"Copying" a layer to another project

[Anonymous]

Hi!

I need to (or at least would like to) use a layer from one project in another project (different file). I found a post which seems something similar (link at the bottom), and they say it should be possible to copy/paste layers between files. However, as I can't have to files open at once, I can't see how this can be done..

I want to add that I'm not very experienced using advanced functions in archicad, i.e. not sure how to use this "attribute manager", so if anyone could make a little step-by-step thing, that would be great:)


By the way, I'm using Archicad 13 Student on Mac OSX 10.6.


Thanks,

Monica, Norway



The post I'm referring to:
archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=23706&postdays=0&postorder=desc&highlight=import+layer&...

[Erika Epstein]

It's very easy. Open the file to which you want to ADD the layer(s). Using the Attribute Manager lets you bring in ONLY the attributes that you are wanting. When you copy and paste you bring in all the attributes of the items you are copying and pasting.

1. Options>Element Attributes>Attribute Manager.

2. On the left side is the file that you have open.
3. On the right side click the OPEN button and browse to the file that has the layer(s) you want to add.

4. Click on the Layer tab and both sides will display the layers list in their files.

5. On the right side select/highlight the layer(s) you want.

6. Click the APPEND button. This will ADD the layer to the file on the left i.e. the one you have open. If you click OVERWRITE, it will overwrite the layer in the file you have open that has the same NUMBER.

7. Click Apply

8. Click CREATE in the Confirm Changes window that comes up.

9. Click OK to exit Attribute Manager.

10. Now open up your layer settings box, ctlr/cmd+L. Highlight this new layer on the right side. On the left you can quickly set the locking,visibility, solidity and intersection priority of each layer combination for this layer.

Note that this only brings in the Layer, nothing that was on this layer.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the answer!
I got the layer in now, but is there any way I can get the objects in too? I was thinking that maybe it was possible to use the export function somehow..?

Monica

[Fran_ois Chatelain]

Hi Monica,
I'd say an easier way would be to select and copy the objects from the first file, open the second file (making sure you stay in ArchiCAD all the time, if you don't the clipboard content will be converted to an image), and paste the elements. ArchiCAD will automatically create the missing layer for you.
So you've got the objects and the layer in one hit.

Hope this helps.

Cheers
Francois

[Anonymous]

Copy/paste works per François. You can also save/publish module files to be placed/merged into the other file.

[David Maudlin]

Monica:

Another tip: when opening the second project, check the "Launch a new instance of ArchiCAD" in the lower left of the Open dialog box, so both projects are open at the same time. This makes copy & paste between projects easier. (I hope this is not missing in the Student version.)

You should add a Signature to your Profile (click the Profile button near the top of this page) with your ArchiCAD version and operating system (see mine for an example) for more accurate help in this forum.

David

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the help, I have successfully added two layers now and it works like a charm!

Monica.

[Anonymous]

Personally, I prefer, in some cases, to use the attribute manager to "OVERWRITE" (not APPEND) the new layer into the target PLN, before copy+pasting the objects.

That way, the new layer ends up with same index number in both files, assuming that is, they were both derived from the same or similar template - which would mean that the index number of the new layer in the source PLN is less likely to exist in the target PLN. If it doesn't, then you can use OVERWRITE to add it to the source, which will give it the same index number as the source PLN.

Why this method?
This is useful because LAYER COMBINATIONS are collections of layer index numbers, not layer names, so keeping all your LAYER COMBOs synced between files with the OVERWRITE function in Attribute Manager is easier. If the layers in 2 files have the same index numbers, you can quickly sync the COMBOs in Att.Man. by a SELECT ALL and an OVERWRITE (in the COMBO tab).

Whenever practical, I do the same for other attributes too - fills, composites, materials, etc. This is more important the more hotlinked modules you use, because attributes primarily refer to each other by index number, not name. If the attributes aren't synced by index number, a hotlinked module can end up looking quite different in its source file than in its host.

SIDENOTE: Inconsistently, and annoyingly IMHO, is that VIEWS refer to their LAYER COMBO by name, not index number, so if you change the name of a COMBO, it loses the link with all VIEWS that refer to it.

DISCLAIMER: I'm only an AC junior, and I've only just discovered all this in the last few months. So if you know if I'm wrong in any aspect of my understanding of this, please correct me!