×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
Anybody ??

In the past two years I moved from NT4.0 SP6.0 to XP SP2, new video card with much more memory, from SW2001 --> 2003 -->2004 ---> 2005 SP 0.1

And LAYERS (on the drawing) was always a problem - it does not work about 60% of the time as it should (wrong display of colors, line types/thicknesses, often refuses to move to specified layer (Component Line Font), etc.)

Am I really doing something wrong ? What's others opinion ?

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

We use drawings with about 8 different layers.  We use the layers mainly for hatching, notes and dims.  All the layers have different colors and line wieghts.  They seem to work fine for us.  We have been doing it this way since early 2004 and it's been going smootly.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
The problem I have is with layer we name OBJECT  and another one called PHANTOM.

We put "solid objects" on those layers. Those layers (like all others) have different colors.

This is when we have 98% of problems

Dimensions, notes - never a problem.

Sometime problem with layer CENTER, where we put center lines, created with icon that looks like a "cap screw". But again, this is created by touching "extremities" of the solid body.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Just a curiosity, why do you need layers for your drawings?  SolidWorks has layer functions not because it really wants them but because of lagecy data from AutoCAD.  If you create new drawing documents from ground up, you do not and should not use layers.  We had not problems using layers (SW 2004 sp4.0).  But We decided not to use layers in drawings documents.

Alex

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

I use layers for text and have no problem, but what I don't like is that you can not move the layers on the list.  Once you add a layer to the list, it stays in that order unless you delete it.  I would like to be able to rearrange layers when I add new ones.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

I use layers for my revision block.  I have extra rev lines on layers that we have turned off.  When the rev line is needed we turn the layer on.  I have this all tied to a VB box where we fill in our revision text and turn layers on with check boxes.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

It appears to me that you do not use "Revision Table". Although you can place a revison table on any layer, a better practice is create a revison table on drawing sheet.  Please be aware that SW revision table is an automated process.

You may want to take another look at this.  Layer is OK, but not necessary.

Alex

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)

Quote:

...  you do not and should not use layers

Why not ?? The SW Help says this:

Quote:

LAYERS
... Components, in either part or assembly drawings, can be moved onto layers. ...

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

But do not forget there is no need for a revision table sitting on a layer instead of drawing sheet.

Alex

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

I would not say "don't use layers" in SW.  The functionality is there and should be usable.  All the reasons you used layers in AutoCAD are the same reasons to use them in SW.  I don't make use of a lot of layers but he ones I have are very handy.  The biggest advantage for layering for me comes with the ability to quickly control color, line wieght and visability.

I really thinking your making an incorrect statement rgrayclamps.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)

Quote:

But do not forget there is no need for a revision table

I do NOT have ANY revision table

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Jack3108:

Revision table in SW is a wonderful thing.  Give it a try, I bet you will love it.

Rockguy:

If you follow ANSI or other standards, you can control all those things (color, line weight and visability) without using layers at all.  Most peoples use them because they have not forgot AutoCAD yet.

Alex

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

My VAR is checking now on a possible issue with assembly drawing views of multiple configurations and layers.  Views of the other configurations do not display the layer colors as assigned in the Component Line Font dialog.
Also, if you use component line font with colored layers in 2005, your plots will take much longer. (due to be fixed sp1?)
Using component line font and colored layers is 1 way to get a per part layered DWG from your SldDrw without mapping tables or macros.
Putting the offending views on another sheet or toggling the [x] Use document defaults (setting in the Component Line Font dialog) can get around the issue.

DesignSmith
www.DesignSmith-Services.com

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
DesignSmith:

Quote:

... Views of the other configurations do not display the layer colors as assigned in the Component Line Font dialog. ...

Exactomundo ... and much more is not right ... You do not even need configurations, to have things messed up.

What really ..... me off is the fact that those problems seem to be "random". You can have one assy dwg O.K. and next dwg, of similar complexity - messed up

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

jack3108,

Your last statement brings to mind a similar situation that drove us nuts.  It turned out that we had drawings (and for that matter part and assembly files) created on different machines.  We found that our problem was the default templates for these files were different from machine to machine.  We eventually got everyone to agree on the settings for these default files and then we pointed everyone's machines to a location on the network where we were all using the same templates.  You might look into this.

- - -Dennyd

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
Dennyd:

Quote:

... we had drawings (and for that matter part and assembly files) created on different machines.  We found that our problem was the default templates for these files were different from machine to machine. ...

Thanks, will investigate.

