Improved Layer System

[Anonymous]

Hello everyone, after working on a few mid size, but very complex projects, I feel the need of having some more power in the layers in general.
Because I did not wanted to make a wish for each one I rather put this as one wish of improving the layers. Here are some of the improvements I wish:
1- When setting priorities number, you have to go and change it in each of the layer combinations. I think the priority number should be set the same for each layer combination, I have never need it to be different in the layer combinations.(I don't say someone else does). It would be good if we can set the number in the same dialog where we first name the layer when create it and make it the same for all layers combination, and only if needed you can change it later in a specific layer combination.

2- Adding the option of "no plot" to a layer. In my workflow I have two sections that are for working and I move them around the model, and sometimes I forget to move them out of the model to print or publish, and I have to re print or re publish again. And sometimes I have some annotations in the model that are only for me as a reminder of things I have to do, but I don't want to print those annotations, so I have to do a new layer for them, but in order to see them I need to go to a working layers combination or, again, I have to move them out of the way when printing or publishing.

3- Would like to set layers for specific tools only, for example the layer, Wall Exterior, will be available only for the wall, shell and Morph tool. This will shorten the pop up list of layers a lot and make things easier and simpler to work.(And I know how to short the pop up layer list by locking layers). Imaging that you are annotating your project and you choose the text tool or dimension tool, and when chosing a layer you will only see layers assigned for annotations instead of the long list.

4- A dock-able Layer palette that could work together with the quick layer palette, with the option of updating layer combinations, turning layers off and on, etc.

I think these improvements can speed up our everyday work. This are just my ideas, but it can be better.

[Laszlo Nagy]

arqrivas wrote:
1- When setting priorities number, you have to go and change it in each of the layer combinations. I think the priority number should be set the same for each layer combination, I have never need it to be different in the layer combinations.(I don't say someone else does). It would be good if we can set the number in the same dialog where we first name the layer when create it and make it the same for all layers combination, and only if needed you can change it later in a specific layer combination.

Yes, I agree with this wish, this can be very cumbersome if one has dozens of Layer Combinations and the state of a Layer needs to be changed in all Layer Combinations (e.g. when creating a new Layer).

2- Adding the option of "no plot" to a layer. In my workflow I have two sections that are for working and I move them around the model, and sometimes I forget to move them out of the model to print or publish, and I have to re print or re publish again. And sometimes I have some annotations in the model that are only for me as a reminder of things I have to do, but I don't want to print those annotations, so I have to do a new layer for them, but in order to see them I need to go to a working layers combination or, again, I have to move them out of the way when printing or publishing.

I do not agree with this wish. I think you just have to save the exact Views you want as output and always publish them. In the Views the desired Layer Combinations will be saved so Layers you don't want visible will be hidden in those Views.

3- Would like to set layers for specific tools only, for example the layer, Wall Exterior, will be available only for the wall, shell and Morph tool. This will shorten the pop up list of layers a lot and make things easier and simpler to work.(And I know how to short the pop up layer list by locking layers). Imaging that you are annotating your project and you choose the text tool or dimension tool, and when chosing a layer you will only see layers assigned for annotations instead of the long list.

I don't agree with this wish either. It seems to me it would complicate thing quite a bit. Then people wouldn't know why Layers are not available for them. Also, in ARCHICAD many times one uses various Tools to do various things so it is not always obvious what a Tool should be used for and hence, what Layer it should go.
I think if you set up your Favorites correctly, you don't have to switch Layers often.

4- A dock-able Layer palette that could work together with the quick layer palette, with the option of updating layer combinations, turning layers off and on, etc.

I agree, this would be a good addition and would speed up our workflow.

[Erwin Edel]

1 and 4, essential.

2 I do not need, got this tackled with layer system and layercombo's and clever naming of our 'working' combinations (just add a minus or exclamation mark or the like to the name to bump it to the top of lists). That is we just have layers that are not on printing layercombinations, only on working layercombinations.

3 is probably local problem, NL layernaming standard isn't very bloated.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, for your answers Guys.

