[Plugin] Layers Panel 1.2.1

[utiler]

Gee I hope a 'trimbler' is lurking here.... so much can be learnt from a user driven solution!!!! And soooo needed for sooo long.....!!!!!!!

I've posted here previously about combining Outliner and Layer functionality and here it is!

Plugin of the year for sure! Well done mate!

[utiler]

Hey JBB, one question before I try it out: when you add a layer is that layers' visibility only visible in the current scene? If not can it be???? So tedious when adding a layer to then have to go through all other scenes to turn it off it you only want it visible in one scene.

[jiminy-billy-bob]

@utiler said:

Hey JBB, one question before I try it out: when you add a layer is that layers' visibility only visible in the current scene? If not can it be???? So tedious when adding a layer to then have to go through all other scenes to turn it off it you only want it visible in one scene.

Not yet, this option is on my todo list
In the meantime, you can use another plugin to do that, Layers Panel should work with anything adding layers.

[utiler]

Thanks mate, look forward to your updates!!

[jiminy-billy-bob]

In my stats, I see some users on Mac OSX using Layers Panel several days in a row. So I'm guessing it's kind of working on OSX. Can someone tell me exactly what's working and what's not ? Thanks

[glro]

@utiler said:

Hey JBB, one question before I try it out: when you add a layer is that layers' visibility only visible in the current scene? If not can it be???? So tedious when adding a layer to then have to go through all other scenes to turn it off it you only want
it visible in one scene.

Vismap does what you are asking for

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=23029

[Edson]

this looks to be a great plugin. I would not want to miss out on it! however, I am a mac user. any chance of it working on mac os in the near future?

[jiminy-billy-bob]

There are chances, but it'll need a fair amount of modification, because OSX doesn't handle webdialog the same as Windows (a lot more complicated, actually). Plus, I don't have a mac myself, so debug won't be easy.

[Edson]

I hope you do it. why not ask for help from the other authors on this forum? they have been able to port their plugins to mac os.

[jiminy-billy-bob]

I will, but first I'm learning what are the differences between windows and mac.

[db11]

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

I will, but first I'm learning what are the differences between windows and mac.

Looking forward to a functioning Mac version!

A question / suggestion:
Any chance that your plugin will work with the TIG's Layer Name Export/Import plug-in in a way that will preserve/establish the layer hierarchy?

I would love to have standardized, predefined layer outline sets — depending on the type of model being built: i.e. furniture, cabinetry, architectural, product design — that could be loaded from a .layers file on starting a new model. I do that now, but being able to import an outlined layer structure would be killer!

[jiminy-billy-bob]

I'll look into that. In the meantime, you can use templates. They should keep the nested/sorted structure.

[db11]

@jiminy-billy-bob said:

I'll look into that. In the meantime, you can use templates. They should keep the nested/sorted structure.

Cool.

Given that you report some people apparently using the beta on their macs, maybe I will try it out as-is to help with user testing. Don't have the knowledge to help on the Ruby front, but can at least add my voice through bug reporting (assuming that the current beta works at all on my mac).

I'm running SU8 on OSX 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard)... will let you know how it goes.

[jiminy-billy-bob]

Great, thanks !

[db11]

OK, after about an hour of playing (and 1 bug splat) around here's what I found on my mac:

What works:

• installation
• toolbar
• web dialogue (layers panel window)
• add layer
• add group
• name/rename group/layer
• nest / move
• import layers through TIGs plugin - fills layer panel
• layer visibility toggle

Doesn't work:

• group visibility (no effect at all)
• delete layer (no effect at all)
• delete group (deletes group and nested layers from panel, but not Layers window)
• purge unused layers

Big Problems:

• existing layers don't automatically fill layer panel
• on save and close / reopen, layer panel loses all layers
• on switching focus to a second model window, the layer panel loses all layers
  ( probably related to the fact that Mac OS allows multiple windows in a single application instance whereas Windows allows only one window per application instance (therefore multiple model windows = multiple SU instances) IIANM.

Hope this helps. This is going to be an awesome plugin once it's debugged!

[jiminy-billy-bob]

Thanks a lot ! That's very usefull

[Tobobo]

This looks like a giant leap forward. Well done

I use a lot of models from other people and CAD drawings, this will be great to keep the model organised.

[jiminy-billy-bob]

New version 0.3 beta !

Changelog :

• Locking layers (Works only when purging or deleting from the plugin's menu)
• Ability to add a layer only visible in the current scene (New pop-up menu when holding the "Add layer" button)
• Layers Panel is now a toolwindow, but you can't dock nor collapse it
• Two different delete buttons, for better performance (The red cross deletes the layer content, the green arrow moves the content to the default layer)
• Several bug fix

Download in the plugin store !

[utiler]

Gee, you do work fast and listen to request, JBB!!!!!!

Have you ever been to Boulder; I hear they're hiring......

[bagatelo]

Someone already ask for freeze layers content?