Adjusting scenes

jojo9 · 21 Jul 2012, 13:41

Hi,
maybe i've overseen something using Sketchup, my question is:
how to apply invisibility/visibility of new groups/components/selected instances on other scenes as well ?

mitcorb · 21 Jul 2012, 13:57

I am guessing that would be by using Layer console, assigning various components to various layers, and in each scene, determine what is visible and invisible? Or, is layer invisibility not saved with the scene? Window>Layers>UI with plethora of checkboxes?

jojo9 · 22 Jul 2012, 14:09

Hi,
sorry, what do you mean with 'layer console' ? its the Layer manager ?

to make a comparison, create a new scene and then add a new group, renaming the layer of this group.
Result:
if you have more than a dozen scenes, you have to run through all your scenes and uncheck (hide) this particular group, if you want to set it invisible.
Sometimes i hide groups, but need them later. So i've repeat the same steps as before, only to unhide groups again. Is there a shorter way to check and uncheck groups/components in scenes?

TIG · 22 Jul 2012, 14:24

When you add a new layer in the Layer Browser it is automatically 'on' in the current scene... and also all existing scenes, and any new ones you might make later.

You want the ability to add a new layer which will be 'on' in the current scene, but 'off' in all other scenes - both existing scenes and and any you might add in the future...

There is a script to do that does this - it's by Jim...
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.co.uk/2007/08/add-hidden-layer.html

It's possible to make a shortcut-key to activate it, and you can enter your new layer's name in its dialog, and not the main Layer Browser...

jojo9 · 23 Jul 2012, 10:11

Hi,
Jim's script is a useful piece of code. However, i wanted a bit more flexibility in adjusting scenes. Like to hide - unhide groups/comps with a single click on all scenes with ease.

TIG · 23 Jul 2012, 12:22

Hiding is easy, select the object[s] and press H [or whatever your 'Hide' shortcut-key is]...
Unhiding is easy, select the object[s] and press shift+H [or whatever your 'UnHide' shortcut-key is]...
The difficult bit is selecting hidden objects...
Toggling hidden-geometry on/off using another shortcut-key, is one way to see them for selection, but the required 'ghosts' might be obscured by other hidden forms.

One improved way might be to use the Outliner - which will also list 'hidden objects' - groups/component-instances - [but not objects that are on non-visible 'off' layers] - these objects appear listed in a different text-style - feint-italic...
If you have given your objects logical names then they are readily selectable in the Outliner [and by selecting them in the Outliner you are selecting them within the Model too] - always provided that they are all in the same entities context - [hold Ctrl/Cmd-key for adding to multiple selections]... even selected hidden objects are highlighted [dotted outlines] - once you have the desired selection use the 'UnHide' shortcut on them - they all appear...
You can of course use the Outliner to select visible objects and press the Hide shortcut key and they vanish [assuming hidden-geometry is 'off']...
That's the best I can come up with...

jojo9 · 23 Jul 2012, 13:03

Aha…
i never used to select or hide groups in the outliner, because it becomes a bit messy in my works. I assign groups to layers rather to particular names, (like: kitchen cabinets, kitchen lamps, ect. instead to name single instances one by one) for the simple reason-
i do it faster.
However, I'll follow your counsel and try to use the outliner too. Maybe it is a great help, having practice with this tool.