Aprils shareware review is a look at Berry Systems Visual LAYER layer managing tool.

Visual LAYER stores layer names, descriptions, colors, and line types in external template files. When you select a layer, it is automatically added to the drawing file. If you already have a layer standard, Visual LAYER can accommodate your existing standard. Included are layer templates for Manufacturing, Civil, Structural, Steel Detailing, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Facilities Management, Fire Protection, Conveyors, Equipment, Medical, Piping, 3D, and many more. With Visual LAYER you can maintain layer consistency between users because all users select layers from a single source of templates when applied in a networked environment.

You can filter layers with just a few clicks regardless of the number of layers in your standard as well as maintain multiple layer standards for specific clients or projects. You can create new templates by adding disciplines and layers to them with the Visual LAYER interface. Also, you are provided with a list of previously used modifiers to select from, ensuring the layer names you add to your templates are always consistent.

One of the more powerful features is that you can modem your layer standards to outside drafting firms so they can maintain your standards from project to project. This could also be done by e-mailing your standards, or you can post them on the Internet. If they have Visual LAYER, they can access your template file and select layer names from your standard. If they do not have Visual LAYER, you can export your layer standard to a .TXT file that will print your layer name, description, color, and line type for each layer and associative modifier in your standard.

Berry Systems dose not have a download area for AutoCAD release 12, however you can e-mail Berry Systems to receive a version of Visual Layer to evaluate on release 12. Berry Systems sells Visual LAYER for $119.00 US and the evaluation copy is good for 45 days and Berry Systems has discussion page for users to post and solve Visual LAYER problems.

December 1996