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Custom layers "infect" all libraries and projects

CalebCZ

Hi all, I have one problem which bugs me for some time and I have been unable to solve so far. During the last two years, I have downloaded and used some user-made Eagle libraries. There were several custom layers in these libraries, for example "103 Logo", "106 BGA-Top" or "254 OrgLBR". Now the problem is that these layers have proliferated and "infected" all my project files and custom libraries since then. You see, when I begin work on some new project, I create a new library for it and copy custom parts into it, so I have everything in one place when I re-use the project later. I also frequently copy between my custom libraries - so all my custom libraries eventually became "infected". And of course, if I use *any* part from an infected library in a project, the project becomes infected as well. It is really becoming a nuisance, because all my projects now have 15 to 20 custom layers which I have no use for. In fact, many projects and libraries don't even contain a single object in those custom layers, but the layers infect everything anyway.

 

So my question is: is there some way to *permanently* purge unused layers from libraries and projects? For example, AutoCAD has a command which does exactly that, but I found nothing similar in Eagle. I know I can set "used layers" in a project, but this merely hides the problem - if I open the infected files in hex editor, I can still see layer names embedded inside them. I want to delete them from the files permanently.

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

  • Nice problem description.

     

    As you have noted, if you copy between libraries the complete layer list is

    copied across to the destination library. Using any part from that library

    adds that full layer list to the project.

     

    In a project you can delete the layers that do not contain objects.

    In a library you can delete the layers that do not contain objects. That's

    for the whole library, not just (say) the package you are viewing.

     

    If you correct the libraries the project does not get corrected when you

    perform an 'update library'.

     

    So you will need to clean up the projects and the libraries separately.

     

    Each of the Schematic/Board pairs can be cleaned up with

     

    del-empty-sch-brd-layers.ulp

     

    Run it from the schematic or board editor and both files, if both open,

    will have the empty layers(100-255) deleted.

    You will need to do it for each pair. I would ASSIGN keys to the ULP so you

    can always quickly get rid of empty layers in the many file pairs you

    likely have.

     

    The libraries require a trio of ULPs to get it done. Fortunately you need

    only RUN the first one and it calls the other two.

     

    loop-all-lbr-Del-Unused-Layers.ulp

    del-empty-lib-layers.ulp

    ulpmessage.ulp (this is included with Eagle)

     

    This trio fixes all libraries in a folder. That folder is the one that

    contains the open library from which you are running

    "loop-all-lbr-Del-Unused-Layers.ulp"

    So, if your libraries are spread over  many different folders you will have

    to open one library in each of the folders and run the ULP.

     

    Three ULPs are zipped together in the attachment.

     

    HTH

    Warren

    --

    Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

     

  • in reply to Former Member

    Well, I guess that words like "proliferate" and "infect" are not entirely apropriate, but frankly, those layers *do* behave like some computer virus.

     

    Thank you very much for your help, those ULPs sure sound promising... but I can't see the ZIP attachment anywhere, even though I'm logged in. I'm rather new to these Element 14 forums - do I have to do something "special" to see the attachments?

     

    At any rate, please upload those ULPs to the ULP library at Cadsoft's website. I'm pretty sure that many people have this problem - I know personally at least two designers who struggle with the "custom layer proliferation" problem as well.

  • in reply to CalebCZ

    Caleb Dead schrieb:

     

    Anyway, thank you very much for your help, those ULPs sure sound

    promising... but I can't see the ZIP attachment anywhere, even though

    I'm logged in. I'm rather new to these Element 14 forums - do I have

    to do something special to see the attachments?

     

    "These element 14 forums" are just a gateway to the newsgroups, where

    the discussions (and the messagebase) originate.

     

    Unfortunately, this gateway currently is crap. There are several issues,

    missing attachments is one of them (though they are supposed to work on

    that).

     

    You might consider using direct NNTP access to the newsgroups at

    news.cadsoft.de with a decent news client (there are several free

    programs) or have a look at the other (better working) gateway at

    www.eaglecentral.ca.

     

    Tilmann

     

  • in reply to Former Member

    Oh I see now, thanks for explaing that. I have downloaded the attachment via Thunderbird. But I still think it would be worthwhile to upload those ULPs to the Cadsoft's website.

  • in reply to Former Member

    Tilmann Reh wrote on Tue, 04 October 2011 05:31

    "These element 14 forums" are just a gateway to the newsgroups, where

    the discussions (and the messagebase) originate.

     

    No, they are not and they don't.  The element 14 forum is just that, a

    self-contained forum.  There is a gateway between this forum and the old

    NNTP newsgroup, but to make it sound like everything originates in one or

    the other is just wrong.

     

    Tilman, please give it a rest already.  It's well known you are a NNTP user

    and that the existance of the Element 14 forums bothers you.  Yes, the E14

    forum has its problems, and the bi-directional gateway between there and

    the NNTP newsgroup could be better, but it's getting really tiresome to

    hear you constantly bashing whatever part of the system you don't like in

    unrelated threads.

     

    As I know you know, there have been threads about this topic and the E14

    folks now at least seem to be listening.  We'll see what actually comes of

    it.  That's the place to talk about it, not in unrelated threads.  It's one

    thing to explain the problem of getting attachments back and forth, but

    it's quite another when you do that with a tone of bashing the E14 forums

    or trying to give people the incorrect impression that the newsgroup is the

    somehow more correct way to chat about Eagle.

     

    --

    Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

     

  • in reply to CalebCZ

    Element 14 User wrote on Tue, 04 October 2011 06:18

    But I still think it would be worthwhile to upload those ULPs to the

    Cadsoft's website.

     

    People who create ULPs and other Eagle software and then let others use it

    for free have a right to distribute it as they see fit, probably mostly to

    minimize their own hassle.

     

    It is good that Cadsoft provides a place where users can upload and share

    software, but that's not a good solution for everyone.  For example, if

    Eagle-related software is just a small part of what you make publicly

    available, you'll probably want to distribute everything on your own web

    site to make the process simple for yourself.

     

    --

    Web access to CadSoft support forums at www.eaglecentral.ca.  Where the CadSoft EAGLE community meets.

     

  • in reply to CalebCZ

    Caleb Dead wrote:

    Oh I see now, thanks for explaing that. I have downloaded the

    attachment via Thunderbird. But I still think it would be worthwhile

    to upload those ULPs to the Cadsoft's website.

     

     

    Hi Caleb

     

    I attached the collection of ULPs  into the thread in the hope that they

    will eventually be lost in history. They were slapped together and offered

    to get you out of your bind today. Stringing 3 ulps together is bad, in my

    view. The ULP upload area should only contain quality solutions that are

    more robust and with fewer dependencies.

     

    Regards

    Warren

     

    --

    Viewed / responded via the newsgroup at

    news.cadsoft.de

     

     

     

  • in reply to Former Member

    I attached the collection of ULPs  into the thread in the hope that they

    will eventually be lost in history. They were slapped together and offered

    to get you out of your bind today. Stringing 3 ulps together is bad, in my

    view. The ULP upload area should only contain quality solutions that are

    more robust and with fewer dependencies.

    What? You wrote those ULPs from scratch only because I asked the question? I thought you were one of Cadsoft's administrators of these forums. I thought that you had those ULPs written long ago because you were aware of this problem and that you only posted them for me. I... I really don't know what to say. Mere "thank you" doesn't sound enough, but unfortunately, it is the only thing I can do. So, thank you very much for those ULPs! They work like charm, the unwanted layers are gone even when I open the "infected" files in hex editor.