topic Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer? in Modeling

How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Tue, 23 May 2023 14:58:23 GMT

How do I go about locating where in a project an object in a layer that I want to delete might be hiding? I suspect it is in a detail, but I went through all of the details, switched the elements to two or three layers and checked for anything else in all of the details and worksheets. I still have something in a layer I want to delete. The layer happened when I brought in a mod file I think.
Any suggestions?

Roger

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Laura Yanoviak — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:50:52 GMT

Typically, layers not in use but listed as "in use" are either a current Element Setting or Favorite setting, or from an outside source -- is the MOD file hotlinked?

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:53:21 GMT

This might sound obvious but did you try Find & Select in the edit menu?

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:13:57 GMT

I tried the Find and Select and limited it to the layer I want to delete. Nothing happened. Do I have to do that in each detail or drawing in the project? I was in the main floor plan in the "all visible and unlocked" layer combination.
The mod files have had the link broken, so they are part of the project.

Roger

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Laura Yanoviak — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:19:16 GMT

rhendrickson wrote:
I tried the Find and Select and limited it to the layer I want to delete. Nothing happened. Do I have to do that in each detail or drawing in the project?

Yes

rhendrickson wrote:
I was in the main floor plan in the "all visible and unlocked" layer combination.

The "all visible and unlocked" layer combination can be misleading, since it appears that you are trying to locate an element on a non-standard layer. Open the layer dialog and check that all layers are indeed on and unlocked.

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:39:36 GMT

The layers in question are on. True, not all of the layers are turned on, but the ones I want to eliminate are. It is a slow process to go through 100 plus drawings to find a line that needs moved to another layer.

Thanks.
Roger

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Laura Yanoviak — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:42:54 GMT

rhendrickson wrote:
It is a slow process to go through 100 plus drawings to find a line that needs moved to another layer.

Yes it is -- this is why, if it's so hard to track down, I just delete the layer anyhow -- a single missing element is usually not worth the effort to comb thru 100+ drawings -- if it's anything important, you will stumble upon it eventually (although I have yet to find anything missing).

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Karl Ottenstein — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:03:06 GMT

rhendrickson wrote:
I tried the Find and Select and limited it to the layer I want to delete. Nothing happened. Do I have to do that in each detail or drawing in the project? I was in the main floor plan in the "all visible and unlocked" layer combination.

Only if the element in question is a 2D element or object. If it is 3D, then just open the 3D window and use F&S there.

It would be nice if there was a way to search for 2D content across all viewpoints...

Cheers,
Karl

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:10:29 GMT

Acknowledged. I will kill the layers and see what comes up missing. I searched the whole project and I could not find where an object in a layer I want to delete was hiding.

Thank you for your time and for your help!
Roger

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Link — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:10:10 GMT

Do you actually know there is something on the layer? If so, how do you know? Or is that what you are trying to find out?

Cheers,
Link.

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:39:05 GMT

I went into Options>Element Attributes>Attribute Manager and clicked on the Layers tab. In the column at the far left, there is a check mark that tells me there is something on the layer. I have no idea what it is or how big it is. I used that to figure out what layers I can safely delete.

Roger

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Link — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:50:16 GMT

Ahh glad I asked, because that's not necessarily the case.

What that checkbox means is that it is either being used in the project or it is the default layer for something. The best way to find out is to set your Active Layer to ArchiCAD Layer and see what still checked in the attribute manager.

To do this go to Document> layers> Layer Extras> Active Layer. This applies to tool defaults only AFAIK and won't apply to HLM master layers or add-ons such as RoofMaker, TrussMaker, etc. So you may want to check those defaults too.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:50:29 GMT

rhendrickson wrote:
I went into Options>Element Attributes>Attribute Manager and clicked on the Layers tab. In the column at the far left, there is a check mark that tells me there is something on the layer. I have no idea what it is or how big it is. I used that to figure out what layers I can safely delete.

Roger

This goes back to my original response -- just because AM says a layer is "in use", doesn't mean it is in use -- it may be an active element setting, for instance.

Re: How do I find an object in a particular layer?

Link — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 01:07:48 GMT

Also don't forget all the content in your layout book, including drawings, annotation(?), master layout info, etc. Make sure that's all on the correct layer(s). Most people use the ArchiCAD layer (not me personally), as it is quick and easy.

Cheers,
Link.