[Plugin] Layers Panel 1.2.1

bobpineo · 27 Aug 2013, 16:25

Hey this looks promising,thank you!
Quick question, can I use the same layer in multiple groups I create?
For Instance lets say i wanted group Called "Foundation Plan" and one of the layers in that group was called "CMU Wall"..
Could I create another group called "Typical Section" that also had the same "CMU Wall" inside that new group?

Also, could this plugin be used to open an existing drawing with Layers, and the layers already created automatically show up in the dialogue box you have created?
The Previously created layer names don't show up
Best.
BP

jiminy-billy-bob · 27 Aug 2013, 17:41

@bobpineo said:

Hey this looks promising,thank you!
Quick question, can I use the same layer in multiple groups I create?
For Instance lets say i wanted group Called "Foundation Plan" and one of the layers in that group was called "CMU Wall"..
Could I create another group called "Typical Section" that also had the same "CMU Wall" inside that new group?

Nope. And even if I tried to mkde the plugin to allow that, I already see a number of problems...

@bobpineo said:

Also, could this plugin be used to open an existing drawing with Layers, and the layers already created automatically show up in the dialogue box you have created?
The Previously created layer names don't show up
Best.
BP

Weird, it should work. Are you using version 0.2 ? What is your windows version, and internet explorer version ? Can you send me the file ?

utiler · 28 Aug 2013, 02:10

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 · 28 Aug 2013, 02:17

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 · 28 Aug 2013, 05:58

@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 · 29 Aug 2013, 22:40

Thanks mate, look forward to your updates!!

jiminy-billy-bob · 2 Sept 2013, 18:39

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 · 3 Sept 2013, 07:24

@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 · 3 Sept 2013, 12:09

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 · 3 Sept 2013, 12:13

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 · 3 Sept 2013, 13:04

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 · 3 Sept 2013, 14:37

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

db11 · 3 Sept 2013, 17:29

@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 · 3 Sept 2013, 18:30

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

db11 · 3 Sept 2013, 19:19

@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 · 3 Sept 2013, 20:10

Great, thanks !

db11 · 3 Sept 2013, 21:43

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 · 4 Sept 2013, 06:00

Thanks a lot ! That's very usefull

Tobobo · 4 Sept 2013, 09:57

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 · 8 Sept 2013, 18:18

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 !