Layer Intersection Group numbers

[Steve Jepson]

How do I keep the Layer Intersection Group numbers from changing?

Everytime I open the file they are not the way I saved them.

Do I have to lock all layers before saving each time, and then unlock them when I open the file again to work on it?

[Link]

Trust me Steve, there is no magical default. Sure it may appear that they all reset to 1, but that is only because another view is invoked (which resets them all). You said it yourself.

Whether you like it or not, the views you are using are changing the intersection priority numbers of your layers. All I am suggesting is that you utlize this feature to store the intersection priority numbers you want instead of fighting with it.

But in the end it's up to you...

Cheers,
Link.

[__archiben]

Link wrote:
Trust me Steve, there is no magical default.

there isn't a magical default . . . but there is the 'Intersection in Layer Combinations' add-on which sets 1's and 2's based on current visibility.

quick, simple and painless to use.

---->

[Steve Jepson]

I think I understand how it is intended to make me work now.

It doesn't fit the way I like to work.

I am adding and adjusting new items all the time. I may work on something in 3d view for a while, jump back to plan, do more adjusting, turn on all layers, and then turn them off one at a time until I can see what it is I need to adjust.

I may jump up a floor, or to the roof, or where ever and back.

I don't want to have to create a bunch useless view sets while I am "working" and migrating around the project in order to preserve my settings.

What If I don't want to change views by using the view maps?
Perhaps I am using the project maps instead.

Does that seem reasonable to you, or the way ArchiCAD was intended to work?

To me it seems more to me like a problem that needs to be fixed.

The settings I make for layer intersect group numbers should be universal to all views unless they are over ridden for some specific view set.

The way it works now is just the opposite.

I also wonder if I am using this setting when I should be using the Wall Priority setting instead.

My objective is always the same. It's the walls I want to clean up properly.

When is the right time to use one of these features or the other?

They both seem to be for doing the same thing.

[KeesW]

There is a fair bit on this list about layer priorities. Most users , I think, find them terrible - one of the worst, poorly thought out and debilitating features of ArchiCad. And worst of all, it never used to be an issue. Walls used to clean up reasonably most times. Layer priorities introduce flexibility in an area that should be straightforward.

In a 'T' junction, linings NEVER continue through the junction (is that too strong?). If I turn a layer off because I don't want to see it on the current plan - eg a demolition layer - it should NEVER cause gaps in the layers I do want to use. But that is what happens if you don't tweak your wall priorities.

Who writes this stuff and and who briefs the programmers? It can't possibly be an architect or draftsman!

[Anonymous]

Steve wrote:

What If I don't want to change views by using the view maps?
Perhaps I am using the project maps instead.

I think you've answered you're own question right here. If you want to navigate through your project w/o affecting the current model view and layer settings, use the project map. Switching views from there will allow you to adjust elements from multiple views w/o readjusting your layers every time you switch.

As for the Intersection priorities... There is no one combination that would suit all my individual views. The ability to set these priorities, and have them remembered, is crucial for me to generate all the necessary plans/sections/elevations I need from the model.

Over time I've generated templates with Layer combinations, including intersection priorities, that have more or less completely automated the process of setting up the individual views of the model. At most, I'm tweaking a few items in the Layer setting Dialog box to meet the specific needs of the current project -updating the layer combo- and I'm ready to roll.

I understand, that as a new user, the seemingly infinite number of settings and dialog boxes may be intimidating. At first, it may appear that some of these seem unnecessary or overly complicated. IMO, however, it is this flexibility and degree of control afforded to the user that make AC such a powerful tool that can be adapted to a wide range of projects.

[Laura Yanoviak]

Each Layer within all of our Layer Combinations has the same Intersection Group throughout and we've never had a problem with Intersection Groups "resetting" to something unexpected.

My only observation is that I don't see a need for different Intersection Groups-by-Layer Combination, but in typical AC fashion, at least we have been given this option.

[Steve Jepson]

I have worked out a solution for the project that was causing me trouble.

It is a remodel with walls for Existing, Demo, and New all in the same view set. None of the walls that could be drawn as composites are. They are all modeled as individual parts. In addition, it is a very detailed model because it needs to be use for materials take-off and a high quality rendering.

Lot's and lots of things that need to clean up properly in all views.

On a typical project I rarely have more than 2 or 3 locations needing any special tweaking for proper clean up.

I do like the option of being able to save special clean up settings with each view. That part is good.

Laura's observation is right on the money (as usual).

You can get what you want by other means, leaving all of the group numbers set to 1. Why use it?

What do others do?

Do you use the group numbers ?

[__archiben]

Steve wrote:
You can get what you want by other means, leaving all of the group numbers set to 1. Why use it?

you answered your own question again before you asked it:

for existing+demo, demo and existing+new combinations - their cleanup can't be accomplished with wall intersection priorities alone . . .

~/archiben

[Steve Jepson]

I am not sure that is entirely true.

I think there may be some clean up (if that is the right word for it) issues that you can not clean up with out using the layer intersection group numbers. I am not sure.

Take a look at this.


The problem of clean up is from some items that are not even being displayed in this view set, but they are still messing up the view somehow.

I have to turn on all layers and then trun them off one at a time until I find the ones that are causing this.

[Steve Jepson]

No. I think you are right. The clean up was done better by adjusting the wall wall priority setting.

I dont't think I know of a good use for the Layer Intersect Group Number.