topic Re: Block and purging in AutoCAD Forum

Block and purging

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 00:15:55 GMT

I have 3 pieces of similar equipment that have their own 3D drawing. I inserted them into my master 3D drawing and realized they brought all the layers in with them. I want to put each one on its own layer to turn off the individual pieces of equipment. I went back to the original, individual 3D model and did a layer merge all into layer 0.

I have now reinserted the black and redefined it. It has come in correctly and all on the same layer...or so it seems. I put the block on its own layer and when I turn it off, there are pieces that are still visible. I select those pieces and it says that it is on the layer that is turned off...but it is still visible. I then deleted it and purged the block and reinserted it. It is still doing the same thing.

I inserted it in another drawing and tried the same thing and it works just fine.

How can I get the whole thing to turn off when I turn the layer off?

Re: Block and purging

imadHabash — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 06:53:58 GMT

Hi,

i suggest to make sure that there isn't any overlapped elements inside your blocks.it will be more helpful if you share CAD file with these blocks.

Re: Block and purging

Anonymous — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 17:00:16 GMT

Attached are some of the files. The tank farm is the master. XBT-59 and XBT-62 are similar pieces of equipment. XBT-62 is the one that I have tried to put on the same layer (XBT-62).

Re: Block and purging

john.vellek — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 22:01:02 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

I ran a SETBYLAYER on your XBT-62 model and then it came into your Master file and respected freeze and thaw but doesn't behave well with on/off.

Then when I exporttoautocad the XBT-62 file I can then insert it as a block into another file and it also respects the on/off.

Please let me know if you see the same behavior.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

Re: Block and purging

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 16:28:23 GMT

The setbylayer worked to get everything on the freeze/thaw but the exporttoautocad did not help the on/off. It is good enough, I just need to be able to hide it as I am working to see other things in that area. Thanks.

Re: Block and purging

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 19:25:12 GMT

FYI

Imagine a block composed of elements on layers 1 and 2, but inserted on layer 3.

Turn OFF layers 1 or 2 and those components turn off, same if you freeze layers 1 or 2.

However, turning OFF layer 3 will have no effect on the display of that block, but FREEZING layer 3 will turn the entire block off

Re: Block and purging

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 19:43:33 GMT

Even if all layers were merged to a single layer? Why would it not merge everything into the single layer?

Also, in the model XBT-62, turning the layer off will turn the whole model off. But when I put it into another drawing as a block on layer 0, then change it to another layer (XBT-62) and then turn that layer off, parts are still showing.

Re: Block and purging

Anonymous — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 21:49:20 GMT

I dunno, I wasn't there for the first pass and can't replicate the issue with your posted files. Might have been a display driver issue, or a corrupted element issue or a dozen other gremlins.

Prior to R2015, I didn't use the merge layer option because results were unexpected. I just selected the components I wanted to change and changed their layer in the properties box, then purged the unneeded layers. That seemed to work better for me.

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You also might consider XREF's for that equipment. That way any subsequent changes to the equipment will be reflected in your plan drawing.