workflow advice with the new layer explorer

[cheerioboy]

So I've hesitated to update past 3dsmax 2012 because of how crippled I feel the layer manager has become. Currently I have a slew of buttons at the top that I can use to easily select layers and move objects around to organize. In the newer manager there's only the make new layer button - it seems all the previous actions now require a right-click and a drag and drop?

Anyone care to explain their process with the new explorer?

[AJ Jefferies]

In the Layer Explorer go to Customize>Toolbars and turn on Tools.

A few things have changed that you'll have to get used to. For example clicking a layer will deselect what you currently have selected, you have to click the little icon to make the layer active, then click Add.

[cheerioboy]

turning on Tools only gave me a 'Lock cell editing' button.

This is with 2015, is 2016 better?

How would I:
1) Select objects in a layer
I assume the only way is to right-click on the layer and select child nodes (2 clicks)

2) Deselect half
Alt+selecting objects to remove

3) Put selected objects into another existing layer
Right click anywhere in layer window, 'add selection to', 'new parent (pick)', click new layer


All these nesting layers now, the only way to move a nested layer out is by right-clicking and 'Unest' - which is confusing because you can also move layers by clicking and dragging.. but you can't pull them out of a nested layer... I got the 0 (default) layer stuck within another layer and couldn't unest.
None of this makes work easier.. it's just a mess of options with dragging, clicking menus, & buttons - when before there was a simple set of buttons.

[AJ Jefferies]

turning on Tools only gave me a 'Lock cell editing' button.
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This is with 2015, is 2016 better?

Ah, I jumped straight from 2014 to 2016 so can't be sure. All of these answers work in 2016, apologies if they don't in 2015

How would I:
1) Select objects in a layer

Clicking once on an object in a layer will select it. Double clicking the layer selects everything in that layer

2) Deselect half

I've never had to do this but ctrl clicking and deselecting is the only thing I can think of

3) Put selected objects into another existing layer

Like I said in my original reply, you have to click the little blue icon to make the layer you want to move to active, then hit the plus icon, which I appreciate you don't have in 2015.

This probably hasn't been very helpful, sorry!

[AJ Jefferies]

Here's how the Layer Explorer looks in 2016

[NicoC]

Here, we stick to Nested Layer Manager (we jumped from 2014 to 2016, confirmed layer manager is still crap, and decided to stick to NLM). There's also Outliner, but Nested Layer Manager has my preference. I wonder what the hell Autodesk guy were thinking about when they worked on the Layer Manager ...

[cheerioboy]

Here, we stick to Nested Layer Manager (we jumped from 2014 to 2016, confirmed layer manager is still crap, and decided to stick to NLM). There's also Outliner, but Nested Layer Manager has my preference. I wonder what the hell Autodesk guy were thinking about when they worked on the Layer Manager ...

The Nested Layer Manager looks amazing. That alone could let me switch to the newer versions of max. Now they just need to add a new feature that is worth it. So far the perspective match is the only thing that I'd almost switch for... which is sad.

[SnipeyX]

3) Put selected objects into another existing layer

That's what the + button is for in 2016. You just make the 'target layer' your active layer (blue icon), then with your objects selected, press the 'add to layer' button & they're moved.

[cheerioboy]

That's what the + button is for in 2016. You just make the 'target layer' your active layer (blue icon), then with your objects selected, press the 'add to layer' button & they're moved.

So it sounds like they've brought back some functionality in 2016. I'll have to hold out till the office gets the version to see if it functions well enough to make the switch. Thanks

[Mokiki]

Here, we stick to Nested Layer Manager (we jumped from 2014 to 2016, confirmed layer manager is still crap, and decided to stick to NLM). There's also Outliner, but Nested Layer Manager has my preference. I wonder what the hell Autodesk guy were thinking about when they worked on the Layer Manager ...

NLM looks indeed great. Which version are you using 2 or 3? Is it actually still being developed I noticed that the last update has been 1 year ago.

[NicoC]

NLM looks indeed great. Which version are you using 2 or 3? Is it actually still being developed I noticed that the last update has been 1 year ago.

We use v2.2.5 Pro, but I also have a v3 beta. In fact, Tim Hawker started rewriting NLM from scratch using C# (v3 beta) ... but for now, NLM dev has stopped. Tim Hawker spent a lot of time on it, and needed a break away from it from what he said. Anyway, NLM is for me the best layer manager available, and by far, so we still use it. My coworkers seem to also like Outliner, so we kind of mix it with NLM, depending on everyone's needs. Autodesk should really have a discussion with Tim and the future of NLM in my opinion ... their team nicely fails where a single guy succeeded ! funny, isn't it ?
Oh, and I'm thinking about it: maybe if there were MANY of us claiming to Tim for NLM v3 dev to be resumed, would he decide to be back on it

[piotrus3333]

things you are talking about are on an additional little toolbar in 2015:
layer list, create new, add selected to layer and select all obj on active layer.
had the same trouble when I switched from 2012 - I just put that little toolbar on my ui.
and after a while scene explorer is good thing to have.

[thablanch]

Here, we stick to Nested Layer Manager (we jumped from 2014 to 2016, confirmed layer manager is still crap, and decided to stick to NLM). There's also Outliner, but Nested Layer Manager has my preference. I wonder what the hell Autodesk guy were thinking about when they worked on the Layer Manager ...

Following the user requests..
It has been a huge point on the Autodesk 3dsMax feature request. Also, compared to others, 3dsMax layer manager was dated and not that functional.
http://3dsmaxfeedback.autodesk.com/f...ature-requests

This is bringing uniformity between Layer manager and scene explorer, and every other form of exploration of your scene.
On our side, this has been a great improvement.
The column chooser is great, we use it all the time. For layer visibility to quickly know what is the material on the object without looking.


I however agree that the behavior is not as intuitive or user friendly as it should be.
For this, I use the 'layer toolbar' (regular toolbar shipped with 3dsMax, but not applied to the UI by default)
The toolbar works like the 'old' method, as I keep the layer manager as is. brings best of both worlds