I don't agree with this wish either. It seems to me it would complicate thing quite a bit. Then people wouldn't know why Layers are not available for them. Also, in ARCHICAD many times one uses various Tools to do various things so it is not always obvious what a Tool should be used for and hence, what Layer it should go.
I think if you set up your Favorites correctly, you don't have to switch Layers often.

Probably I did not explain well, but I mean that the user can set this personally in their template and change it whenever they want. The idea is not that if you are going to do a bench with a profiled wall that you have to go and permit the furniture layer to be used with the wall tool, but that if I'm using the dimension tool I will only see the annotations layers. We will begin with all layer open to all tools and you will lock only the ones you want. Even though I'm agree that probably setting up good favorites this wish could disappear. Let's see if with the new improved favorites of AC20 I'll be more motivated to use it more and make my workflow more favorites-centric.

Anyway, I'll reconsider 2 and 3 from what you have said. Let me work it out. Thanks again.

[DGSketcher]

A no plot layer could be useful and is something present over at the dark side.

My biggest issue is managing the extensive layers present in the UKI template which leads me to wish for a means of having a master layer and sub-layers so I can turn off say all walls with one click or individual wall types if necessary, and if I don't need them the sub layers can be hidden much like expanding / collapsing a computer file directory.

[Richard Morrison]

You might take a look at www.simpleaddon.com. While it doesn't address everything, it does take some of the annoyance out of layer control. And only USD $10!

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I have simpleaddon, and they are very helpful, but as you said, the layer palette does not address everything. Is missing somethings.

[Anonymous]

1: essential, but sometimes need to switch off. E.g. different construction stages ot avoid intersections. In 97 % of all cases I have to change Layer combinations identically.

2: I understand it, but I do not need it.

3: very interesting from my point of view, but needs a lot of discipline. I’m very disciplined, but see top 4!

4: essential. I like to work with layers and
@laszlonagy: I have to work for dozens of different clients (sometimes only once or twice) with different whishes for layout definitions, line weight definitions and layer definitions …. I can’t handle all this by favorites. It is to much effort even for such a disciplined one like me . Underground 2D-drawings, conceptual studies, authorization engineering, detail eng. …
So an easy layer handling is very important and I must say: I miss it.
Best regards
Mario

[Anonymous]

We need a "hierarchical layers manager", where a layer can be the parent or the child of an other layer, like what exists on a lot of others software...like sketch up or illustrator..

The best exemple i have to explain why, is the import in my archiCAD project of the topographic plan of the geometer ... i need to keep all the layers of the geometer, cause sometime i need to hide the contour line, and after i need to show only the altitude, and after i hide the sewer network... all the time i need to hide or show one of the layers... so i add 20 layers to my archicad project... their is enought layers with my own projects, and it's really hard to find a layer to hide when you have 50 layers... so it would help if layers could be hierarchical, with one folder for the geometer plan, one folder with my project model, that could have one sub folder for the ground and the vegetation, one sub-folder for tha wall and the roofs, one subfolder for the interior design, etc...

[Eduardo Rolon]

Jevrod wrote:
We need a "hierarchical layers manager", where a layer can be the parent or the child of an other layer, like what exists on a lot of others software...like sketch up or illustrator..

The best exemple i have to explain why, is the import in my archiCAD project of the topographic plan of the geometer ... i need to keep all the layers of the geometer, cause sometime i need to hide the contour line, and after i need to show only the altitude, and after i hide the sewer network... all the time i need to hide or show one of the layers... so i add 20 layers to my archicad project... their is enought layers with my own projects, and it's really hard to find a layer to hide when you have 50 layers... so it would help if layers could be hierarchical, with one folder for the geometer plan, one folder with my project model, that could have one sub folder for the ground and the vegetation, one sub-folder for tha wall and the roofs, one subfolder for the interior design, etc...

What you want to do with your example can already be done in AC without adding all those layers. Instead of importing the DWG use the drawing tool to place it. When you do that you can use the drawing settings to turn on and off layers as you need. If you want different "permanent" layers on then you can create a worksheet for each combination placing copies of the drawing on each with their particular layers on.
This is not saying that the wish is wrong just that for your example there exists old workarounds.