topic Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref in AutoCAD Forum

Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:38:33 GMT

I have a user who is isolating a layer in a drawing with xrefs, then deleting objects on that isolated layer, then unisolate layers and the xref has been deleted.

1. The isolated layer is in the parent drawing and not associated with the xref.

2. it doesn't happen when layiso is set to lock and fade, only happens when set to "OFF"

3. objects deleted can be anything, text, Polyline, hatch, etc.

4. Only happens with window selection when the window is over where the xref is.

5. If you open Properties, you can see the Xref(s) are selected after the window selection.

6. I can't recreate this error on my computer from scratch but if I open his file, I can.

Any ideas?

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:43:30 GMT

Another test I just did was to turn off all layers in the drawing & window selection and only the xrefs get added to the selection.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:44:34 GMT

"Layer off" is not the same as "Layer freeze" - you can delete objects on layers that are off if you select all. maybe this is what has happenned?

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 16:51:10 GMT

It's just a regular window selection. I can create a new drawing, attach an xref, turn off all layers and I can't select anything with a window selection but in this drawing, I can.

So that is really what I'm asking... what could be different in these two files that would cause this behavior?

I have workarounds, but layer iso is a popular tool and part of many user's workflow and I've never seen it do this. And it's not really layiso, it's being able to window select xrefs when all layers are off.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 08:50:57 GMT

Hard to tell what is causing it without the file to look at. is that possible?

For that file, perhaps work with the "Lock and fade" option of layiso for now. If the display is visually confusing, you can set the fade to the maximum so the locked layers appear very very faint.

One thing to look at: is the xref on a layer that is isolated? I try to keep my xrefs on a separate layer or layer 0 but sometimes people don't notice what layer the xref itself is on.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 16:32:18 GMT

Thanks for responding. Xref is on it's own layer. When I isolate, I can verify that all layers associated with the xref are off.

I xrefed this same xref into a new empty drawing and it has the issue there which indicates something in the xref file itself.

attached an etransmit.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:06:05 GMT

I don't have plain Acad 2018, only Civil 3D but I have the same behaviour as you - the xref selects from a window crossing even when the layer is off.

If i xref it into a new drawing, I don't get that behaviour (xref won't select when the layer is off) so it must be a setting in your template but I'm not sure which one it would be. Only xrefs get selected, nothing else on a turned-off layer.

If i have time tomorrow, I'll take a look at the drawing system variables to see which ones are different in your drawing.

When I downgrade your drawing to 2013 format so i can open it in Autocad 2017, I don't get the behaviour (but still happens in C3D 2018 on the 2013 file). It's not the file format, it's the programme. I wou;dn't recommend downgrading to 2017 though as you'll have to backsave all your files to 2013 format.

For now either:

set LAYISO settings to "lock and fade" or
lock the layer the Xref is on and carry on as normal

If I can figure out what the difference is in your file, i'll let you know

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Mon, 17 Dec 2018 17:21:59 GMT

It does appear to be something in our template. I had tried a few different templates some very simple and some very developed with C3D styles and they all behave the same but after your comment I tried using an out of the box acad.dwt and it does not do it.

BTW, I'm using C3D also. I thought I had mentioned that but looking back, obviously did not. It seems more AutoCAD reltated but... hard to tell.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:06:32 GMT

I can't find anything different from the preferred values in your system variables on the SYSVARMONITOR in that drawing. When I use _AutoCAD Civil 3D 2018 UKIE.dwt as a template, the behaviour doesn't happen so it must be something in your drawing but I'm not sure what. Xref is still selected on the off layer when using "Civil 3D as AutoCAD" as well as actual Civil 3D. Not sure if it's a Civil 3D issue or a 2018 issue - probably worth submitting a support ticket if you haven't already if you have support on your license. Maybe @john.vellek can help analyse your file as i don't think I can help any more

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

s.borello — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 17:44:55 GMT

I didn't experience any of these issues... using AutoCad 2018 MEP.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 18:04:26 GMT

Did you try it on the file I posted?

I just tried it on straight AutoCAD & Architecture and have the issue on both.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

richard_smith — Thu, 09 May 2019 16:36:51 GMT

I have one user in our group that gets this exact problem, was there ever a resolution?

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Thu, 09 May 2019 17:52:26 GMT

Sorry to say but no resolution. I have one user out of 150 that experiences it and he just deals with it.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

pendean — Thu, 09 May 2019 18:07:20 GMT

reimage that one PC and/or get the user a new Windows Log-in: "dealing with it" is not a viable solution.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

DRW_CAD — Thu, 09 May 2019 18:21:27 GMT

Who put you in charge? Is there a way I can ban you from responding to my posts? I never get a solution, only a critical opinion without all the facts.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

RobDraw — Thu, 09 May 2019 18:32:03 GMT

@DRW_CAD wrote:

Who put you in charge?

Is that any way to respond to someone that is trying to help?

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

pendean — Thu, 09 May 2019 19:19:42 GMT

I did not respond to you oh great manager who lets their user "just deal with it": need me to show you how to tell who responds to what? It's easy to tell if you just look.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

RonaKiernan — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 22:15:45 GMT

Hello, I am having the same problem with drawings in Civil 3D 2018. Has anyone found the cause yet?

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

RobDraw — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 23:31:00 GMT

The cause seems to be fleeting but it's easy enough to prevent the XREF from having anything happening to it by the accidental selection.

Re: Isolate a layer & window selection erase gets the xref

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 08:45:44 GMT

The cause seemed to be in the particular template. Easiest workaround if you have to use the template you have, is to use "lock and fade" option for isolating layers or to lock the layer the xrefs are on as soon as you're finished attaching them