Layer Contents

ntxdave

This is a rather dumb question on my part.

I have a rather complex model that includes equipment that I have downloaded from the 3d warehouse. I am trying to clean up and organize my model at the layer level. I have gone through each item and associated it with a layer. However, I see a bunch of layers that I cannot identify what is on them. They have names like; BLK1-OBJ147 (there are almost 100 like this), Extra, FACIA1-OBJ116 there are several of these), OBJ143, and Royal_Optima_186-SMO_Rev0a.

I have gone through the Outliner and renamed everything there to items I can easily identify in the model. If I try to erase these layers, I get the list that lets me pick what I want to do with the contents. I have tried turning all of the layers off and on to see if I could identify what is one those layers but I cannot identify the contents.

Bottom line is, how do I identify what is one each of these layers so that I can properly place it (and know what the heck it is)? Is there a plugin that would assist in situations like this?

JQL

You have geometry that is not in Layer0. That happens when you import from 3d warehouse, model without care for layer functionality in SU or explode groups/comps that have been "layered".

ntxdave

@jql said:

You have geometry that is not in Layer0. That happens when you import from 3d warehouse, model without care for layer functionality in SU or explode groups/comps that have been "layered".

Thanks for your response.

So what happens if I take each of these layers and delete them and merge their contents to Layer 0? Since I have gone though each component/group and added it to one of my layers, does that give me the control like I want it?

My understanding of how SU works, tells me yes. I am really not moving anything, I am just consolidating the visibility controls. Since I have gone through all of my items in the model and placed them on layers that I want for visibility control purposes I am OK and that is why when I tried tuning layers on and off I did not see any affect.

Again, just trying to solidify/clarify my understanding of how SU works before I go mess something up (I have too many hour in this model to mess it up).

BTW: This is the model you and I have discussed before in a PM.

driven

did you check for hidden geometry?
can you add a 3dWarehouse link for one of these multi layered items?
john

ntxdave

@driven said:

did you check for hidden geometry?
can you add a 3dWarehouse link for one of these multi layered items?
john

Yes, I have tried turning on Hidden Geometry and could not identify anything.

I have tried copying and pasting some of the downloaded items into a blank copy of SU and have not yet been able to identify which items are the culprits. Is there some "simple" way to do this that I am missing?

TECHDAVE02

get this plug in it will help
SLBaumgartner: Layer Zero Fixup Tools v1.1

Dave R

Did you try purging unused layers via the Details menu in the Layers window? That's always a good place to start because it'll get rid of layers that don't have anything associated with them. At least you won't be hunting for nothing.

When I get models from students and others in which the layers are screwed and confused, I generally just delete all of them shifting all entities to Layer 0. Then I start over with new layers. Usually it's a heckuva lot easier to do that than it is to repair the mess.

andybot

It could be that some lines are on those layers, but not any of the faces. Happens to me sometimes with a CAD import. I would just go and delete the layers and send the contents to Layer 0, then whatever group they're in will control the visibility.

cotty

@dave r said:

I generally just delete all of them shifting all entities to Layer 0. Then I start over with new layers. Usually it's a heckuva lot easier to do that than it is to repair the mess.

+1

ntxdave

@dave r said:

Did you try purging unused layers via the Details menu in the Layers window? That's always a good place to start because it'll get rid of layers that don't have anything associated with them. At least you won't be hunting for nothing.

When I get models from students and others in which the layers are screwed and confused, I generally just delete all of them shifting all entities to Layer 0. Then I start over with new layers. Usually it's a heckuva lot easier to do that than it is to repair the mess.

With a little work, I have identified where most of the problem is.When I got the stuff from the 3d warehouse, I save it to external files instead of loading directly into my model. Given that I could isolate them and look at stuff individually, I tried an experiment. Once, I had identified the culprit, I added a layer, then I selected the objects and set the entity info to that layer. Since all of the original layers were still showing, I selected them and them deleted them moving the contents to Layer 0. Now that those layers were gone, I was able to turn the layer I had added off and on and the objects were all controlled the way I wanted them to be. Thus, just like you were pointing out, I now feel safe in going back into my model and merging all of the "phantom/unneeded" layers with Layer 0 since I have grouped all of the objects into layers the way I want them.

Thanks for the feedback. Big Lesson Learned for me.......

@techdave02 said:

get this plug in it will help
SLBaumgartner: Layer Zero Fixup Tools v1.1

Thanks, I will look at it. (Got your PM also)

pbacot

Probably a good idea if you intend to continue use of imported (warehouse) models is to put them into a blank SU file first and see what you want to do with the layers, colors, components etc. Put clean objects in your working model.

Some objects (such as trees made by Sketchucation authors) actually have useful and properly used layers, so consider the source and what you'll be doing with it down the line.

ntxdave

@pbacot said:

Probably a good idea if you intend to continue use of imported (warehouse) models is to put them into a blank SU file first and see what you want to do with the layers, colors, components etc. Put clean objects in your working model.

Some objects (such as trees made by Sketchucation authors) actually have useful and properly used layers, so consider the source and what you'll be doing with it down the line.

Totally agree.....

As I said before, this has been a very valuable lesson learned. Particularly when using stuff from the warehouse.

Dave R

Yep, the Warehouse can be a valuable resource but you need to be discerning about the models you get from there. You will find some good content and some that needs a lot of help. For the kinds of components I might find useful to get from the warehouse, my overall experience is that it's easier to make my own than fix what someone else did.