How to export layer sets in x17

[wolftide45]

From the Aug 23 thread - I understand you have the Import Legacy settings. I would assume, though, there would still be a way to export or create a .layers file? I can only find where you can import a previously created layer set file. Previously, meaning before x17.

 

I did turn off Project Mgt but the option for exporting layer sets still was missing.

[robdyck]

The export options for various settings is gone. Think of it like this: A plan file contains the settings and instead of using the old export function, you could just save a copy of a plan file for the purpose of using to pull settings from for other plans...using the Import tools.

 

So instead of looking for the plan file you'd like to pull settings from, just copy your preferred plan file and if it's only use is for pulling layer sets, then name it something specific.

 

For universal changes, the best practice would be to constantly keep your template plan up to date. Then, when opening Legacy plans, you could pull settings from your template plan.

[wolftide45]

Ok that was the conclusion I was coming to unfortunately. Thanks for the info btw...

 

Just so I understand - based on above, the import Layer set function from the Legacy Import would technically only serve a purpose one time (if you had a currently backed up .layers file initially, before migrating to x17). Because there's no way to export "new" or "edited" layersets from a current plan. That is, you can't create new .layers files to import from the Legacy Import.

 

I guess, in other words, you MUST use a template and if you change layersets in the plan you're working in, you must then manually update the Template. Meaning, every change to a layerset will probably happen twice. Once for the plan you currently working in and then a second time for the Template. If this is accurate, then it seems more cumbersome than before.

[robdyck]

On 9/11/2025 at 12:24 PM, wolftide45 said:

Meaning, every change to a layerset will probably happen twice. Once for the plan you currently working in and then a second time for the Template

No, not really. You can update a single layer set in your template from any plan file. For example, if the plan I'm currently working on has some modifications to just one layer set that I'd like to implement across multiple plans, I could:

• Open my template plan and import this layer set and then save it as my template plan
• Open any existing (legacy) plan file and import just this new layer set from the template plan or from the plan file that was modified.
• If keeping track of this newly modified plan is difficult to remember, simply save it to wherever I keep my Chief default files and give it an obvious name for simple identification.

[Michael_Gia]

They want us to use templates and Project Management.

 

For our own good?