7 replies to this topic

[Daniel Jackson]

Is there a way to "automate" what layer I am using when drawing?

For example, is there a way to make all my walls on a wall layer, notes on a note layer, etc?

It is very frustrating to make sure I have the correct layer selected when drawing.  I use layers a LOT on different drawings for what I want visible or not.

 

 

[Mark Petri]

For some things you can assign what layer they are on. For modes you can assign what layer you are set to draw on. Otherwise, you can choose your layer as you add the different parts of your drawing.

[Daniel Jackson]

Mark,  HOW do I assign things to a layer?

How do I set up a "layer template" so that all my drawings always have the same layers?

[Philip Frank]

I'm not a big fan of layers. I find that I can control what shows on a plan by using the "Visibilities" assigned to most every item in SoftPlan. Use the CTRL + L to bring up the list of visibilities and turn off or on. You can set up your different modes to show or not show the visibility of nearly every item in SoftPlan.

[Mark Petri]

If you go to the layers on the System Options that will change the template for all future projects. If you change them on the Project or Drawing Option level it will change them for that particular project or drawing. You can change them on the System Options level and then go into an existing project or drawing and "reset to system" in the layers for that respective level.

 

Once you have that set you can go into the modes you draw in and (like Philip says) change the visibilities for all sorts of parts of the drawing/model in each mode. Or, assign layers to be on or off in each mode. You can also select which layer is being drawn on if you do not want it on the default layer. With certain things like symbols you can assign what layer they go on in the symbol libraries. Again, you can do that in the drawing level or if you want it for all projects at the system level.

 

For things such cabinets, speed notes, and posts you can set a default layer within the configuration in the library menu by clicking to edit an existing or when you create a new one. With other things you can just assign which layer you are drawing on as you add pieces or entities to your drawing in whatever mode you are in. If you want a beam or some symbol to just be visible in roof mode you could use a "Roof Only" layer. There are many ways to do it. Just gotta try out what works best for you.

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[Warren Ducote]

If you want to Master Softplan, you need to Master Layers.

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[Keith Almond]

I don't believe that's true. I generally use few layers for example White and Hidden to control certain OBVIOUS aspects. For almost everything else I use VISIBILITIES.

[Gary McKeon]

Visibilities does not allow for as much control as layers though. An example is 'openings', If I want to turn off the visibility of doors but not windows then I can only do that by putting doors on a separate layer because softplan groups all openings together. Many, many other examples for where softplan uses way too broad of a brush in grouping things together.