LayerKeyStyle 2013 - Joshua Benoist?
Mike,
The keys were changed to support the new display layer keys. The displays used to have layers in layer manager. 29 of them. We looked at the 29 and asked ourselves what can we combine and simplify. So where we had layers for (I'm going off top my head, not looking at 2012 layers), something like E-Cndt-Std-High and M-Duct-Std-High, we combined those layers onto one single layer key mapped top a G-Anno-Std-Hidn. We also combined -High and -Subd which were really just Hidden line layers. Put them on -Hidd or -Hidn per NCS standards.
There were other opportunities to combine layers for centerlines, hatch patterns, etc. So the original 29 layers in layer manager reduced down to a handful of new layer keys (with layers). The new layer key names start with "G-DS-..." for General Display System layers. I had this concept to add layer keys to display components back when we made the layer keys in the 2007 release (years ago). We had a few G-DS layer keys in 2007 added as samples, that never got used. To eliminate confusion we got rid of any that did not make sense with the new display components. The sample 2007 G-DS- keys were eliminated, replaced with the new G-DS- keys used in the displays. So the final number is not a straight 29, and not a simple reduction of the 29. No other keys or properties were touched. Is that what they ended up at? A net of 12 keys added? For an elimination of 29 layers migrated to new keys. I thought it was more than that. There were 4 layers left in layer manager in 2013 of the original 29. Those 4 are not display related and support the styles like rise-drop blocks. So layers reduced from 29 to 4, and keys added 12.
Hope this helps,
Joshua
Joshua Benoist, PE
Senior Premium Services Specialist
Global Services
Autodesk, Inc.
Exactly. Start from the OOTB template. The display components are all mapped to the new keys. The layers found in the templates in layer manager are already purged down. The styles that have style display overrides (in templates) have been refreshed to use the new layer keys, in lieu of layers on their display component overrides. We have yet to refresh the Style drawing's found in the content folders. For example any system display overrides on systems in System Definitions (US Imperial).dwg still need to be flushed of the old displays/layers. However, they were not required to be done, to get rid of the layers in the templates. Templates in 2013 are much cleaner and simpler and that was the end goal.
As far as using our new layer key style, you could easily add the new G-DS- keys to your own custom layer key style. The new templates would use those key names regardless of what style is current. That's the beauty of layer key styles. The key names (should) never change between differing styles (even your own), and map to any layer you want. Switch between different styles all you want. It finds the key name in whatever style is current and returns the layer from that style. That's the idea anyway.
Joshua
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Joshua Benoist, PE
Senior Premium Services Specialist
Global Services
Autodesk, Inc.
BTW: In the new templates, we mapped all common components to common layer keys. (Like hidden lines). That includes Display By Elevation components that obey the cut planes. So all Above, Below, High and Low components map to common layer keys across different objects. When you want all Below objects to display as dashed and grayed out, or something along those lines, you can change the key layer properties. All in one location, which is simpler than editing every object every display representation every component to get a common look/feel across objects. High and Low keys map back to Layer 0, so they continue to use the system definition and work normally. No behavior changes. But if you want a change, the key is there and easily edited. Look for other components that are common between different objects (like centerlines). Much easier to change a single key in the layer keys to get a common/look feel across objects.
Joshua
Joshua Benoist, PE
Senior Premium Services Specialist
Global Services
Autodesk, Inc.
Just following up. Was this information what you were looking for?
Joshua
______________________________________________________________
If my post answers your question, please click the "Accept as Solution" button. This helps everyone find answers more quickly!
Joshua Benoist, PE
Senior Premium Services Specialist
Global Services
Autodesk, Inc.
