then all columns will be created.

   

6. Leave the "Layer" row empty as is. We are not going to change anything yet. We are going to Click "Run" button on the top of the spreadsheet.
7. The JTB Batch Change Run window will bring up. Keep all drawing selected in the drawing list. This time, instead of click Run, click "Populate Object Properties To Current Sheet".

   

8. The app will then open all drawings and collect layer properties in each, then, populate the data to Excel.

   

   
   

9. Now, with this Table Of Properties, each row is an empty change command. The "Find Value" cell is actually the current value of the property. You can edit "New Value" cells accordingly.

   You can also try to figure out your change pattern to group many rows of commands into 1 row, then using Advance Formulas In Find Value and New Value.

   Finally, select commands and click "Run" to process the changes.

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