How many layers do you use?

[Anonymous]

Hi!

One interesting question I think is, how many layers do you need to make your work easy working with? And too communicate with other contractors.

Here in Sweden we have a standard made with a thought that everyone using AutoCad and because of that we need to use this standard even if it's not made for objectthinking software. And this makes our work more complexed than it has too be, specially when our office has most AutoCad freaks that like to work with this standard and it's hard to explain that I don't want all this unessesary layers.

[Rakela Raul]

I have never been able to grasp the idea of working with a lot of layers.

im with you but when u work for cities there no choice than follow standards....a lots of layers

[Link]

kliment wrote:
I have never been able to grasp the idea of working with a lot of layers. Just looking at the list Ben gave makes my head dizzy!

Me too (sorry Ben), but I still believe for a half decent template, if you have under 100 layers, you're doing well. Especially for commercial work.

kliment wrote:

I try to use only the basic layers. Sometimes for specific projects I add some more. For example why should we use separate layers for External and Internal walls? We can draw different walls with different pens and fills and select them with Find&Select.

It is good to separate internal and external walls so that we can turn off internal walls in elevation along with all other internal stuff, to reduce rebuild times. It's also required for calculations, for those people who use BIM that deeply.

I personally dislike using pens to distinguish what elements are. IMHO that is the purpose of layers. Use pens to distinguish how things appear, and leave it at that. Fills obviously define the element.

kliment wrote:

If there was a folder based layer structure in AC (like in Photoshop) I could use more layers, but at the moment it is too difficult to find the right layer in the list.

Yes, we all wish for that! Hopefully it won't be too far away!

kliment wrote:

Just a tip: I always start the names of my layers with blank. In this way imported layers form Autocad always list after my layers, because Autocad cannot write blank as a first letter! Also names in Cyrillic list after the Latin ones.

Unless you use XREF Management or the Drawing Tool! 😉

Cheers,
Link.

[Anonymous]

I use every time same layers (about 100 layers).
During process if I recognize I need more layers, than I put this layer in office standard file.
To have same layers for every project brings much advantages.
It is for me important to bring organization inside office.
They have also something to do with favorite list.

[Brad Elliott]

I'm in the 70's for residential construction and about double that for commercial. In both of those site layers make up about 20% of the total layers. Just too many different plan requirements.

I also believe in use oriented layers. But if you are a small division and have to integrate with the rest of the office I think I would just try to work in the existing system. At least for a while.

[__archiben]

kliment wrote:
I have never been able to grasp the idea of working with a lot of layers. Just looking at the list Ben gave makes my head dizzy!

but if it was organised to your local classification standards it may look less dizzy, no? it might actually be more recognisable!

Link wrote:
Me too (sorry Ben), but I still believe for a half decent template, if you have under 100 layers, you're doing well. Especially for commercial work.

but there are under 100 layers in my list and it serves all jobs. a specific job might require one or two more specific layers . . .

and - to break it down - twelve of those layers (including the archicad layer) are there primarily to order the list and make finding things easier. the CAPITALISED layers are titles only (because there is no layer hierarchy) and not used for anything other than visual reference in the layer list.

taking out add-on created layers as well (architerra's and cadimage's master only) take it down to below 80 . . . go figure . . .

Link wrote:

kliment wrote:
For example why should we use separate layers for External and Internal walls? We can draw different walls with different pens and fills and select them with Find&Select.

It is good to separate internal and external walls so that we can turn off internal walls in elevation along with all other internal stuff, to reduce rebuild times. It's also required for calculations, for those people who use BIM that deeply.

that may have been true in the past, but walls are pretty processor cheap these days. calculations can be taken from wall type. (i rarely use a simple fill for my wall - composites are more controllable even if they are only one skin.

that said - i do think that it is important to separate load-bearing and lightweight walls for certain document types.

Kliment wrote:
If there was a folder based layer structure in AC (like in Photoshop) I could use more layers, but at the moment it is too difficult to find the right layer in the list.

hence my twelve title layers - they are there to un-dizzy my layer list!

~/archiben

[Anonymous]

hey im new to archicad..i was wondering, my office has it own standard layers,could i preset it to archicad? should i erased the previous archicad layer standard ?

and one thing heheh how set the pen set?

thanx a lot guys..

dAve

[Anonymous]

davezilla wrote:
hey im new to archicad..i was wondering, my office has it own standard layers,could i preset it to archicad? should i erased the previous archicad layer standard ?

As far as you could, you should change names on layer instead of erase old and create new. Then you got predefined layers for your tools. That is an easy way to start. Ofcause you can do the other way, but then it take more time to make your templatefile.

[Rick Thompson]

I developed my layering based as much for material takeoffs as much as anything else. Fortunately, that makes sense in many other areas as well. So, that would mean one layering system does not suit all building types. I have a separate layering set up for a pln that contains only details. That one is based on being able to turn layers on or off to produce a different detail without drawing anything... such as a 2x6 version, and a 2x4 version of a roof cut.. or an 8/12 pitch, and a 10/12 pitch. I can save different quickviews as needed for each detail.

If you might have any need to generate material take offs, then layering is essential to extract with any grouping.

I tried to attach a screen shot, but it want upload now???

[Steve Jepson]

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[KeesW]

I've based our layers on the construction sequence in which buildings are built - e.g. footings, floors, sub-floor walls, external walls, internal walls, roofs, ceilings, plumbing, electrical, joinery, etc. It is based on a scheme suggested by Lazlo Nagy (of Virtual Tutor fame), and works quite well.

We use real descriptions that mean something - ie not codes. Each category has subsections and we sort them by allocating numbers for main elements, same number and letters for subtopics. We have a lot of layers though - but it doesn't matter if you can find and select the things you need. Subtopics are indented with dashed lines before the number.