Layer user management - Delete Unused Layers, Create Predefined Layers

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

Hello

I'm new to Civil 3D:

The layers and quantity of layers in a new file are overwhelming and messy.

I understand that the layers exist for a reason and are nice to have available.

Is there a way to delete unused layers?  

I open a new file, it comes with 218 layers

-I have tried purging layers

-I have tried: Open "Layers Properties Manager" right click and select delete layer, Displays error message "Layer was not deleted"

[Todd_Rogers]

You will first need to go to the Manage tab, and then select Purge Styles. Once the unused styles are purged, you should be able to purge the layers. I would highly recommend not using the LAYDEL command, as this may cause some serious issues.

[Todd_Rogers]

Also, keep in mind, layers are not manipulated like you are used to doing. You will use styles instead. So, all those layers can be ignored to an extent. Very different method of organization. I recommend getting training ASAP if you are going to be using it in production.

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

I may be misunderstanding what your suggesting:

I went to: Manage Tab > Cleanup > Purge

I count 10 different items labeled with the word "styles", did I go to the wrong location? Which style are you referring to?

I'm coming from Inventor and SolidWorks....  I have worked some in ACAD but its not been by home.

What "training" would you suggest my experience with  "training" has been poor. So far all Civil3D training I have found and even paid for is start with this large file that I have setup for this demo, open a dozen tables change these settings with little to no explanation.

[Todd_Rogers]

That's unfortunate about your training. There are some resellers out there that do very good training. Online training is a hit or miss. YouTube probably can help you out pretty good as they have specific videos on there to get you going.

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

My manage tab is not setup with the "Styles" (pane or windows group).  I have seen a video of this but cannot remember the correct term to search to customize these fields.

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

Figured it out, I was on "3D Modeling" from earlier today...

Also thank you for your quick response and patience with me.

[Todd_Rogers]

You're welcome. That's why we're are here. And there are some really good folks in this forum.

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

After blanket purging everything. I get the same error. 

[Cadguru42]

As stated earlier, you really need to get some good basic tutorials on C3D to understand what's going on. C3D is not AutoCAD and has its own object model that is built on top of core AutoCAD. The reason you cannot delete those layer is because they are being used in a C3D style. That's why @Todd_Rogers was saying to purge the C3D styles. You have to track down what C3D styles and settings are using those layers as default settings before you can delete the layer. 

It sounds like you really want a blank, plain ACAD drawing and start from there. I recommend creating a new drawing using the ACAD.dwt template within C3D, then either import/create any styles you are wanting to use.

[Joe-Bouza · Accepted solution]

Cave man approach: Select the layers in the layer dialog right click and choose >>Merge Layer<<, merge to layer zero.

done.

Note the layers are in used for styles and the style will no longer appear as designed OOTB

I'm guessing you are using a NCS dwt file.

regardless, of prototype I would recommend maintaining a rigorous layer naming convention and setup layer filters.

the filters do two things:

1. makes it easy to view specific layers

2. takes all the other layers out of memory ( I think I read that somewhere)

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/video/youtube/lesson/156194-course...

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

Joe-Bouza

Thanks that works...

Yes, I am using an NCS dwt file. I'm fairly certain its the default file that installed with Civil3D. By your statement I am assuming that .dwt is not the only template option. Can you direct me to some good reading material that would inform me what other (other than .dwt) template options exist and what the good and bad of the options are.

I am glad that I posed this question. Not what I expected, I have gained a marginally better understanding of what or rather why these layers exist. Civil3D uses these layers when inserting objects and is not something I should just blindly hit "Control - A - Delete" on.

My goals with  are

1. Don't Work in a mess:
   1. Starting with 200+ layers with no objects, no grouping, no filtering is a mess
2. Make everything legible and understandable
   1. Layer naming convention is mostly illegible. Example "C-HYDR-CTCH-FPTH", must clearly mean Sea Hydraulic Catchment FoolTherapy and then I look at the description to learn what it is and of course its null. Thankfully we have saved the world from letters necessary for clear communication.

If I rename layers and/or add layers to filter groups and/or add descriptions,  am I at risk of breaking any programmatic refences to that layer. (I write enough code to understand that it should have been coded to let me do this but should and was are two different things)

You are spot on about maintaining a rigorous layer naming convention. Is there a good built in tool to do this? Or would this be API? Or creating templates with tons of layers?

Thank you

I really do appreciate the response

[Cadguru42]

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@jachiribogaPYZFP wrote:

Joe-Bouza

Thanks that works...

Yes, I am using an NCS dwt file. I'm fairly certain its the default file that installed with Civil3D. By your statement I am assuming that .dwt is not the only template option. Can you direct me to some good reading material that would inform me what other (other than .dwt) template options exist and what the good and bad of the options are.

I am glad that I posed this question. Not what I expected, I have gained a marginally better understanding of what or rather why these layers exist. Civil3D uses these layers when inserting objects and is not something I should just blindly hit "Control - A - Delete" on.

My goals with  are

1. Don't Work in a mess:
   1. Starting with 200+ layers with no objects, no grouping, no filtering is a mess
2. Make everything legible and understandable
   1. Layer naming convention is mostly illegible. Example "C-HYDR-CTCH-FPTH", must clearly mean Sea Hydraulic Catchment FoolTherapy and then I look at the description to learn what it is and of course its null. Thankfully we have saved the world from letters necessary for clear communication.

If I rename layers and/or add layers to filter groups and/or add descriptions,  am I at risk of breaking any programmatic refences to that layer. (I write enough code to understand that it should have been coded to let me do this but should and was are two different things)

You are spot on about maintaining a rigorous layer naming convention. Is there a good built in tool to do this? Or would this be API? Or creating templates with tons of layers?

Thank you

I really do appreciate the response

---

As stated earlier, you really need to take some basic C3D courses or view intro to C3D videos online. What you're asking about is really template management and layer management, but you need to know how you plan on using C3D in order to setup the templates. I personally use around five starting templates depending on what the drawing is going to contain and those templates are based on the major C3D object types (one for alignments/profiles, one for surfaces, one for corridors, one for survey, one for pipe/pressure networks, etc.). It also helps keeps the layers from getting out of control like the OOTB templates have.

The OOTB template layers are based on the National CAD Standard, which is something else you might want to look into to understand why these start with "C" and the four characters are used for the major and minor descriptors. 

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

CAD Guru.

I am new to this.

I have taken a C3D course. I have watched a bunch of YouTube tutorials. I have been plugging through autodesk's C3D tutorials. There is little help I can get in my office.

I did not start on day one just hammering the forums with questions.... Though it may seem that way.

I am asking to gain knowledge where I am obviously missing it. 

Thank you for informing of the National CAD Standards.

[Joe-Bouza]

Ya doing fine - keep asking

[Joe-Bouza]

By the way.

if you rename the NCS layers to your liking any styles that reference the layer will update to the new name

[jachiribogaPYZFP]

Thank you

[ghernandezJPLSS]

That's awesome. Thank you, Joe!