topic Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination? in Project data & BIM

Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

R Muller — Tue, 30 May 2023 11:04:04 GMT

I go to my layer combinations and select one (say, "Presentation Floorplans"). I then go back to my model and realize that some information is showing that I do not want to see, so I turn off some layers, and maybe I turn some on. Now I have the combination that I want, and am ready to update my layer combination definition.

So, I go back to the layers dialog box and click on "Presentation Floorplans". Immediately all the layer changes that I just made are undone, and I go back to the original combination. This is not what I want, so I cancel out of the operation.

If I haven't kept track of the layers I turned on/off, is there a way to update my layer combination? Or is the only way to define "Presentation Floorplans 2" and then later go back and delete the original "Presentation Floorplan" combination?

There must be some simple way to do this that I am missing. I am using ArchiCAD 9.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 May 2005 17:40:19 GMT

R wrote:
... Or is the only way to define "Presentation Floorplans 2" and then later go back and delete the original "Presentation Floorplan" combination?

There must be some simple way to do this that I am missing. I am using ArchiCAD 9.

This is a problem and I have worked around it by doing what you describe. It would be useful if there would be a way to update a combination without having to create a duplicate first. Actually I believe this is more of a problem as even having the same named layer combination is not a guarantee of maintaining the view set.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Tue, 24 May 2005 23:29:16 GMT

What I have done is to.... (This Method is for layer combinations which have had a majority on new layers turned ON.)

After layers are the way you now want them, open the layers dialog box and sort the layers by Visibility.

Select (Highlight) all of the Layers that are on (with a PC, I Shift Click or drag the Mouse over the Layers which are at the top due to the Sort)

Now Select the "old" Layer combination. The previously selected visible layers should still be Highlighted.

Click on the Eyeball of one of the highlighted hidden layers, or click twice on the eyeball of one of the highlighted visible layers. Do an update. This at least gets the new layers turned on in the Layer combination.

For the layers that have changed to a hidden status, you will see that they are on but not Highlighted (from previous selection) Hope that there are not too many (write down on note pad if Necessary). Now turn visibility off on those remaining layers. Update Layer Combination.

Like a said this is for when the altered layer combination has a majority on new layers turned ON you can do this process somewhat for altered layer combinations which have had a majority on new layers turned OFF by first Selecting (Highlighting) the non visible layers.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

R Muller — Tue, 24 May 2005 23:44:34 GMT

Here's something I just tried, and it seemed to work. After having the layers I wanted on, I went to layer settings and deleted the layer combination I want to update. Then I created a new layer setting with the same name as the one I just deleted.

My view sets that use this layer combination still seem to work.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 07:54:21 GMT

I do the same.
BUT layer manipulation needs a major lifting.

Eg i add a new layer. Then i cannot select the layer combos that i want the layer to be locked. I have to do it one by one. A real nightmare

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 14:01:54 GMT

Millard wrote:
R wrote:
... Or is the only way to define "Presentation Floorplans 2" and then later go back and delete the original "Presentation Floorplan" combination?

There must be some simple way to do this that I am missing. I am using ArchiCAD 9.
This is a problem and I have worked around it by doing what you describe. It would be useful if there would be a way to update a combination without having to create a duplicate first. Actually I believe this is more of a problem as even having the same named layer combination is not a guarantee of maintaining the view set.

Use the "Update" button in the layers settings dialogue...
1.) Open layer settings
2.) Select the layer combination you want to modify
3.) Turn ON/OFF layers as desired
4.) Click the "Update" Button at the bottom left of the dialogue box
5.) Click "OK"

Your layer combination is now updated to the updated layers will now properly display anytime it is selected and will also be correct in any viewset previously defined with it.

HTH
Dan K

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 17:36:47 GMT

Dear dan

This is the classic way to go.
BUT imagine the simple case where you used quick layers to turn on and off layers and now you want to UPDATE to an existing layer combo to the current layers state. This is just impossible. You have to create a new combo. Delete the old one and rename the newly created.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 21:08:43 GMT

R wrote:
Here's something I just tried, and it seemed to work. After having the layers I wanted on, I went to layer settings and deleted the layer combination I want to update. Then I created a new layer setting with the same name as the one I just deleted.

My view sets that use this layer combination still seem to work.

But doesn't selecting the layer combination to delete just change the layer settings from what you wanted?

