Rockpile Custom Controls - New Layer Control
The New Layer control operates in the same way as the New Layer command, the only difference being that the New Layer command is a stand alone function that can be executed as a command, whereas the New Layer control is a function that can be executed in any command where the creation of a new layer is required.
The New Layer control will create a new layer, new layer group and assign layer properties including the takeoff categorization, potential site improvement and surface boundaries and associated site improvement attributes.
The New Layer control dialog looks as follows
Name:
Enter the name for the new layer. We recommend using names like ROAD - Curb Flow Line so that all ROAD features are grouped together alphabetically in the layer manager etc. By using well defined layer name prefix values, you can rapidly reduce layer lists presented using the layer list filter controls in all RPS commands.
Color:
Select the default Color for the new layer. This will be applied to all objects that have their color set to “By Layer”.
Line style:
Select the default Linestyle for the new layer. This will be applied to all objects that have their linestyle set to “ByLayer”.
Line weight:
Select the default Lineweight for the new layer. This will be applied to all objects that have their lineweight set to “ByLayer”.
Layer group:
Select the Layer group for the layer. If you need to create a new layer group, you can do so here by clicking the 
button.
Enter the new Layer group name.
Click OK to complete the process and create the Layer group.
Click Cancel to abort the process and not create a new Layer group.
You can also filter the Layer Group list by using the Layer Group filter button 
.
You can further filter the layer group list using the case sensitivity button 
Usage Tip:
We recommend that Layer groups be named e.g. 00 - EXISTING or 01 - FINISHED GRADE etc. so that they are sorted alphabetically in the View Filter Manager according to your work process, thereby placing the 00 - at the top of the list and 99 - at the base of the list.
Display priority:
Select the display priority for objects to be created on this layer. The options are Normal, Background or Foreground. Objects will be displayed and printed based on this priority setting - Foreground objects will be drawn on top of Normal object and Normal objects on top of Background objects. In addition Text is drawn on top of lines and lines on top of hatches, fills and images.
Protect layer checkbox:
Check this checkbox to add layer protection to the new layer. This will stop it from being deleted if you have no data on it and you ever select to “Delete empty layers” (e.g. in Project Cleanup or in Layer Manager commands). By protecting a layer you also add it to the layers presented in the Standardize layers or Map layers commands.
Print checkbox:
Check the checkbox if you want the objects drawn on the layer to be printable. If you uncheck the checkbox, the objects on the layer cannot be printed to PDF or printer output.
Takeoff settings (Optional):
If you are using TBC with the Takeoff workflows, then as you create the layers you can also assign the required Takeoff attributes at the time of new layer creation.
Category:
Select the Takeoff Category that you wish to use the new layer for. For example, if the new layer will hold finished grade linework for e.g. Edge of Pavement then you could assign the layer to the category Design. If the layer was to hold Existing Contours then you could assign it to Takeoff category Original. If it was to hold other data e.g. Erosion Control Silt Fence linework then you could assign it to Category Other etc.
Contains surface boundary lines checkbox:
Check this checkbox if the new layer will hold linework that will be used to form a surface boundary around the objects assigned to the same takeoff category (Original or Design). The line(s) placed on this layer can be 2D or 3D lines, will need to be closed lines and can be formed using e.g. the Shrink Wrap command.
Contains potential boundary lines checkbox:
Check this checkbox if the new layer will hold linework that will be used to constrain area based site improvements. For example if the layer will hold road edge of pavement which will limit an Asphalt Pavement site improvement, then check the checkbox. If the layer will hold silt fence linework that will have no effect on any area based site improvement placement then do not check the checkbox.
MSI Manager button:
Click the MSI Manager button to open the Materials and Site Improvement Manager if you need to create or edit materials or site improvements to be assigned to this layer.
Site improvement:
If you want to automatically linework or points placed on the new layer to count, linear, linear with cross section area or area based site improvements then you can select the site improvement here. For example if the layer will hold points so that you can count Trees for a landscape takeoff, then select the site improvement for trees from the site improvement list presented. If the layer will hold linework for striping then you can select the striping site improvement here. If you intend to use the linework later and manually assign site improvements using the Identify site regions command, then do not select a site improvement here. Note, at this stage the site improvements have to be created in the Materials and Site Improvement Manager (MSI Manager) prior to running the New Layer command. We have not given the ability to create new Site Improvements from this dialog at this stage.
Usage Tips:
We recommend that you create a keyboard shortcut using CTRL N for this command so that you can access it quickly from anywhere within Trimble Business Center
Apply
When you tap apply, the new layer is created and the command will ready itself to create a further new layer set and repeat process execution. If you do not want to create another layer and repeat the process tap Close to finish the process. You can create as many New Layers as you need from a single execution of this command.
OK
When you tap OK the layer is created and the command closes with no further execution.
Cancel
Closes the command without further execution.
Video Demonstration
Feedback and Enhancement Requests
If you would like to provide feedback on the use of the RPS New Layer command or to request enhancements or improvements to the command please click “Reply” below