Layer Elevation Utility

Layer by Elevation (Contour Map Layering)

Have you ever wanted to change the highlighted (indexed) contour interval in AutoCAD? or even add an indexed interval? Here's a handy routine that will do that and a whole lot more. In this example, let's start out with a plain (monochrome) contour map. First, select all the contours, using standard AutoCAD selection tools, order is not important. The number of contours and their elevation range is displayed. If the contour map had an existing indexed interval, its layers and interval would have been displayed.

Contours plain

A plain (monochrome) contour map. All contours on a single layer.

Next let's select a unique major and minor layer name, and specify the major contour interval. The "Layer" button at the bottom of the form will allow you to access the AutoCAD layer dialog if you would like to add or modify layers. Hit the "Apply" button for the desired changes to take affect.

Contours with hilighted interval

A contour map with the indexed interval on a tan colored layer, the minor contours are shown in brown.

In this next example, we are specifying an elevation range to change to a new layer. All the contours at elevation 5275 and up to elevation 5375 have been selected to change to a new layer "Elev Range" as shown in the red. Once again, hit the "Apply" button for the desired changes to take affect.

Contours selected by range

A contour map with the contours between elevation 5375 and 5375 changed to the "Elev Range" layer shown as red.

In this this example, we have chosen the "Color Array" option. We specify a range of AutoCAD colors and those colors will be assigned to each contour elevation. Once again, the selection order is not important. If the number of contours exceeds the number of available colors, the color range is cycled through again. This is extremely handy for detecting erroneous data contour elevation data when creating a digital terrain model from contours. Once again, hit the "Apply" button for the desired changes to take affect. Note: color array assign a color override to each line, this is changed back to bylayer when running the "By Interval" or the "By Range" option.

Contours in color arrary

A contour map with a color array assigned to the elevation range.

Version Information

Program Name:	Layer by Elevation
Application Type:	VBA Macro
Distribution Format:	ZIP file (64 kb)
Last Updated:	July 13, 2003
AutoCAD Version:	AutoCAD 2000 or Later
Current Version:	1.1

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This download contains the raw source code, (LSP and DVB files) not some slower uncustomizeable compiled version. Unzip the downloaded file to your ...\support folder or anywhere in AutoCAD's path. AppLoad "ElevLayer.lsp" and type "ElevLayer" to execute. Please note, this routine was designed to be used with AutoCAD 2000-2009. AutoCAD 2010 and later require the download and installation of Microsoft VBA module from AutoDesk.