topic Re: Copy Layer Sets in Project data & BIM

Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:52:59 GMT

If I make a layer combination set in one drawing that has what I need turned on and off locked and unlocked.....how can I copy that layer set into another drawing??? Not a new drawing, and existing drawing.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Chazz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:20:50 GMT

I don't think it's possible. Attribute Manager won't do it, anyway, and I lament that every time I use it. I'd love to be proved wrong but I think you need to just synchronize them manually (the print button might help here).

Any better ideas out there?

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:41:39 GMT

Well phooey.

I told a reluctant new ArchiCAD user that the board would help. They are "one of those" that fights it every step of the way kind of people. Lots of moans and groans, lol

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Chazz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:48:45 GMT

other thoughts......

a) If the document set is not so far along (limited section/elevation annotation, and few layouts) it may be easier to just duplicate the PLN file with the correct layers, then wipe out the old model data and copy/paste it in the model data from the PLN with the deficient layer combo's. But Gawd, is this what we've been reduced to?

b) If you have elements in plan on all the new layers you need, you could just turn everything on (visible and unlocked) and copy paste all elements into the file where you need the layers. Once done, delete it all. That will at least create the new layers and save you the chore of typing in all their names. The layer set assignments must still be done manually.

The more I think about this the more glaring this deficiency becomes. Maybe this should be rephrased as a poll.

Another related annoying thing is that if you change the name of the layer set, the view map can't find it anymore. That is truly lame.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:52:25 GMT

Thanks, I will tell them that and see if they want to go that route.

anyone else have any suggestions?

Re: Copy Layer Sets

TomWaltz — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:16:42 GMT

Chazz wrote:
I don't think it's possible. Attribute Manager won't do it, anyway, and I lament that every time I use it.

Attribute Manager DOES do that, actually.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Richard Morrison — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:21:50 GMT

Chazz wrote:
I don't think it's possible. Attribute Manager won't do it, anyway, and I lament that every time I use it. <snip>

Any better ideas out there?

Well, I just tried it in AC12, and it seems to work fine. If you start with a bunch of layer names that are not in the source file, it does become quite a mess to clean up.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:02:58 GMT

TomWaltz wrote:
Chazz wrote:
I don't think it's possible. Attribute Manager won't do it, anyway, and I lament that every time I use it.
Attribute Manager DOES do that, actually.

Well...

It does work to the extent that the layer names and index numbers match between the files. If there is not a perfect match there will be some clean up required on the incoming combos. If there are substantial differences the import accomplishes little more than bringing in the names.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:53:19 GMT

Thanks guys, I will pass that on and tell them to give it a whirl.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Chazz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 13:32:40 GMT

TomWaltz wrote:
Attribute Manager DOES do that, actually.

A.M. brings in the names of the layers and the names of the layer sets but does not bring in the crucial relationships betwixt the two. To my mind a stunning shortcoming. If attributes like this could be moved easily from project to project it would make template maintenance much easier.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Ignacio Azpiazu — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:56:43 GMT

I use Attribute Manager for this all the time. In order to 'copy' a layer combination from some other file you will need to have the required layers in first, otherwise the Layer Combination will have nothing to combine. Names and index numbers must correspond, and for this reason it makes sense to create new layers in a template or attribute-depository file and then transfer them via Attribute Manager to any file needing them, so that your template/depository file has all the layers each with its unique index number.

So check out that you are not missing some layer in Attribute Manager first, overwrite (not append, so that it keeps the same index number) as necessary, and after that do the same for the layer combos. Done! The template/attribute depository file is also nice for restoring layer combinations that got messed up for whatever reason.

[In some other post I'll tell the story of an index number screwup with complex profiles --canopies were getting multistory wall profiles, etc., the model suddenly changed beyond recognition.]

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:00:32 GMT

Definitely tell that story so I can keep that from happening to me.
Thanks for the tips, I think it will work. If not, she will just have to make due, haha

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Ignacio Azpiazu — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:13:05 GMT

JLKilgore wrote:
Definitely tell that story so I can keep that from happening to me.

Just a regular attribute screwup, but very visible. I had some fancy profiles in some file, and started copypasting stuff to some other file in the project. When the profiles get transferred with the paste they don't bring in their index number, or maybe they try but will change it when there is a conflict with an existing index number, or maybe both, not sure. After a couple of copypastes, some uncoordinated complex profile creation in each file, and a link or two, your project is a total mess (your cool balcony railings in some file show up as steel beams when hotlinked into some other file, etc.) and you need to unify your complex profiles attribute list, which is an absolute pain. So now I have a file where I create all the profiles for a given project, and again transfer via Attribute Manager.

Re: Copy Layer Sets

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:18:34 GMT

OHHH YES....My guru gave us a tip when we 1st started about doing that, keeping it all separate to help with confusion and that same issue you brought up.

I think someone early on didn't follow that route and it bit them in the rear. Only way you can learn to fly is fall out of that nest flat on your face, lol

As I always say when I lose work..."well at least I can do it 2x as fast since I am redoing it." Maybe that was my boss that pushed that....hmmm

Re: Copy Layer Sets

TomWaltz — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:13:17 GMT

Chazz wrote:
TomWaltz wrote:
Attribute Manager DOES do that, actually.
A.M. brings in the names of the layers and the names of the layer sets but does not bring in the crucial relationships betwixt the two. To my mind a stunning shortcoming. If attributes like this could be moved easily from project to project it would make template maintenance much easier.

It does as long as you get all the attribute ID numbers right. We do it 10 times a day and it works fine.