[Plugin] Layer Manager New Release

Bob James · 11 Oct 2012, 17:22

Is there something like "Put selected objects on a new layer and hide this Layer" ?

Back in 2006 Jim Foltz wrote a plugin called add_hidden_layer.rb
I searched for it but could not find it: maybe you'll have more luck

matt.gordon320 · 3 May 2013, 22:11

Hi Didier, Great job as usual! I'm just starting to use this plugin, and it's quite powerful so far. I was curious if there's any way to map keyboard shortcuts to step back and forth through the layer states that I've set up?

I have Shift Left + Right to step through scenes, and I thought this would go hand in hand to create a seriously powerful workflow.

Thanks again!

Clayton49 · 28 Mar 2014, 16:19

To all,

I just checked again as of March 28th 2014 on my SU Pro extension warehouse & it still say's this extension was uninstalled as not compatible. I generally don't like work-arounds, so need SU HQ to validate this asap. Any news from the author in the meantime will be most appreciated. Having said that, has anyone just installed it long hand for SU Pro 2014, if so does it work..???

I hope SU HQ gives this the thumbs up soon, I'm now using SU Pro 2014 & am lost without it. This extension saves loads of time & makes the SU layer manager look very dumb indeed.

As a side note, I'd love SU HQ to make an update on this or extension of their own to make the layer manager manage things similar to this extension.

Over & out,
Clayton

Box · 28 Mar 2014, 17:21

There is an easy fix for this. I've tested it in windows and it works on this plugin. On the appropriate file, this is copied from the lines to tubes thread.

@tig said:

Didier needs to rework his rb file for v2014 compatibility and republish it...

BUT you can do it temporarily for your own use, even though his script is 'packed'.
Open the file lines2tubes.rb in Notepad, and go to the end:
Change
...}.unpack("m")**.to_s**
to read
...}.unpack("m")**[0]**
Save the changes.
Restart SketchUp.

The script will then load and work in v2014 !

This simple fix can be applied to any of Didier's 'packed' scripts that aren't working in v2014.

These edited scripts will also load and work in earlier SketchUp versions too...

Having said all that there is also a much newer Layers tool which you may find better.
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323%26amp;t=53906

TIG · 28 Mar 2014, 18:13

BUT if it has other 'internal coding issues' [which you can't read] it might still fail in v2014 - but you would have better clue as to what's up...

TIG · 26 Apr 2015, 18:37

Following Didier's wishes, I have updated his Layer Manager for him.
It now suits v2015 and earlier.
Here is the latest version in the PluginStore http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=layer_manager

greatoe · 29 Apr 2015, 03:16

the 'set layer of clicked object invisible' function (and other similar ones) is gone?

TIG · 29 Apr 2015, 12:36

The one I updated is v6...
That is the most up to date one in Didier's Depot and the current one in the PluginStore.
It has 17 buttons.
Some years ago [and a few posts back in this thread] Didier showed a preview image and a description of a new beta version.
That did include the functions/buttons etc to which you allude.
How did you get that beta version?
As far as I know it was never published??
I assume it is also incompatible with >=v2014 ?

greatoe · 30 Apr 2015, 06:47

SketchUp Extension Warehouse

Your library of custom third-party extensions created to optimize your SketchUp workflow.

(extensions.sketchup.com)

I got the plugin from the above link. It is version 2.2.0.

Yes I can use it in 2015, but I have not test all its functions, I merely use the button I mentioned in the previous post.

TIG · 30 Apr 2015, 10:00

That's most odd.
The PluginStore's is v6 and that's is several years old.
The EW's version is v2.2 and only two years old !
And it includes additional functions etc.
Didier must has made it just before he 'retired', and forgot to update the PluginStore version ??
I'll check it out...
It is readily compatible with >=v2014 I might repost it in the PluginStore too...

greatoe · 30 Apr 2015, 10:53

the following is copied from the ruby file layer_manager_extension_v6.rb ...


Layer_Manager_Extension.name= "Layer manager"
Layer_Manager_Extension.creator = "Didier Bur"
Layer_Manager_Extension.copyright = "12.2007, CRAI - Didier Bur"
Layer_Manager_Extension.version = "2.0 upgrade for GSU v6"

I guess that 'v6' means SketchUp v6 ...