In the mean time - just 5 minutes ago I added another projected view to 2 already existing views on the dwg.

The previous 2 views had the (simple) assy "objects" (parts) on layer called OBJECT (layer color=green, diplayed color=green, O.K.).

The just added projected view "apparently" is on layer OBJECT (if checked with Component Line Font)

BUT:

the displayed color=black (like layer None, NOT O.K.)

All parts, assy, dwg were made by myself, within one day, on the same machine, the same OS, SW etc., etc. I can not force it (with Component Line Font) to have it displayed green

And when I turn OFF the layer
OBJECT , the 2 original views are OFF but the new view is ON, thou as I mentionned earlier, Component Line Font says it's on OBJECT thus should go OFF (thou is displayed as black, which would suggest that is on layer None thus visible).

Any clues what I am doing wrong ??

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
Now, you are not going to believe this thinking that I must be smoking something ...

For the past half an hour or so, I worked on some other dgws/parts (full screen), but that "wacky" dwg I was refering to earlier, was open, thou not on the screen ...

I just clicked Windows (in SW session) and selected that "wacky" dwg - et voila - this projected view is now displayed in GREEN (proper color of layer OBJECT) and if I turn OFF the layer OBJECT then that view disappears too.

What the hell is going on ?? Before that neither REFRESH icon, nor CTRL-Q were of any help.

I must add that I observed this kind of strange behaviour on some other dwgs in the past.

Totaly baffled ....

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

jack3108 ... What video card & driver are you using?
Are they both certified by SW for SW05 for use on XP/SP2?

& all the best.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)

Quote:

What video card & driver are you using?
Are they both certified by SW for SW05 for use on XP/SP2?

I have nVidia Quadro FX500

Until about an hour ago the driver was 6.14.10.5303

The IT guy just installed 6.14.10.6573

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
One more thing - whe I add a part to an assy and than go to the dwg, the added part is diplayed BLACK in all views and is on layer NONE (I guess by default).

Now when (on the dwg) I go to a view and use Component Line Font and try to change the LAYER, LINE, THICKNES (of that new added part) it sometime changes, but sometime not.

This can be split further - when it changes it sometime changes in ALL views (selected ALL), but sometime it changes in one view only.

It tried to do this changes by selecting part either in dwg Management tree or in the graphics area. No difference.

I even suspected, that maybe the "settings" in that Component Line Font window are reversed (that is Selected View means ALL and ALL means Selected View). No.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Jack I am also experiencing these same problems w/ SW 2005. I am also using the Quadro FX500. I rarely get as frustrated as I am right now. I am a fairly new user and thought maybe that was the problem. Like you said before sometimes its one color other times its not. I am using the driver solidworks suggests, but I wonder if its the video card.
-Jason

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)

Quote:

jt4ward:
... Like you said before sometimes its one color other times its not. ...

In my case it's only the "parts" (that is the "metal") that do those weird things.

So far I never had a problem with dwg "entities", that is DIMENSIONS, NOTES, BALLOONS ... etc.

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

I agree, I want one part to be red, other parts to be brown, some to be yellow, and others to be green all in the same assy print. How do I do this w/o using layers. I am using layers and all the colors look good. I add an alternate position view and like magic I lose most of my colors. Whats the deal? I can't get them back either. Can I give them a specific color just for the drawing?
-Jason

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)

Quote:

jt4ward:
... I add an alternate position view and like magic I lose most of my colors ...

Yeap ... that happened to me too  :-((

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

(OP)
Since this morning I have a new computer and a new (another) video card.  nVidia Quadro FX1300,  the driver is 6.14.10.6722

The problems with LAYER on the dwg remain. Some stubborn "metal" refuses to be moved to another layer. I tried Componet Line Font, also tried open LAYER "Window" , had LAYER to be moved to "current" (yellow arrow pointing to it), selected "metal" than clicked Move on that open LAYER Window. No luck.

It's hard to believe, as some have suggested, that it might be the card or the driver.

I mean I have 3rd card, second computer (Dell) and second OS within past 6-8 months.

This is most probably a nasty SW bug. Or, as I feel, SEVERAL bugs !!!

The LAYER function is messed up !!!

RE: Has anybody got impression that LAYER function is totally messed up ?

Then contact your VAR and turn it into them. Make a SW RX of the problem and send it to your VAR. They can handle the issue from there.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP
3DVision Technologies

www.3dvisiontech.com
www.scottjbaugh.com
FAQ731-376
FAQ559-716 - SW Fora Users

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources