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S
seanwickett
Inspiring
July 27, 2017
Answered

Guiding Folders/Layers Bug or Feature?

  • July 27, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 928 views

I'm trying to convert a collapsed folder of layers in my Timeline into guides. (Selecting the layers, right clicking and selecting Guide from context menu)

I have a regular layer above and below the collapsed folder.

If I select the two layers and the collapsed folder and change them to guides, the regular layers change but the collapsed ones do not.

If I select the above layer(s) and the collapsed folder and change them to guides, the regular layers change but the collapsed ones do not.

If I select the below layer(s) and the collapsed folder and change them to guides, the regular layers change but the collapsed ones do not.

If I select just the collapsed folder and change it to guides, the collapsed layers DO change.

If there is NO layer below the collapsed folder and I select above layers and the collapsed folder and change them to guides, the collapsed layers DO change.

This behaviour is absolutely consistent with every file I try.

Any ideas?

Cheers!

(very latest version of Animate CC 2017 on a Mac, OS 10.10.5 (latest update))

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Colin Holgate

I just did a quick check with CS6 and Animate CC2017. In Flash CS6 you could not set a collapsed or expanded folder to be a guide layer. If you expanded the folder, you could select the enclosed layer(s) and set them to be guide layers.

In Animate CC2017 I can select a collapsed folder and set it to be a guide layer and the layer(s) contained in that folder are changed to guide layers. It sounds like you are not seeing this happen. You can only get the enclosed layers to be guides if the folder is expanded. If that's correct then you might need to toss out your preferences and restart Animate.


Rob, what you described is different to what Sean described. The video shows exactly what Sean described. He doesn't need to expand the folder in order to make the layers be guides, so long as he hasn't also selected a later layer. So, the work around is to select from the first layer to be a guide, and down to the first collapsed folder, guide those, then select the layer after the collapsed folder, and down to the last layer to be a guide, and guide those. That would work, but it's a shame to have to do that.

I did test with the folders expanded, and then all the layers do become guides, but that could involve having to expand a lot of folders. If you have a mixture of collapsed and expanded folders, the collapsed ones don't become guides, unless the folder happens to be the last selected item. If it is, the layers become guides even if the folder was collapsed.

Sean, I would log a bug here:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

2 replies

robdillon
robdillon
Participating Frequently
July 27, 2017

It was a little difficult to follow your video.

1. As I said above, guides and guided layers need to be at the same level, either all in or all out of a folder.

2. You can set any number of layers to be guides, whether you actually use them as guides or not. Setting any given layer as a guide is a useful tool to make a layer not visible during testing.

3. The T-square icon signifies a guide layer, not a guided layer. Guided layer are indented below the guide layer. You can have any number of guided layer below a guide layer in the timeline.

Is any of this different from what you have experienced with Flash/Animate?

S
seanwickettAuthor
Inspiring
July 28, 2017

It seems we're getting hung up on terminology. I'm well versed in Flash as I've been working in it since MX. I work in TV animation and we don't typically use a guide layer to move an instance. It's very much animated in a classic 2D style with minimal tweening.

What I mean by a "guided layer" is one that's been changed to a guide, as opposed to being linked or attached to a guide layer. This, as you stated, makes the layer invisible higher up the stack. Or hierarchy. We use this to hide rough artwork, etc. until you drill down into the nested instances.

I'm not presently trying to have any layers subordinated to a guide. What I'm trying to demonstrate in the video is how the layers in a collapsed folder are not being changed to guide layers when a collapsed folder is selected in a particular fashion.

I hope this helps.

Colin Holgate
Colin HolgateCorrect answer
Inspiring
July 28, 2017

I just did a quick check with CS6 and Animate CC2017. In Flash CS6 you could not set a collapsed or expanded folder to be a guide layer. If you expanded the folder, you could select the enclosed layer(s) and set them to be guide layers.

In Animate CC2017 I can select a collapsed folder and set it to be a guide layer and the layer(s) contained in that folder are changed to guide layers. It sounds like you are not seeing this happen. You can only get the enclosed layers to be guides if the folder is expanded. If that's correct then you might need to toss out your preferences and restart Animate.


Rob, what you described is different to what Sean described. The video shows exactly what Sean described. He doesn't need to expand the folder in order to make the layers be guides, so long as he hasn't also selected a later layer. So, the work around is to select from the first layer to be a guide, and down to the first collapsed folder, guide those, then select the layer after the collapsed folder, and down to the last layer to be a guide, and guide those. That would work, but it's a shame to have to do that.

I did test with the folders expanded, and then all the layers do become guides, but that could involve having to expand a lot of folders. If you have a mixture of collapsed and expanded folders, the collapsed ones don't become guides, unless the folder happens to be the last selected item. If it is, the layers become guides even if the folder was collapsed.

Sean, I would log a bug here:

Feature Request/Bug Report Form

    robdillon
    robdillon
    Participating Frequently
    July 27, 2017

    If I'm reading you right, I think the problem may be with your understanding of the file/folder heirarchy  in the timeline window. Each folder is pretty much self contained. So, if you have a layer that you want to use as a guide layer, then the guided layer(s) need to be in the same folder. You can then collapse that folder and the guide will work as you expect.

    A guide layer in a folder, collapsed or not, will not work as a guide for an object in a layer that is not in that same folder.

    If I missed the point of your question, please give more detail.

    S
    seanwickettAuthor
    Inspiring
    July 27, 2017

    Thanks for replying, Rob.

    I use guide layers so they aren't visible higher up in the nesting hierarchy.

    I made a quick video to demonstrate. I hope it helps!

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