[lllab]

layers would be great, and also beeing able to export them via plugin from max, rhino, cinema, formz, archicad etc...

that would make live a lot easier in studio.

thanks and cheers
stefan

[Fernando Tella]

Groups work in a very similar way, but maybe they could be a bit more comfortable; the traditional panel where you can see if its hidden, locked and so would be better.

[lllab]

no groups are something different.

by the way groups should be able to be grouped in hierarchy-groups of groups etc- then it would be ok without layers.

but still having groups AND layers is very important. most architectural models are made in layer hierarchy. it would be good to be able to keep this hierarchy when importing i n studio with either dxf or with a plugin.

for architects layers are very important and cannot really be replaced with grouping only.

cheers
stefan

[stonelli]

Groups work in a very similar way, but maybe they could be a bit more comfortable; the traditional panel where you can see if its hidden, locked and so would be better.

This has been asked before and I think I remember NL saying that they would look into it.

[stonelli]

no groups are something different.

by the way groups should be able to be grouped in hierarchy-groups of groups etc- then it would be ok without layers.

but still having groups AND layers is very important. most architectural models are made in layer hierarchy. it would be good to be able to keep this hierarchy when importing i n studio with either dxf or with a plugin.

for architects layers are very important and cannot really be replaced with grouping only.

cheers
stefan

Illab can you explain why you don't think Groups work as Layers when doing DXF IN?
I played around quite a bit with that and found ti to behave the way it ought to.

[lllab]

well i do archviz for moire than 10 years, it is much bteer to be able to group ceratin things AND to be able to structure a file with layers.

you need both of course. this is a very important workflow factor i think. i hate when i only have groups(can only function as very basic layer replacement, and then gouping things get mixed up in layers).

you normally group things within layers to keep layers organized. P.e. you ave layers for furniture, and then you have groups for eating table+chairs, sofa+table+vase, or a group for a detailed lamp, or a group for a car etc...

still i want to have layers like wall_outside, wall_inside, Windows, doors, floors, ceiling, roofs, cladding, steelframe constuction, cars, trees, people etc...within thiese layers are groups...

hope this was understandable.
would be great if NL is already working on it. it is really importnat for architects, and or complex modells.

cheers
stefan

[stonelli]

well i do archviz for moire than 10 years, it is much bteer to be able to group ceratin things AND to be able to structure a file with layers.

you need both of course. this is a very important workflow factor i think. i hate when i only have groups(can only function as very basic layer replacement, and then gouping things get mixed up in layers).

you normally group things within layers to keep layers organized. P.e. you ave layers for furniture, and then you have groups for eating table+chairs, sofa+table+vase, or a group for a detailed lamp, or a group for a car etc...

still i want to have layers like wall_outside, wall_inside, Windows, doors, floors, ceiling, roofs, cladding, steelframe constuction, cars, trees, people etc...within thiese layers are groups...

hope this was understandable.
would be great if NL is already working on it. it is really importnat for architects, and or complex modells.

cheers
stefan

Now I see your point. NL understands that it needs to support blocks\cells (call them what you want) and I hope they intend to implement that with 1.2
Certainly the current version of the DXF importer has problems with blocks, as, for one, it imports all elements in a block on it's definition layer.
This is something I have reported as a majour issue when we were testing between 1 and 1.1
At this point I still do all my modelling/editing in MicroStation so that, perhaps is why I don't have such a problem with the issues you point out
I do look forward to instancing support.
Ciao

[lllab]

blocks would be fine too of course, but i really think layers are the most important first. blocks could be tranlated int o subgroups of layers i think. that would be ok.

lets hope for 1.2:-)

cheers
stefan

[stonelli]

Yes, crossing my fingers

[Polyxo]

I would also also love to see layers in Studio, as it would allow the smoothest possible export for most of us (nearly all of the plugin-supported programs have layers as well as groups). Stefan has already given a good explanation, why such an editor made sense in addition to an object tree. They simply fulfill different jobs.

Holger