Open topic with navigation

The Objects Inspector by Layer

Geometry elements are always contained in layers.

The layers come either from the CAD software, or are created in Artlantis.

The Inspector dialog changes according to which option is selected from a list.

There are three selection options:

1. Layers
2. Geometry
3. Objects.

Selecting more than one layer enables their visible/invisible status to be changed depending on the viewpoint.

Selecting multiple objects enables them to be moved to another layer.

Clicking the name of an object in the list makes its insertion point flash in the Preview window.

Renaming a layer

The name of the layer selected in the list is highlighted, select it to rename it.

NB: in Artlantis, renaming a layer created in the CAD software breaks the link to this layer. In this case, modifications made using the "Use a reference file..." command will not be recognized.

Layers

1. Layer data:

   name, number of instances contained, number of triangles making up the geometry

2. Actions on layers

• Use by default:
  When you click the "Use by default" button, the layer selected becomes the default layer for dragged objects dropped into the scene or objects created from the scene stored there.
• Hide/Display in the current view: displays what is necessary for the active viewpoint. Advantage: improves the display and rendering.

3. Layer type:
   None, Objects, 3D Vegetation, Billboards, Animated objects, Light objects

When you drag and drop objects into the Preview window, they can be stored automatically in the layers. This is done by telling these objects what their destination layer is beforehand.

When a project is opened, Artlantis always assigns a default layer, its name is displayed in bold. This layer receives any object added into the scene until another layer is declared as the "Default layer".

However, you can automatically associate certain types of object with certain layers

None: by default, the component dragged and dropped into the scene is stored in the layer whose name is shown in bold, except if this type of component has already been associated with a specific Objects, 3D Vegetation, Billboards, Animated objects or Objects with light layer.

To define a specific layer which is to contain a certain type of component, a new layer must be created in the list or an existing layer chosen, then in Layer type, select the type.

Any layer in the list can be chosen. In the list, the symbol concerned will be assigned to the layer icon.

Example: you create a new layer. Then in Layer type, you click on Objects. All components (objects) dragged and dropped will be stored automatically in this layer.

4. Actions on the view containing the visible layer:

Edit: depending on the layer selected, lists only the viewpoints where this layer is visible. In the popup menu, select the name of the view. The Inspector changes to Viewpoint inspector and the selected view is displayed.

Activate: depending on the layer selected, lists only the viewpoints where this layer is visible. In the popup menu, selecting the name of the view activates it without changing Inspector.

5. Scene information: Displays the edit dialog for the scene

Geometry

Right-clicking geometry contained in the layer displays a popup menu with the following options:

• Use/Do not use as target: defines (depending on the activation in the viewpoint inspector) whether a geometry element or an object is suitable for being used as a target for the cameras or lights.
• Delete: deletes the selected geometry contained in the layer.

• Move to: moves the geometry to another layer.

NB: the settings related to the geometry cannot be edited (name, coordinates, dimensions).

Object by Layer toolbar

Create a layer

1. Create a layer in the layer list. A new layer is added, click on the name of the layer to rename it.
2. To delete a selected layer, click
   When the layer contains geometry, a warning dialog offers to transfer the elements in this layer to another via a popup menu or to delete all the elements it contains.

NB: renaming or deleting layers which have been created by the CAD software breaks the link with it when the "Use a reference file..." command is used.

Creating an object

Selected layer popup menu

When a layer is selected in the list, right-clicking the layer name displays a popup menu which lets you:

• Default: define this layer as default
• Hide in the current view: makes the layer invisible for the current view.
• Edit the view containing the layer: the inspector view changes to the Viewpoint Inspector.
• Activate the view which has this layer visible: the view becomes active without changing the inspector.
• Default layer for: defines the default type for this layer: Objects, 3D Vegetation, Billboards, Animated objects, Light objects.
• Delete : deletes the selected layer, then displays the following dialog to move its content.



• Delete all empty layers: deletes all layers which do not contain geometry.



NB: multiple selection is available with these commands.

Object

• Types of objects: Standard, Light, Vegetation, Animated person , Billboard.

The objects are available in the Media catalog

See Also