To store the view is a very simple process, you can:

1. Drag and Drop View in Organiser

or

2. Save View via the Save View Button

Note that a View is always saved with Filters (View Settings & Storing Options) applied to the viewpoint.

You can save as many copies of viewpoints you like with different filters applied for various project stages or drawings. If you decide to modify the View Settings, open the Settings dialog and change the filter to your requirements (click on the arrows next to a particular filter).

Layers & Layer Combinations

Where to find:

Command + L

Layer Combinations are listed on the left panel of the Layer Settings Dialog Box; individual Layers are listed on the right

Use this to:

Create and adjust layers and layer combinations.

Set up Layer combinations as relevant to the drawing types you need to produce. E.g. Structural, General Arrangement, Site Plan, etc..

Assuming you have set up and are using a template file this wouldn’t require more attention. Sometimes adjustments or a quick check are necessary however, especially to Layer Priorities. As you know, Layer Combinations save a state of all Layers in your file in regards to visibility, locking and priority. Check that a strategy for the naming of Layers is in place so that Layers are grouped by purpose (e.g. Structure or Landscaping or…) and easy to find. Check that per Layer Combinations being used apply the correct state for every layer and the combinations are named and grouped by name clearly and logically.

Check that the strategy for Layer Priorities allows for some flexibility but is not overly complex. A few dedicated numbers (of say 0 to 5) should be sufficient at design stages and a more comprehensive set of numbers can be set for construction stages if necessary.

By Layer in a selected Layer Combination you can define and control the following layer settings:

1. Lock / unlock

If you want the layer locked.

Useful for essential layers like boundary or grid so they cannot be edited accidentally. Also useful if you don’t want the layer to appear in the layer list for selected elements or tools. You’ll need to enable this in Work Environment>Dialogue Boxes and Palettes>Hide Locked Layers in Pop Up Palettes.

2. Visible / hidden

Visibility on your drawings.

3. Solid / wireframe display (useful only for intense 3D models)

This option can be useful in order to clarify a 3D perspective (giving wireframe context but not obscuring the elements that are solid. This setting has no effect on plan, section or elevation.

4. Intersection priority (only elements on equal priority numbered layers will connect & a higher priority number has priority over the lower number.)

Layer combinations are an essential part in Saved Views and thus in your ability to control what is visible on a layout. If no Layer Combination is set when saving a view Archicad will remember the current state and will call it “custom”. Avoid this at all cost as keeping track of which drawing has which layers (in) visible /(un)locked / priority will be nearly impossible and certainly more will cost more time and effort then it should.

Workflow:

1. Select a layer combination to be edited.

2. Adjust layers as required on the right side of the Layer Settings window.

3. Save the changes by clicking Update before moving on to the next layer combination!