Duplicate "All non-Xref Layers" layer filter

[AllenJessup]

Having a predefined "All non-Xref Layers" layer filter is convenient. However I've had my own built for years.

Now I'm getting 2,3 or 4 duplicate "All non-Xref Layers" filters in a drawing. I can delete the duplicates but that often causes a crash. I didn't find anything on this doing a Google search. So it seems not to be a common problem.

[tcorey]

2018?

[jmayo-EE]

Are the filters maybe tied to a block or xref in the file?

[AllenJessup]

I don't know John. I've never come across that idea. I have a small set of Layer Filters in the template. So they exist in all drawings. But the "All non-Xref Layers" layer filter is the only one being duplicated.

[cwr-pae]

I'm having the same problem. Sometimes it appears to be associated with having an xref in a file that's xrefed. The dummies seem to get created when the xrefs are reloaded, but not everytime. Dummies also get created sometimes when importing layer filters into a drawing with xref's.  This seems especially true if the xrefs are overlays and reference each other.

I've found if I import a filter that has no filters, purge, audit and close the drawing, then reopen and import the layer filters I need I can get rid of the duplicates for a short time. Or if I just get rid of xrefs with in xrefs where possible I don't get the dummies.

The same thing seems to occur with the xref override filter.

ACAD already had a invertible all-xref layer filter, not sure why we needed a non-xref layer filter.

[AllenJessup]

@cwr-pae Thanks for letting me know. Do you get duplicates of any filters other than the "All non-Xref Layers" ?

ACAD already had a invertible all-xref layer filter, not sure why we needed a non-xref layer filter.

Some of us forget to uncheck the Invert box. I've been writing my own for years.  [~*|* ]

[cwr-pae]

The xref override layer filters duplicate some times.

[btillett]

Civil 2018.2 - My "All non-Xref Layers" duplicates when I load a new set of layer filters.  It usually causes a Fatal Crash if you try and delete the duplicates with the Xrefs still attached.  I sent this to AutoDesk with videos prior to Civil 2018.1.  I think the developers are spending all their time on the InfraWorks and starting to neglect Civil3D.  Pipe rules still run with 2018.2 when you update a reference template.

[AllenJessup]

I experience the problem in 2017 SP1.1

[Anonymous]

Thanks to the responses on here I was able to figure out that it's related to the XREFs. Our default C3D template comes with 7 preloaded XREFs to help with layer control and consistent reference naming. When I detached all of our pre-loaded XREFs in our template, the duplicates went away and the one that remained was able to be deleted without crashing.

Went back into the template, removed just 1 xref and suddenly we went from 2 to 3 non-xref filters. Tried to right click on one of them and crashed... 

Went back in a third time, tried removing just one - got the 3 filters again. Went back to xref manager and removed all of them and the 3 filters remained. Crashed upon delete attempt. 

This is on Civil 3D 2018.2, AutoCAD 2018.1.1

[btillett]

Yeah, the only way to get rid of those filter is to detach the xrefs before deleting them. They do only seem to be created when you import a layer filter set after you have an Xref attached, so if you load the layer filter set before you attach any xrefs you should be fine.  Good Luck, I do not think Autodesk will be fixing anything anytime soon. 2018.2 seemed to break more then it fixed.  It seems like all of the developers (and support) have moved to InfraWorks.  I have an "Open-Unassigned" ticket with them that is over 7 days old, that never happened before.

[jakub.svobo]

This problem still persists for me. Civil 3D 2018. Instant crash when I pick one of the duplicate layer filters. Anyone know of any fixes yet?

[btillett]

Just load a new set of saved filters. One without the Non-XREF layer Group. If you do not have one you can export one from a blank dwg (one without an XREF). 

[Anonymous]

We don't have a fix but we do have a workaround. Our default template now has a Filter group called "_Non-XREF Layers" and if they use that one, it doesn't crash. it's the default group that gets created when you have XREFs that seems to cause the issue.

[btillett]

We found that you only get the duplicates if you use the "Load Filter Groups" to load a group that has a filter with the same name as the one that is automatically created. If your template does not have a "All non-Xref Layers" filter then the one created when you attach and XREF is fine. The fix is simple... just hit the "Load Filter Groups" button and load one without the "All non-Xref Layers" filter.  This is the solution, not just a fix. The issue comes from you having a "All non-Xref Layers" filter in you dwg before attaching an XREF, or if you load a filter group with a "All non-Xref Layers" filter in it.  It is sort of a bug, but since you are causing the bug to happen in the first place it is easy to avoid.  We have not see the issue in over 18 months, since we figured out that we were causing it.

[jakub.svobo]

Right. So it hasn't been fixed, gotcha. Instead, users need to know there's a bomb sitting there and if they inadvertently or unknowingly choose a duplicate layer filter they get an instant fatal crash. Honestly I don't see how this is acceptable for anyone. Just don't click it right? I'll be sure to pass that on to the thousands of employees of my international engineering company that I'm just a worker bee in just like everyone else.

I'm being snarky because stuff like this absolutely needs to be fixed by Autodesk themselves - no excuses. Why can't they program in a check for duplicate filters on loading of a filter set? I mean seriously, this isn't a benign issue, it causes a fatal crash every single time. smh.

For now I'll do the suggestions you kind folks have written, thank you. It's still a bloody pain in the ass though. 

FIX THIS PLEASE AUTODESK FFS.

[btillett]

I opened a ticket with AutoDesk on this a year ago, like I do with so many of these bugs.  Part of the information I got out of them seemed to imply that they prioritize these fixes based on the number of tickets opened for the bug.  So taking your outrage into account I assume that you have also opened at least one ticket on this issue with AutoDesk?

[ahuangHWHGM]

I was just dealing with this an hour ago and realized I can delete those duplicates via the Ribbon - and Civil3D won't crash!

Doing it in the Layer Properties window itself, on the other hand, will certainly get a crash/unhandled exception/etc.

[Anonymous]

This issue arises when you have the "all non X-ref layers" in your .lft file. Remove this filter from your .lft file and it will fix the problem.

1. open empty drawing with no xrefs

2. import your .lft file

3. delete the "all non X-ref layers" from your layer filters

4. save and overwrite your .lft file

5. go to the original problem drawing. import your new .lft file.

There should only be one "all non Xref layers" filter, and no more duplicates should appear.

[JohnPachol]

Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread - it was very helpful.  I'm working with Civil 3D 2020.4 and it is still an issue.  I find it interesting that the name field in my All Non-Xref Layers filter is blank.  I wonder if that has something to do with the problem.

As suggested by some, I changed my FLT file to eliminate the two All Non-Xref Layers filters contained in the FLT file and added a All the Non-Xref Layers filter with ~*|* in the name field (note the slight name change).  It will take a little time to test it out, but I have a high level of confidence that it will work.

Thanks.