Setting the layer properties in a paper space viewport

Each of my layout tabs have just one viewport.

I'd like to set up each of those viewports with a custom set of layer properties, so that no matter what layers I have turned on or off in model space, the layout tabs and the viewports on them will always have the layer properties I want them to have.

For instance, the main floor plan would not have the layers visible that would only pertain to the reflected ceiling plan and vice-versa.

I've watched several YouTube videos and also tried to follow the instructions in the BricsCAD help system here: https://help.bricsys.com/en-us/document/bricscad/viewing-your-drawing/editing-paper-space-viewports?version=V26&id=165079157161

Based on those videos and the BricsCAD help topic, I think I have a pretty good understanding on how this should work, unfortunately though it is not working like that for me.

As a new user of BricsCAD and being a CAD novice, I'm confident the issue is with me, but I just can't figure out what I may be doing wrong.

I double-click inside of the viewport and then set the layers just the way I want them. I double-click outside of the viewport and everything looks great. However, as soon as I go back to work in model space and make any changes to the layers there, when I go back to the paperspace layout tab the visible layers are all messed up.

I'm looking for a way to permanently set the visibility of the layers in those viewports, so that no matter what the visibility status is on the layers in model space, the viewports always show the layers I want.

Any help would be appreciated.

Comments

  • You may need a Lisp or a script that runs the vplayer command. Say freeze all layers except one then thaw all the layers you want.

    It is pretty easy to make a layer list to say a text file that is read with the names of the layers you want thawed.

    Have you looked at using vplayer in a lisp ?

    This will take all layers and dump to a file.

    (defun dumplayers ( / layers lay fo fname)
    (setq Layers (vla-get-layers (vla-get-activedocument (vlax-get-Acad-Object))))
    (setq fo (open "d:\acadtemp\VPlayers.txt" "w"))
    (vlax-for lay layers
    (write-line (vlax-get lay 'name) fo)
    )
    (close fo)
    (princ "\nAll done")
    )
    (dumplayers)

  • Lyubov Osina
    edited 7:13AM

    Hello @DIY_Guy ,

    You said:"I double-click inside of the viewport and then set the layers just the way I want them." Do you use VP overrides or common properties? You need to use columns named like VP Freeze, VP Color, etc. to set viewport overrides. If these columns are not displayed, press right mouse button on any column header and choose which properties you want to display.

  • Oh —- so that's what those VP columns are for

  • Thank you for the suggestion, but my head is already about to explode.

    I've been using 2-D CAD programs for about 25 years, but really only working in Model space with no formal training. Last November I ordered a 3D Spatial Camera (LiDAR) and have been coming up to speed on how to work with point clouds and 3-D over these last months.

    That journey started out by trying out the UNDET Plug-In for my copy of ARES Commander, which eventually lead me to switching to BricsCAD.

    So, on top of switching to BricsCAD, I've been trying to learn how to use Layouts and Viewports, which is something I've not really messed with before.

    I need to get things figured out to the point that I can complete this project I'm on before tackling additional new skills like scripts.

  • Lyubov Osina, I started off just trying to use the On/Off, but then after watching the various YouTube videos and searching the BricsCAD help articles, I switched to using the VP Freeze column.

    I'm not trying to do anything fancy here, I just want to be able to have various layers visible or not visible. I'm not trying to adjust any Linetypes or colors, etc.

    The only way I've been able to somewhat automate adjusting the visibility of the layers is through the use of Layer States. I went ahead and created a specific Layer State for my first few Layout Tabs and I would go into Model space, select the Layer State I needed for a specific Layout, then go back to that Layout Tab and Print To PDF. That works fine, but I was hoping to find a way to permanently set a custom Layer visibility state for each of my Layout Tabs, so no matter what layers I had turned on or off in Model Space, I could print any of my Layout Tabs to PDF at any time without having to customize the visibility of the layers first.

    I have been assuming that going back into Model space and then selecting a different Layer State has been what was screwing everything up, by me somehow having the wrong boxes checked or not checked in the "Layer Properties to restore' section of the Layer States options (that and/or the options under the "Restore options".

    However, I've adjusted those settings in various ways without success, so I may be barking up the wrong tree thinking this is where I'm going wrong. I'm leaning towards believing this is not my issue, because even if I just go back into Model Space and without selecting a different Layer State, but just by turning off one single layer in the Layers panel, it turns off that layer in the Viewport of the Layout tab even though I had previously that layer turned on and the VP Freeze is unfrozen when setting up the custom layer properties through the Viewport.