topic Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts in Documentation

!Restored: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Scott Bulmer — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 09:57:10 GMT

Is there a way to set layer combos for layouts, or should all elements placed on a layout be on the AC layer? Or, is there a better way of having the proper layers display in layouts? Issue comes up when switching back & forth from layouts to view sets. Maybe this is really just a rhetorical question.
S

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:28:15 GMT

If you click on your layouts via navigator then open your Layers you will note at the top of the Title it states (Layout Book)
Now go to your model view and open Layers and you will see that the Title states (Model View)
You can set different sets for both.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Scott Bulmer — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 22:44:53 GMT

aj,
Thanks for your reply.

Yes the titles at the top of the Layer DB relate to their context, but I'm not seeing a way of permanently setting the layer combo for a given layout sheet. If I select a particular layer combo for a given layout when open (I don't see any other way of linking a layer combo), switch to a view set, then return to the layout, the layout now has the layer combo of the view set. Are you doing something different?
Thanks,
Scott

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Link — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 04:56:54 GMT

This is something I brought up during beta, but GS didn't have any intentions of creating views of layouts for publishing. Porobably because it could open up a Pandoras box of problems.

I was having visions of putting all my drawings onto just one layout and using layer combos to view and publish them.

As it currently stands, we can put drawings onto different layers and use combinations to switch them out, but we can't save them as views for publishing.

Hopefully one day....

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

SeaGeoff — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 06:57:57 GMT

As I understand it here's how it is supposed to work: You can use layer combos in the layout space but you must manually change them just like with PlotMaker. No matter what layer combo is activated by navigating views, you should find your layout layer combo unchanged when you return to a layout. But remember, unlike PlotMaker, you cannot turn off model layers in the layout space. Or more correctly, turning on or off layers in layout has no effect on drawing content (model elements). This can get somewhat confusing since it possible for model elements and layout elements to share the same layer. What's worse, bugs present during late beta seem to be with us still. Just now my test shows that when switching to layout Quick Options briefly shows the correct layout layer combo but then switches to Custom. Luckily layers maintain their correct visibility. Adding to the confusion, I discovered a layer called " ArchiCAD - master only" which I can delete but will be recreated when switching to or from layout. Why, I don't know.

It sure would be nice if our friends from Graphisoft would make an occasional appearance here to enlighten us to the mysterious workings of their new creation.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Scott Bulmer — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 13:55:50 GMT

Geoff Briggs wrote:

Adding to the confusion, I discovered a layer called " ArchiCAD - master only" which I can delete but will be recreated when switching to or from layout. Why, I don't know.

We have the same thing happening for every PLN project.

ALSO, thanks Link (as always) for bringing clarity to the murk.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

__archiben — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 01:23:10 GMT

Link wrote:
Hopefully one day....

. . . and until that day my own view is to place everything on a layout on the archicad layer and try to use intelligent objects in title blocks rather than getting fancy with layer combinations. i've already 'lost' several placed drawings by doing a wee spot of layer purging

i also have a series of pens that remain identical in each penset combination and are reserved solely for any element on a layout. until graphisoft actually give us two totally independent environments this is the only way i can see of providing a safe(ish) layout environment that requires as little thought as possible come issue day . . .

~/archiben

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 07:27:44 GMT

~/archiben wrote:
. . .my own view is to place everything on a layout on the archicad layer and try to use intelligent objects in title blocks rather than getting fancy with layer combinations.

I agree. Keep it simple. Layouts are one at a time for output. Just because you can do something (like mess around with layer combinations in layouts) doesn't mean you should.

...until graphisoft actually give us two totally independent environments

Like ArchiCAD and PlotMaker? Is that the next big advance?

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Link — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 21:26:26 GMT

Matthew wrote:

I agree. Keep it simple. Layouts are one at a time for output. Just because you can do something (like mess around with layer combinations in layouts) doesn't mean you should.

That's not like you to think so far inside the box Matthew? Maybe publishing your entire documentation set from one sheet is a stretch, but how about using different layer combos for different options? Different areas? Different rotations? It's not there yet, but with some imagination it could be?

Like ArchiCAD and PlotMaker? Is that the next big advance?

Now that's better!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

__archiben — Sun, 16 Jul 2006 22:29:23 GMT

Matthew wrote:
...until graphisoft actually give us two totally independent environments
Like ArchiCAD and PlotMaker? Is that the next big advance?

aw! you know what i mean! link's made a list of the settings and attributes (here) that both are and aren't 'environment' dependent. it's sorting which on the list do need to be maintained as distinct from one environment to the other, and which can be global, that should be the next task in the AC<>PM integration . . .

~/archiben

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 06:07:45 GMT

~/archiben wrote:
Matthew wrote:
...until graphisoft actually give us two totally independent environments
Like ArchiCAD and PlotMaker? Is that the next big advance?
aw! you know what i mean!

