[REQ] Plugin to copy all objects from a layer to a new layer

[brodie]

I'm looking for a quick way to generate options. In a typical situation I generate some geometry and put it on a layer called OPT 1. I want a plugin that will copy all of that geometry onto a new layer which I'd name OPT 2. Part of what it would need to do would be to make all of the components Unique (preferably unique with respect to anything associated with OPT 1 but not unique with respect to similar components within OPT if that makes sense).

Does something like that exist?

-Brodie

[Dave R]

I do that sort of thing frequently without a plugin. Maybe you have your heart set on a plugin but here's how I do it.

Start with the components associated with Layer 0.
Make all the required layers.
Turn off the visibility for those layers.
Select the involved components.
Use Edit>Cut or use the keyboard shortcut.
Hit Edit>Paste in place. I have a keyboard shortcut for that, too.
While the just pasted components are selected, right click on them and choose Make unique if that option is available the first time. Depending on the components, it may not be needed the first time.
Change the layer association to the first layer. They'll disappear.
Hit Edit>Paste in place.
Right click and choose Make unique.
Change the layer association to the second layer.
Rinse and repeat. Make as many options as you want that way.

[brodie]

Dave,

I think that's pretty much my current method. My main issue with the manual method is that I tend to use a lost of nested components. So rather than just making the overall components unique I also have to dig into each main component and make all of the sub components unique as well, and sometimes sub sub components. Worse than that is when I forget to make some or all of those unique. I finish option 2 only to find out that I was inadvertently changing option 1 as well (I've put the undo button to the test many a time).

So the plugin I'm thinking would both speed things up and remove the human error. I got the idea from a nice 3ds Max layer plugin similar to the Layers Panel Beta plugin. This plugin (Nested Layer Manager) has a nice feature where you can right-click and choose to copy the layer with options to keep the components instanced or to make them unique.

-Brodie

[Dave R]

So the real thing you need is a way to make all the sub components in the selected nests unique when the tool is run.

[brodie]

Good point. If nothing does everything I want that may be something good for me to settle for. I'll have to poke around for something like that.

-Brodie

[Dave R]

I'm thinking there might be something that does that part but I can't remember for sure.

[brodie]

Haven't tested it yet but it looks like this plugin from honoluludesktop (still giving to the community ) should do the Make Unique portion of what we're talking about.

http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=346107#p346107

-Brodie