Different Attributes for Different Layer Combinations

[Anonymous]

This is probably a stupid question, but I'd rather sound stupid than be ignorant. I would like to be able to display different settings for objects in some of the layer combinations. For instance, I would like the outline of the walls, doors, windows, etc. to be nice and dark on the floor plan, but much lighter on the electrical plan. I would like the doors open on the floor plan, but closed on the dimensioned plan. If I place a copy of the walls in a separate layer, some of the wall intersections won't close properly. Is there a way to simply alter the object attributes for a particular layer combination only? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Lee D.
Naples, FL, USA
ArchiCAD 8.1, Windows XP Pro

[Anonymous]

Lee wrote:
This is probably a stupid question, but I'd rather sound stupid than be ignorant.

Far from stupid these issues touch on some of the more advanced methods (and workarounds) that we have or wish we had.

I would like to be able to display different settings for objects in some of the layer combinations. For instance, I would like the outline of the walls, doors, windows, etc. to be nice and dark on the floor plan, but much lighter on the electrical plan.

This is most easily accomplished in PlotMaker by setting the pens for the background elements (ie. walls etc.) to grey in the electrical plan. (There is much more on this in ArchiGuide.)

I would like the doors open on the floor plan, but closed on the dimensioned plan.

This is very difficult. The doors would have to be customized to respond to a change in the layer combination, but this is currently impossible. It can be done by creating a library part that sets a global variable (open or closed) which would then be read by the doors. This would need to be reset each time the drawings are published, dramatically reducing the value of publisher and significantly increasing the time required when putting out drawings. I tried something like this years ago for reflected ceiling plans but it was too cumbersome for general use.

If I place a copy of the walls in a separate layer, some of the wall intersections won't close properly. Is there a way to simply alter the object attributes for a particular layer combination only?

This is probably the best work around for what you want to do. The trick is to set the wall intersection priorities in the layer combinations (the fourth column in the layer settings) so that the copied walls don't conflict with the originals. Unfortunately this is still somewhat tedious to do and undermines in some ways the concept of the building model. You should probably think seriously about just how important this feature is to you, and how many people you have to train to do it. If you are in sole practice it is easier but, if so, do you plan to remain in sole practice? I recommend settling on the methods that are the easiest for you to do, train others to do, and maintain in the long run.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I hope this is helpful.

[Dwight]

This is just a nasty hack and I'm not sure if it even works in Plotmaker, but I use it in ArchiCAD all the time when I want to suppress elements in a drawing without altering the building model:

Put a 25 - 50% white fill over the things to be backgrounded. Since a fill can be "magic wanded" to exactly follow a slab outline, once placed, it is merely marched forward in the presentation order until it sits correctly in relation to the electric symbols that you have promoted to sit in front of the rest of the drawing elements.

You might make the overlay symbols bolder than usual to overcome interaction between the screen pattern [vector fills might work better for you] and the edges of your symbols.

This is a one stop hack that doesn't change anything in the model....
I'm sure that there are drawbacks..... somehow....somewhere...

[Djordje]

Matthew wrote:

I would like the doors open on the floor plan, but closed on the dimensioned plan.

This is very difficult. The doors would have to be customized to respond to a change in the layer combination, but this is currently impossible. It can be done by creating a library part that sets a global variable (open or closed) which would then be read by the doors. This would need to be reset each time the drawings are published, dramatically reducing the value of publisher and significantly increasing the time required when putting out drawings. I tried something like this years ago for reflected ceiling plans but it was too cumbersome for general use.

The Display option for doors and windows "reflected ceiling" that shows only the places of the openings works well with me, in conjuction with all the fills of the walls going solid. That is the display option for the reflected ceiling plan, with the appropriate layer combination on, of course.

HTH too,