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 21:18:29 GMT

Yep, all it needs is a redefine button which you can click before identifying what combo you want to redefine. Easy.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Wed, 25 May 2005 21:19:03 GMT

Please.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Sun, 29 May 2005 20:45:41 GMT

This may be a little off topic, but another improvement desperately needed is the ability to control the intersection number of a particular layer across multiple layer combinations, so I don't need to go through and change the intersection number in each and every layer combination I have.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 10:56:38 GMT

Being able to reset layer combinations rapidly in ArchiCAD would be good. Another very useful improvement would be the ability to "purge empty layers" in one go, rather than one by one.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

James Murray — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 14:41:06 GMT

Iain wrote:
the ability to "purge empty layers" in one go, rather than one by one.

Attribute Manager.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:02:34 GMT

Merci beaucoup, James!
Sure enough right under my nose in "Gestionnaire d'attributs" was "supprimer non-utilisés" just as you hinted. Which makes me regret that I hadn't simply asked if the "purge" possibility existed, instead of assuming it didn't, simply because I hadn't found it in the layers window. Now I wonder if there is a "remove duplicate objects" button somewhere, if I look hard enough and can guess the French equivalent. Translators use the expression "taux de foisonnement" to describe the ratio of a text's length from one language to another. French seems to be 25% longer than English, which makes a big screen essential just to read the menus here.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

James Murray — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:08:27 GMT

Iain wrote:
Now I wonder if there is a "remove duplicate objects" button somewhere,

There is a 'Check Duplicates' (Contrôlez Les Doubles? Dashboard translation, hope it isn't rude ) add-on in the Goodies (not even going to try) folder. Move it to the Add-ons folder and it will appear on the Tools menu.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Link — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 17:22:32 GMT

Or is the only way to define "Presentation Floorplans 2" and then later go back and delete the original "Presentation Floorplan" combination?

You can actually do it all at the same time if you want to do it quickly. This is the best method IMHO - only takes a couple of seconds. Either way, viewsets remember the layer combination assigned to them by name, not ID, so it doesn't really matter when you do it, as long as the new name is identical to the old one.

Attribute Manager.

It's worth noting that purging layers in the Attribute Manager does not necessarily delete all empty layers. Purging layers this way will delete all empty layers (layers with no content in them in the drawing area, including floor plans, S/E's 3D window, Detail windows), *but* it will keep all default tool layers - layers that are being used in each and every tool's default settings. This doesn't just mean tools in the Toolbox, but in the Extras Menu (eg. Roof Accessories), but oddly enough, not the Tools Menu (eg. Structural Grid, Profiler, etc).

A very effective way of purging all layers (if you don't have any S/E's or detail windows - or at least additional 2D info in them), is to place a thick marquee around your entire model and cut it to the clipboard. Then delete all layers, either via the Layer Settings dialog or the Attribute Manager, then paste the entire model back in. Only the layers that are actually being used inthe model will return. Care should be taken and back ups made before trying this though, and if you do have S/E and/or detail windows then be extra careful.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

James Murray — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 20:13:04 GMT

Link wrote:
It's worth noting that purging layers in the Attribute Manager does not necessarily delete all empty layers. Purging layers this way will delete all empty layers (layers with no content in them in the drawing area, including floor plans, S/E's 3D window, Detail windows), *but* it will keep all default tool layers

Tip: Before purging, use the Active Layer palette switch to set all the tools to the ArchiCAD layer.

After purging, set Active Layer back to 'Individually set Layers'. Any tools that had deleted layers as their defaults will now show 'missing'; if you try to use the tool before changing the layer, you'll get the 'layer has been cleared' warning, and you change it then.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Link — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 20:47:09 GMT

Tip: Before purging, use the Active Layer palette switch to set all the tools to the ArchiCAD layer.

Touche James!!

Although, mine stayed on the active layer, even when set to individual.

Guess that's a good thing, but it shows how much I use the Active Layer!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

James Murray — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 11:47:41 GMT

Link wrote:
it shows how much I use the Active Layer!

Sounds like you use it about as much as I do. I use it to, well, purge layers. That's about it. I don't have many occasions to want everything on one layer. I could imagine using it to develop schematic alternates, where everything is either on the Option1 layer or the Option2 layer; never done it in practice though.

Hey look I'm off topic.

Re: Is there an efficient way to update layer combination?

Anonymous — Tue, 19 Jul 2005 12:14:47 GMT

Merci encore, James.
I had never spotted "vérifier doublons" hiding in the goodies (no translation!) folder. Oddly enough it picks up symmetrical copies as duplicates, even if they are outside the selection window.