Sometimes when I have a drawing with xrefs, the layer list gets scrambled so that it is no longer alphabetical. It does not always happen, but once it does I can't figure out how to unscramble them without detaching the xrefs. Do any of you know of a command or switch that controls the default sort order of the layers?
Try clicking on the NAME tab. That should reverse the sort order. Then do it again and see if you are where you want to be.
Can't you just left click on the word "NAME" in your layer property manager pop-up?
Yes, I do use the name tab to rearrange them when I'm using the layer manager, but most of the the time I use the drop down menu on the Object Properties toolbar and the names are all jumbled there. It seems like the default sort order gets changed....I just don't know how to change it.
Thanks guys, I've looked for a solution to this for years. This time Google finally found an answer.
Apparently there is a limit to the maximum number of list items that AutoCAD will sort. Exceed that number and AutoCAD just displays them in random order. The variable that controls this is "MAXSORT". Increasing the value of "MAXSORT" will use more resources, but it will allow layer names and other lists in AutoCAD to be sorted properly when dealing with complicated drawings.
Autodesk has had this value default to 1000 for years and years now. They should probably change it.
In fact, given the speed of today's computers, I bet the variable could be completely removed, and nobody would notice. It used to create a noticeable slowdown, but these days, you'd have to have an absolutely insane number of layers in order to notice any slowdown whatsoever.
The default on my LDD2000 was 200. Glad I finally found the setting. The transient nature of the problem has driven me nuts over the years.