Layers Throw Me For A Loop -- Why Can't They Stay Hidden?
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Hello,
My name is Frank, and I'm stumped by layers. What I'm trying to do is to make an "electrical" layer for the model of my house so I can (a) reconstruct my existing electrical system and (b) plan a revision for a remodeling project. My approach was to first get a plan view by generating a horizontal section cut, making a group out of the section, then changing it to a component and putting that on a layer separate from the main model (called - well - "electrical" -- pretty clever, eh?). Then I wanted to make it as a separate scene so I could import it into Layout and do actual schematic drawings. I read Aidan Chopra's "Sketch Up for Dummies" and Bonnie Rokses' "SketchUp 8 Hands On :Layout 3" and thought I had this down by simply hiding all but the electrical layer on the scene that I wanted to import into Layout. But, when I move from scene to scene, whenever I get to the scene with the electrical plan, layer 0 always pops up again! I made sure that I had the "Visible Layers" checked in the Scenes dialog box, and I saved the scene with only the electrical layer visible. No go. I turned off the electrical layer in my other scenes, and that seems to stay off when I run through the scenes. My work-around was to hide all of the other house components using the outliner, and that seems to work, but I'm flummoxed by the behavior of the hidden layer that won't stay put.
So -- why is layer 0 insisting to become visible in my electrical scene?
I only have two layers in the model (layer 0 and "electrcial") so maybe that has something to do with it. But that wasn't obvious in my readings.
Any help you could provide would appreciated.
Thanks!
Frank.
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Try making a third layer. Group the remaining model and put it on that layer. Now reset your scene with the third layer off.
The active layer must be visible. When you move to scenes where only LayerO is visible it becomes active. Then when you go to other scenes it is still active. I suppose this is because it is the default layer. Anyway the "active layer" isn't controlled by scenes so it gets thrown off.
Instead leave Layer0 the active layer. Don't try to hide it. If you want to hide something, put it ( as a group) on another layer.
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Layer 0 is a special layer and is supposed to contain all raw geometry - only put groups and components onto other layers (the geometry "inside" will remain on Layer 0). It is also special that even if you turn it off, its content will be visible (for the above reason).
So yes, do what Peter suggested and make a third layer for the "other stuff" but make sure to group everything else first.
If you still cannot get along, you can share your model - or if you do not wish to share it publicly, we can set up a private forum for you as a Premium Member.
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Hi Peter and Gai,
The third layer worked! I needed to figure out that Layer 0 needs to be visible at all times to prevent the unintended flipping from layer to layer between scenes, but since Layer 0 is your drafting layer, nothing should be on it unless you're actively working it. Now the scenes work exactly as intended.
The other thing I noticed is that hiding the layer also hides all components on that layer in the outliner view. My outliner is getting pretty long, so I think as I gain a better understanding about using layers, and in combination with outliner, I'm going to maintain a well organized model that should be easier to work with.
Many thanks, and I sincerely appreciate your help!!
Frank.
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Frank,
I'm not sure if I just misread your last comments but...
Yes, Layer 0 could be considered your "drafting layer" but, all edges and faces should be on kept on that layer. It is only the components that you'll associate with other layers. And be sure you're always leaving Layer 0 as the active one.
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Hi Dave,
Yes, only groups and components go to other layers, and Layer 0 is where you do the work with "loose" edges and faces. In reading Adian Chopra's "Sketchup for Dummies", he warned very strongly against being "loose with your layers" because, basicllly, if you screw up which layer you're working on, you can easily destroy your model. I guess it was that warning that made me reluctant to use layers to begin with. But now I'm getting a little more familiar with how they work, and as long as I remain disiplined in keeping layer 0 straight, I can see where layers will be extremely useful.
Thanks for your post!
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I'm glad you took Aidan's advice to heart. I get to work with a lot of woodworkers who are learning SketchUp who don't believe that layers work that way. Invariably they screw up their models pretty good. You aren't going that route, though.
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I see you are getting to understand this pretty well. One thing however (which I consider to be a bug but the developers insist that it's a "feature"):
Once you assign a layer (other than Layer 0) to a group or component, and even though you follow the advice to keep loose geometry (also inside groups) on Layer 0 and now you explode this group, all loose geometry that used to be inside will inherit the layer that the group was on. I.e. they suddenly switch from Layer 0 to whatever layer.
Now you have two choices: the geometry of exploded groups is always remain selected so you can quickly change their layer back to Layer 0.
If however you forget this (and gradually screw your model) or if you import others' stuff who did not follow good modelling suggestions and have all sorts of geometry on different layers, you can always rely on TIG's excellent plugin which will even dig deep into nested groups/components and move all loose geometry back to Layer 0.
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7638 -
Thanks, Gai, for the advice. I'll definitely check out TIG's tool to snag the loose geometry, which I'm SURE I have (I just can't find it easily). Sounds like a good plug-in to run periodically for good model maintenance.
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