Of course. I just couldn't resist

Link,

I have always been on the conservative side when it comes time to print. If there are ways that layer combos can make document production more robust, less error prone and faster then that's great.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

SeaGeoff — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 22:32:31 GMT

Matthew wrote:
Just because you can do something (like mess around with layer combinations in layouts) doesn't mean you should.

The reason I have been "messing around" with layer combos in layout is to see if they work right, which they do not. I'm not trying to doing anything elaborate but I do expect layout layers to let me show/hide layout lines, NOT FOR CONSTRUCTION stamps and the like. I need combos (not just individual layers) to function properly so I can use them for my typical default layout layer arrangement (e.g. no stamps, etc.). That way I can be reassured that everything is skookum when switching to layout as long as the correct layer combo appears in the Quick Options palette. Having it always read Custom is no help at all. Neither is the suggestion that it's my own fault for trying to get too fancy when all I want is the same functionality we had with PlotMaker. Sure I want separate model and layout layers, folders or categories, intelligent handling of layers from external files, etc, etc. But right now there is a bug that needs to be fixed. And we shouldn't have to wait for ArchiCAD 11 for that to happen.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:02:30 GMT

"Geoff Briggs wrote:
The reason I have been "messing around" with layer combos in layout is to see if they work right, which they do not.

Sorry Geoff. No offense intended.

It's good to see your ideas for using them and sad to hear that they don't work. Since there was no such function in PM9 my workflow is unaffected. I am too busy with other aspects of the conversion process and this function is not a priority with my current clients.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Link — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:17:06 GMT

Matthew Lohden said:

Since there was no such function in PM9 my workflow is unaffected.

No such function? Yes there was, mate! Layer combos in PlotMaker have been around for a while.

Geoff, are you still experiencing this 'layer-combo-switches-to-custom' bug? I can't replicate it here, but it sounds worrying. I have used layer combos very succesffuly (so far) in AC10 to display different titleblock information. And those layer combos are always remembered when I switch between the modeling environment and the layouting environment. The layout combos are only showing/hiding layers that are specifically for the layout environment though.

If this is as serious as it seems, I'd like to help get it solved if I could. Otherwise I'm going to have some disgruntled clients!

And for the life of me - I can't find the ArchiCAD - master only layer! I wonder if that is specific to updated AC9 files, master layouts, or even hotlinked modules?

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

__archiben — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 23:57:56 GMT

Link wrote:
And for the life of me - I can't find the ArchiCAD - master only layer!

i couldn't find it either, but it made an appearance about an hour or so ago in a recovered file . . .

~/archiben

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Jul 2006 06:11:50 GMT

Link wrote:
No such function? Yes there was, mate! Layer combos in PlotMaker have been around for a while.

Now that you mention it I kind of do remember something about that. I guess I am pretty conservative on the output side

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Link — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:06:32 GMT

Geoff, are you still experiencing this 'layer-combo-switches-to-custom' bug? I can't replicate it here, but it sounds worrying.

I guess you must be busy again....

Ben said:

i couldn't find it either, but it made an appearance about an hour or so ago in a recovered file . . .

I think I've nailed it - do you have Cadimage add-ons installed, specifically Door & Window Builder? I loaded it this morning and later noticed that I had the 'ArchiCAD - master only' layer and ALL my layer combos were screwed up. They all defaulted to custom, just like Geoff described.

Only a full ArchiCAD 10 uninstall/re-install fixed the problem, making sure all Cadimage stuff was deleted too. At least all my views returned to normal, but I must have lost a couple of hours!!

Not happy,
Link.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

SeaGeoff — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 03:44:13 GMT

Link wrote:
do you have Cadimage add-ons installed, specifically Door & Window Builder? I loaded it this morning and later noticed that I had the 'ArchiCAD - master only' layer and ALL my layer combos were screwed up.

By god you've done it man. Good work! Have you told the poor sods of the havoc they have reeked worldwide? I'm sure they'll be thrilled. BTW, I think I set things right by simply turning off all the Cadimage add-ons and reloading the project. I will test some more. I suspect the culprit is the Cadimage Update All add-on since it's the one that generated the data warning when reloading. I told it to stuff it's stinking data where the electrons don't go.

Shame since I like DWB's new interface. Still couldn't get the common door+jamb combo I wanted. Between Graphisoft and Cadimage the state of the door and window parts is really pretty terrible. I just assumed that Cadimage might actually respond to customer needs sometime before all the world's traditional doors and windows have been replaced. I guess we shall see.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 04:13:06 GMT

Got an email from Cadimage yesterday saying .....

Over the last few days our support lines have been swamped and unfortunately due to sickness we are a person down!
We are busily working through the backlog .....

Sounds like they're going to have their hands full for some time.

Re: Assigning Layer Combinations for Layouts

owen — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 22:23:20 GMT

I've got Key Notes installed and I'm getting this problem too - didn't occur to me the 'Archicad - master only' layer had anything to do with it. I'm looking at this for our office so i hope they get it fixed soon!