TIG · 30 Apr 2015, 11:55

I know, but for some reason in the PluginStore database it was given 'v6' as its version !
Anyway, I have now got the newer version.
I have corrected some unreported issues with it and will publish it as 2.2.0x shortly...

TIG · 30 Apr 2015, 12:09

Here is the updated version [v2.2.0x] http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=layer_manager It includes the following...

Corrected an error in opening the 'Help' PDF file, which was causing it to fail in >=v2014.

Stopped it making an empty Tools submenu 'Layer Manager' when its Extension is not activated.
Fixed the missing Tools submenu 'Layer Manager' to include all commands.
Corrected misspelled translations, which was leaving blank submenu/toolbar text items.
It will now load and run from a non-default Plugins folder.
It auto-deletes any legacy files and folders it finds, that belong to the superseded older 'Layer Manager v6' - a SketchUp restart is required to complete the process.

greenskp · 29 Jul 2015, 17:13

Thanks for this plugin.

I had an issue when I will restore a configuration and the plugin is installed in the custom folder:

Error; #<Errno;;ENOENT; No such file or directory - D;/Custom_Folder/DBUR_LayerManager/pre000_.lmi>

The file "pre000_.lmi" is located in Desktop but says that file is in the custom folder.

Sometimes I have no privileges in the machine and cannot modify the plugins folder.

SketchUp version 2015.

EDIT:

I had the same issue if plugin is installed in default plugins folder but the file of configuration is any place other than the folder plugins.

juju · 27 Jun 2016, 12:58

SU EW latest current version is 3.0.0_1, the version (v2.2.0x) on SketchUcation Pluginstore seems to be out of date?

faust07 · 16 Jan 2017, 15:48

Version 3.0.0 from SU EW has not the tools submenu 'Layer Manager'. This tool is completely deleted. V 3.0.0 has only the 'Layer Tools'.
But the 'Layer Manager' has useful tools like 'Save and Restore Layer Configuration' directly into the model file etc.

But my request for Version 2.2.0x is:
The function 'Create layer and control behaviour' in 'Layer Tools' brings problems in both versions.
To create a layer 'Visible in the current scene only' is very helpful if you have many scenes in which the new layer should be switched off.
The problem is that the tool not only makes the new layer invisible in all other scenes, it overwrites all scenes with the same layer configuration of the active scene. And there is no way back - no undo. All layer settings in all scenes are lost...

If that could be corrected, it would be fantastic. Thanks in advance!

TIG · 16 Jan 2017, 16:12

This tool's author [Didier Bur] has updated this tool, but only on the EWH - so this version is now quite old.
I suggest you contact Didier directly and request his current version is updated/adjusted there...

faust07 · 6 Aug 2018, 10:59

Hi Didier, since I see that you are active in other posts, here is a request to your fantastic Layer Manager Plugin: Is there a way to improve the two replies above mentioned point?
It would be great if the plugin could also be used for the SketchUp versions 2016 and 2017.
Thanks in advance!

Didier Bur · 9 Aug 2018, 12:50

Hi faust07,

Version 3.0.0 from the EW works with all versions of SketchUp. It has all the tools from the previous versions (including the save/restore feature), nothing was deleted except the pulldown menus. I've attached here the PDF help guide so you can see.
Concerning the problem you mentionned, I'm unable to reproduce it here but I'll look into it.

Help file for v3.0.0 (included in the plugin when you install it)

faust07 · 10 Aug 2018, 14:26

Hi, Didier,
Many thanks for the quick reply.
Yes, the functionality of the current version is already sufficient.
The old "Save to / Restore from file" and the "Show, Isolate, Hide layers by Filter" are rather less needed. This makes the menu more compact.
In my models, I often have many scenes with different layers on or off.
The function "Create new layer and control its behaviour" overwrites this layer configuration in all scenes with the layer configuration of the active scene if I select the behavior "Visible in current scene only" or "Invisible on all scenes".
Since that only seems to happen to me, it is not dramatic. I avoid this feature, although it is very useful if you do not want to manually turn off new layers in all other scenes.
In addition, the current version does not recognize layer configurations saved with older versions of the plugin.
But enough of the whining, the plugin is immensely helpful. Thank you!