The layer hierarchy facilities in V5 have proved essential in complex modelling and I’d like to request an enhancement that would significantly improve workflow in complex layered models: add the ability to assign attributes to layers to provide multidimensional groupings and allow layer selection by filtering on multiple attributes.
Here’s a use case:
I am modelling a building and I start by organising my layers:
Model
…Floor 1
…Brickwork
…North Wall
…South Wall
…etc
…Insulation
…North Wall
…South Wall
…etc
…etc
…Floor 2
…Brickwork
…etc
…etc
Initially that’s fine. I turn on a floor and model it. Then another. But later I maybe want to see North wall brickwork for all floors, and nothing else. So I have to pick my way through the layers, turning individual ones on and off. Then again every time I want another combination.
If instead I could assign “Brickwork” as an attribute, “North” as an attribute etc then I could select what I wanted by choosing to show all, and only, layers with the attributes “Brickwork” AND “North”, which would be a lot easier.
(And if I could manage my user defined attributes hierarchically - “Brickwork” being a member of “Building Elements” and “North” being a member of “Horizontal Grid” say - that would help keep attribute proliferation under control).
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