topic Re: Quick way to identify empty layers? in Project data & BIM

Quick way to identify empty layers?

JohnJay — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:34:22 GMT

Does the above exist?

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

Eduardo Rolon — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 15:18:38 GMT

In Attribute Manager's Layers Tab the ones with checkmarks are in use. You can filter by checkmark by clicking at the top of the column.

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

JohnJay — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 16:08:19 GMT

Thank you

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

Barry Kelly — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 00:48:06 GMT

The check mark does not necessarily mean the layer has something in it.
It just means the layer is in use.
i.e. if the line tool is set to use "A-2D line" but there is nothing in that layer, it will still show as 'in use' because the line tool is set to use it.

So you would have to go through all of your tools and switch them to the "Archicad" layer first to get a better result.

Barry.

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

JohnJay — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:06:56 GMT

Barry wrote:
The check mark does not necessarily mean the layer has something in it.
It just means the layer is in use.
i.e. if the line tool is set to use "A-2D line" but there is nothing in that layer, it will still show as 'in use' because the line tool is set to use it.

So you would have to go through all of your tools and switch them to the "Archicad" layer first to get a better result.

Barry.

Hmmmm, so there's no way of identifying empty layers then...

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

Barry Kelly — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 09:38:13 GMT

JohnJay wrote:
Hmmmm, so there's no way of identifying empty layers then...

No not easily.
I just tested something else and it seems if you have a favourite that uses an empty layer it also shows as 'in use' in the attribute manager.

So you would have to delete all favourites, set all tools to the Archicad layer and then look at the attributes.
That should do it I think.

But if your intention is just to delete the unused layers, then I would not worry about the tool settings or the favourites.
The layers may indeed be empty, but you obviously have tools and favourites set to use those layers, so it would be wise not to delete them.

You can 'Purge' unused layers (and other attributes) directly in the attribute manager, you don't even have to go through the list and select them.

Also if you use a standard template, you should be familiar with the layers that should be there.
Usually you can pick a 'foreign' layer because it does not follow the template naming convention or is in ALL CAPITALS or maybe all lower case which may help you spot it.
And if you use a standard template, you can always delete all unused layers and then import the proper layers from your template again.

I guess it all depends on what the goal is that you are trying to achieve.

Barry.

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

Erwin Edel — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 10:12:24 GMT

We have dummy attributes in our template at reasonably high numbers. Anything new that is created will get a number following that. This means that something like a range of 1 to 200 is part of our standard template and should not be removed. Anything after 200 (for example) is project specific and can be removed.

Also if you delete layers you can choose to move items to another layer / replace it with another layer. This should amend favourites (I think) and stop you from accidentally deleting any elements in your project.

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

James B — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 07:38:46 GMT

When Deleting a layer (or any attributes), in the Delete and Replace dialogue, you have a Details button.
In this Missing Attributes sub-dialogue you have another link to Show Details in Browser to list all uses of this layer including default and favourites using it.

EDIT: Link to the help article here: https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/user-guide/136770/

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

JohnJay — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 17:04:02 GMT

Thanks, these are useful suggestions

Re: Quick way to identify empty layers?

runxel — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 19:55:45 GMT

James wrote:
When Deleting a layer (or any attributes), in the Delete and Replace dialogue, you have a Details button.
In this Missing Attributes sub-dialogue you have another link to Show Details in Browser to list all uses of this layer including default and favourites using it.

Hey James, it would be great if this would not be a two-step action. It adds sooo much friction and is slow.
From UX perspective this thing is horrendous and one can feel it was just botched together without much thought.