Renaming layers after upgrade to 4layer Eagle

[Robert Leavitt]

I need to rename two layers [100,101] that were created with free Eagle and
redefine them as signal layers [2,3] in my newly registered 4 layer Eagle.

[Tilmann Reh]

Post by Robert Leavitt
I need to rename two layers [100,101] that were created with free Eagle and
redefine them as signal layers [2,3] in my newly registered 4 layer Eagle.

You can rename layers, but the objects that are already in them won't
move to another layer - they are identified by the layer /number/.

You could try to export the complete board to a script file (there is an
ULP for this, look at the ULP download page), modify it, and rebuild the
board from that. If it were not too many objects, you could also use
CHANGE LAYER to move them to layers 2 and 15 (not 3). However, you have
to click them all separately since CHANGE LAYER does not operate on
groups, IIRC.

[Robert Leavitt]

Post by Tilmann Reh

Post by Robert Leavitt
I need to rename two layers [100,101] that were created with free Eagle and
redefine them as signal layers [2,3] in my newly registered 4 layer Eagle.

You can rename layers, but the objects that are already in them won't
move to another layer - they are identified by the layer /number/.
You could try to export the complete board to a script file (there is an
ULP for this, look at the ULP download page), modify it, and rebuild the
board from that. If it were not too many objects, you could also use
CHANGE LAYER to move them to layers 2 and 15 (not 3). However, you have
to click them all separately since CHANGE LAYER does not operate on
groups, IIRC.
--
Dipl.-Ing. Tilmann Reh
http://www.autometer.de - Elektronik nach Maß.

OK, I'll create New Layers 2 and 15 then retrace the wire routes from 100
and 101, but my board still thinks it's 2 layer and it won't let me add a
New Layer under 100.

[Robert Leavitt]

Post by Robert Leavitt

Post by Tilmann Reh

Post by Robert Leavitt
I need to rename two layers [100,101] that were created with free

Eagle

Post by Robert Leavitt
and

Post by Tilmann Reh

Post by Robert Leavitt
redefine them as signal layers [2,3] in my newly registered 4 layer

Eagle.

Post by Tilmann Reh
You can rename layers, but the objects that are already in them won't
move to another layer - they are identified by the layer /number/.
You could try to export the complete board to a script file (there is an
ULP for this, look at the ULP download page), modify it, and rebuild the
board from that. If it were not too many objects, you could also use
CHANGE LAYER to move them to layers 2 and 15 (not 3). However, you have
to click them all separately since CHANGE LAYER does not operate on
groups, IIRC.
--
Dipl.-Ing. Tilmann Reh
http://www.autometer.de - Elektronik nach Maß.

OK, I'll create New Layers 2 and 15 then retrace the wire routes from 100
and 101, but my board still thinks it's 2 layer and it won't let me add a
New Layer under 100.

DUH! The NEW LAYER command in the DISPLAY window does not add layers under
100, but COMMAND LINE entry LAYER [#] [name] does. Another Eagle quirk, I
guess. And YES I edited the default.dru Layer Setup with (1*2+15*16) first.

Still, it seems that any multi-layer board with vias going through all
layers can be 'stacked' in any order without problems since the via
placements remain constant. Is this too 'photoshop' of me? Thanks for your
help!

[Tilmann Reh]

Post by Robert Leavitt

Post by Robert Leavitt
OK, I'll create New Layers 2 and 15 then retrace the wire routes from 100
and 101, but my board still thinks it's 2 layer and it won't let me add a
New Layer under 100.

DUH! The NEW LAYER command in the DISPLAY window does not add layers under
100, but COMMAND LINE entry LAYER [#] [name] does. Another Eagle quirk, I
guess. And YES I edited the default.dru Layer Setup with (1*2+15*16) first.

I think this is due to the way the layer number is limited in the
limited versions of EAGLE. You can also reduce the layers using the SET
USED_LAYERS command - to "remove" all unused predefined layers. However,
predefined layers cannot be removed - in fact, they are just
disabled/inhibited. You can always reactivate them with the LAYER command.
Probably, this is the same case when re-enabling inner routing layers
that previously fell under the limitations. The "NEW LAYER" field is
only for setting up user-defined layers from 100 up, I guess.

Post by Robert Leavitt
Still, it seems that any multi-layer board with vias going through all
layers can be 'stacked' in any order without problems since the via
placements remain constant. Is this too 'photoshop' of me? Thanks for your
help!

Of course you could simply send your four gerber files to the board
house without any comments and then be surprised in which order they
arranged them... That's why all routing layers should contain some
readable text information, to clearly identify them.