Stardraw Forums

Layer Assignment

http://forums.stardraw.com/Topic17572.aspx

By LloydB - 6/1/2017 2:23:56 AM

Hello All

‌‌I am very confused over the assigning and use of layers.

I am trying to assign certain products to certain layers when doing panel and rack designs‌‌ so that when I am printing out documents for specific applications I can turn layers on / off depending on if that layer / equipment is needed.

To give a specific application: When drawing patch bays‌‌ I want to assign the connectors to a layer I called "connectors" and the text to a layer called "Engraving" and the plates with the punch detail to "Plates". Then I can print the whole thing for the installers or before that I can "turn off" the connectors layer and export to DXF and email the file off to the engraver to make the identity label plates and then "turn-off"the engraving layer also and export that to a DXF file and email it off to the plate manufacturer for punching the plates.

My problem is that sometimes after selecting / clicking on an item or group of items and going to the property's box to use the layers drop down menu‌‌ to select the requisite layer to link the item/s to the layer needed frustratingly I find the layer I need cannot be found. It's gone! I can go to a different drawing within the same file and the layers is there and then back to the first and it's gone. I thought all layers were available to select. Clearly this is not so.

‌‌I am confused as to whats happening and would really like it stop please. All I want is to find my created layers and be able to use them. Can anyone explain what is that I am doing wrong or not doing or don't understand and if there is a solution to the problem please?

Before I bang my head too hard on the wall and dent it‌‌. The wall that is not my head. That is too hard and thick to damage.

Thanks
Lloyd :-)‌‌‌
By Rob Robinson - 6/1/2017 3:22:48 AM

Hi Lloyd,

Y‌ou may be making life a bit more difficult for yourself than you need to; SD7.2 already contains a well-defined layer structure and the functionality that you need to do all that you describe without creating new layer names.

F‌irst, though, to clear up some confusion;layers are a drawing thing, not a project thing.  If you create a layer in one drawing it is not available in any other drawings in that project; it exists only in the drawing in which it was created.  It would not make sense to enforce every layer in any drawing across all drawings.  For example, the Side View‌ layer makes sense in Rack Layout drawings, but it does not make sense in Block Schematics, Panel Layouts or Plan View drawings.  Likewise Rear High Detail makes sense in Rack Layouts and Panel Layouts but not in Block Schematics or Plan View.

F‌or your Panel Layouts it would be better to follow the existing layer structure ‌- see Online Help and go to Modules | Panel Layout Module. This will show you that the front view of a connector goes on the Front High Detail layer, cutouts go on the Punching layer, engraving goes on the Engraving layer, and so on.  Using the well-defined layer structure that is already in place you can then exploit functionality like the Metalwork view in the Toolbar to see just the panel, punching and engraving without having to manually adjust the visibility states of layers.

I‌ hope this makes sense and clears up your confusion.‌
By LloydB - 6/1/2017 5:05:47 AM

 
Rob Robinson - 6/1/2017 3:22:48 AM
Hi Lloyd,

Y‌ou may be making life a bit more difficult for yourself than you need to; SD7.2 already contains a well-defined layer structure and the functionality that you need to do all that you describe without creating new layer names.

F‌irst, though, to clear up some confusion;layers are a drawing thing, not a project thing.  If you create a layer in one drawing it is not available in any other drawings in that project; it exists only in the drawing in which it was created.  It would not make sense to enforce every layer in any drawing across all drawings.  For example, the Side View‌ layer makes sense in Rack Layout drawings, but it does not make sense in Block Schematics, Panel Layouts or Plan View drawings.  Likewise Rear High Detail makes sense in Rack Layouts and Panel Layouts but not in Block Schematics or Plan View.

F‌or your Panel Layouts it would be better to follow the existing layer structure ‌- see Online Help and go to Modules | Panel Layout Module. This will show you that the front view of a connector goes on the Front High Detail layer, cutouts go on the Punching layer, engraving goes on the Engraving layer, and so on.  Using the well-defined layer structure that is already in place you can then exploit functionality like the Metalwork view in the Toolbar to see just the panel, punching and engraving without having to manually adjust the visibility states of layers.

I‌ hope this makes sense and clears up your confusion.‌


Thanks Rob

This has answered a lot and cleared up a lot of questions but....

But while I do see the existing system in place and it does make sense, I am still wondering why while I can make a layer in the layers dialog box then it is not available in the drop down box of some items but not others on the same drawing and why sometimes the created layer does not even appear in the drop down menu at all. What are some created layers available in that drop down layer menu and others not available.

Thanks

Lloyd :-)‌‌‌‌
By Rob Robinson - 6/1/2017 8:39:40 AM

Hi Lloyd,

W‌hat you describe doesn't sound right - if you've created a new layer in the current drawing then it should of course be visible in the Layers dropdown ‌in the Properties Grid.  

‌‌Note that the Layers dropdown is ordered alphabetically, whereas the Layers dialog is ordered chronologically (new layers appear last).  Could it be that you're looking in the wrong place in the dropdown?

I‌f you can reliably reproduce the issue, please send a project file to us, at techsupport@stardraw.com, with explicit instructions on how to reproduce it and we'll be happy to investigate further.‌