What happened to the quickness of the Layer Control navigation?

[Conman875]

Hello, my company has recently made a huge leap in CAD versions, going from '07 up to Civil 3D 2014. One thing a few people are scratching their heads at, is how you can't use the Layer Control in either the properties bar OR the toolbar to type in the layer you want to quickly get to.

 

For example, if I wanted to move an object from the "Boundary" layer over to the "PntsBNDY" layer, I would open the Layer Control drop-down menu after selecting this object. From there I used to be able to type the name of the layer I was moving the object to ('PntsBNDY') and it would automatically navigate to the layer I was typing in. HOWEVER, now whenever I attempt to type in the name of the layer I want to navigate to, it'll jump ALL OVER THE PLACE, going to layers that begin with the letter I've just pressed instead of going to the layer I'm attempting to type.

 

Is there some obscure setting I need to change? Or is this more of an SOL type of thing that seems to be happening alot with this new version of CAD...

 

Please tell me if I need to clarify anything, I tend to rant when I'm trying to explain something.

[Dadgad]

Welcome to CADTutor.

If you want to change the layer of a selected object,

just click on that layer name in the layer drop down list.

 

If you visit the little gear icon on the left end of your commandline

you can adjust for auto completion, auto suggestions, delay time and such.

 

I use Autocad Vanilla, not Civil, but I suspect these options will be the same in Civil.

Edited August 7, 2014 by Dadgad

[BIGAL]

If you have the layers toolbar turned on you can pick objects, then pick the down arrow right side and type in a letter jumping to layer starting with that character pick it objects changed.

[Dadgad]

If you have the layers toolbar turned on you can pick objects, then pick the down arrow right side and type in a letter jumping to layer starting with that character pick it objects changed.

 

Well clarified BIGAL, I always have my Layers Toolbar showing.

[RobDraw]

Or is this more of an SOL type of thing that seems to be happening [a lot] with this new version of CAD...

 

ASFAIK, this is the case.

 

On a side note, 2007 to 2014 is pretty big leap. The company I work for went from 2002 to 2011. I didn't have too much trouble as I had access the interim versions and was able to "play" with them a bit.

 

For example, if I wanted to move an object from the "Boundary" layer over to the "PntsBNDY" layer, I would open the Layer Control drop-down menu after selecting this object. From there I used to be able to type the name of the layer I was moving the object to ('PntsBNDY') and it would automatically navigate to the layer I was typing in. HOWEVER, now whenever I attempt to type in the name of the layer I want to navigate to, it'll jump ALL OVER THE PLACE, going to layers that begin with the letter I've just pressed instead of going to the layer I'm attempting to type.

 

If you repeatedly type the first letter of the layer, it will step down through the layers starting with that letter. Works well unless you have a ton of layers starting with the same letter. If that is the case you scroll through the layers pretty quickly with the scroll wheel.

[Conman875]

Thanks everyone, I'm loving the response time and helpfulness of this community

 

Although, while you all are quite helpful on this matter (which is a fairly insignificant matter indeed, just trying to speed things up a few seconds ), I'm still in the same place. I've got the layer selection/layer changing all fine and dandy, I'm just looking for my old, quicker way of navigating through my massive list of layers.

 

I've had the opportunity to play around with it last night, and I've managed to find a menu where the system still works as it did in 2007.

 

If I change my "LAYERDLGMODE" to "0" and open up the Layer Properties Manager (for the OLDER style layer dialogue box), I can quickly navigate to the layer I want merely by typing in the name to jump right to the layer (as opposed to, as some of you have suggested, pressing the key that the layer starts with repeatedly[which works, yes] or simply scrolling through the list[also works]). HOWEVER, this is unfortunately no solution to my 'problem', it's just a good example of what I'm looking for.

 

Basically, I'd love to be able to take (^^^^^) the ability to type in the layer name from that *old* LPM, and make that possible to do either in my Layer Toolbar AND/OR in the Layer Selection drop-down under the 'General' section of the Properties bar.

This used to be standard in 2007....

 

I'll attempt to add some screen caps of what I'm talking about. Sorry if I'm being difficult!

 

Above ^^ is the window where I CAN type the name of the layer I want.

 

 

Above is where I'd like to be able to type in the layer name to be able to navigate just that liiiiiittle bit quicker. quicker

 

^^^ also where I'd like to navigate quicker.

 

 

 

 

Again, thank you all so much. This is just something of a stubborn habitual preference for a few guys around here (myself including). We'll adapt to the new way if we must! Just curious if there's a way to bring back the ways of '07 here. Not really a problem if not, however

[RobDraw]

Usually when a feature goes away like that is because of the way the new interface interacts with the OS, also newer. The new LPM has features not available in the classic one like being able to leave it open while working in the drawing and seeing your changes live. If you need to change to classic in order to do something that you used to do, you can only hope that functionality comes back. As the program and OS advance, you may have to give up the old ways in order to enjoy new features.

 

Just my two cents.

[jarr3tt88]

If you have a lot of layers, you can use filters, they work wonders! When selected they only show the layers in the list for that filter. For example, if you have first floor layers, roof layers, foundation layers....put them each in their own lists. Select the filters in the layer properties manager, which ever is selected will show up.

 

In addition, you can type a name of layers, blocks, styles, and they will come up in the command bar line.

 

We'll adapt to the new way if we must! Just curious if there's a way to bring back the ways of '07 here.

 

 

I don't understand this mentality.....there's an old school guy in my office that is the same, doesn't want to learn the new things we upgraded from 2000 to 2014 recently. Whats the point to upgrade if you're just going to use the new program the old way?? I embrace the changes autocad has made from 2000 to current, they have ALOT of cool stuff!

[SLW210]

Classic Layer Manager is the way to go, the new one is a piece of garbage (at least in ACAD 2011), everything else works as you desire in AutoCAD 2011. This may be an issue to take up with Autodesk.

[Dadgad]

As you found the Layerdlgmode on your own, you may already know about the SYSVDLG command, which was not available in 2007, but if you don't, you will certainly want to know about it.

Once you have gotten your system variables tweaked how you want them,

be sure to use the Save All button at the bottom of the window to create an .svf (system variable file) thus enabling you to easily share or restore those

settings, should you want or need to.

 

Since you are a new member, and eager to speed things up,

take your game to a higher level still.

Want to save hours a day instead of seconds?

 

http://www.lee-mac.com/index.html

 

Lee writes awesome lisps and very generously makes them available to the public freely on his site.

Click on the General link on the left side of his home page,

better have some tissues handy, as you may well start drooling into your keyboard reading

about and watching his video demo clips.

 

Thanks Lee!