• AutoCAD

Searching for layers using wildcards

Use wildcards to search for layers in the Layer Properties Manager.


00:04

The tools we'll be using in this video are

00:06

all contained within the layer property manager palette.

00:09

So let's open it. Now from the home tab of the ribbon,

00:12

you can find it within the layers panel. It's the largest icon there.

00:16

Feel free to resize and position it to your liking.

00:21

We'll start in the upper right corner where you'll see a search box.

00:25

When you click in it,

00:26

the prompt goes away and you'll get a flashing

00:28

cursor along with a very small asterisk behind it.

00:32

This is a wild card character.

00:34

Autocad supports 10 different types of wild cards.

00:37

Probably the most useful of which is the asterisk

00:40

which will match any string and can be used anywhere in the search string.

00:45

Let's search for a layer that we know has the word tree within it.

00:49

Since we don't know exactly where the string falls in the layer name.

00:52

Add another asterisk in front.

00:54

Your filter box should now read asterisk, cursor, asterisk,

00:60

begin typing and enter T and R. You'll see the layer list update in real time,

01:06

finish the string with another E and E

01:09

your search string should now read asterisk,

01:12

asterisk,

01:14

your list should be paired down to two layers,

01:16

one with the word tree and the other with the word trees.

01:20

That's because of the trailing asterisk.

01:22

Remove it to get down to one layer with the word tree in it.

01:26

When you're done, you can click the red X to end your search.

01:30

As you can see, searching with wild cards is a bit of a learned art.

01:34

But once you master it, you'll find it to be extremely powerful.

01:38

The other thing to note, while the technical term of this wild card is asterisk,

01:42

you'll often hear it referred to as star.

01:45

If you do just know that it's the same thing.

Video transcript

00:04

The tools we'll be using in this video are

00:06

all contained within the layer property manager palette.

00:09

So let's open it. Now from the home tab of the ribbon,

00:12

you can find it within the layers panel. It's the largest icon there.

00:16

Feel free to resize and position it to your liking.

00:21

We'll start in the upper right corner where you'll see a search box.

00:25

When you click in it,

00:26

the prompt goes away and you'll get a flashing

00:28

cursor along with a very small asterisk behind it.

00:32

This is a wild card character.

00:34

Autocad supports 10 different types of wild cards.

00:37

Probably the most useful of which is the asterisk

00:40

which will match any string and can be used anywhere in the search string.

00:45

Let's search for a layer that we know has the word tree within it.

00:49

Since we don't know exactly where the string falls in the layer name.

00:52

Add another asterisk in front.

00:54

Your filter box should now read asterisk, cursor, asterisk,

00:60

begin typing and enter T and R. You'll see the layer list update in real time,

01:06

finish the string with another E and E

01:09

your search string should now read asterisk,

01:12

asterisk,

01:14

your list should be paired down to two layers,

01:16

one with the word tree and the other with the word trees.

01:20

That's because of the trailing asterisk.

01:22

Remove it to get down to one layer with the word tree in it.

01:26

When you're done, you can click the red X to end your search.

01:30

As you can see, searching with wild cards is a bit of a learned art.

01:34

But once you master it, you'll find it to be extremely powerful.

01:38

The other thing to note, while the technical term of this wild card is asterisk,

01:42

you'll often hear it referred to as star.

01:45

If you do just know that it's the same thing.

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