Managing Layers

Use the Layer command to create new Layers, set active Layers, and set Layer properties.

To access the Layers Manager dialog box:

• Click Format > Layer.
  
  - or -

• Click Layers Manager (Layers toolbar).

Creating Layers

You can create a new Layer any time. For efficiency, it is recommended that you plan Layers in advance.

To create Layers:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, click New.
2. Type a Layer Name and press Enter.

Deleting Layers

You can delete unused Layers. You cannot delete Layers containing entities, the active Layer, Layer 0, or dependent Layers of referenced drawings.

To delete Layers:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, select a Layer.
2. Click Delete.
   
   The Layer is marked for deletion when the Status changes to .
3. Repeat step 2 to delete other Layers.
4. Click OK.
   
   The Layers marked for deletion are erased.

Setting the Active Layer

To set the active Layer:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, select a Layer.
2. Click Activate.
   
   - or -
   
   Double-click the Status cell of the Layer you want active.
   
   The Status changes to .

Searching for Layers

In drawings with many Layers you can search for a specific Layer if you know a portion of the name.

To search for Layers:

• In the Enter filter expression box, type wildcards (? for a single character, or * for a string of characters) to list the matching Layer names. For example, type "e*" to display all Layers starting with "e", or "*detail" to display all Layers ending with "detail" in the name.

Renaming Layers

To rename Layers:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the Name cell of the Layer to rename.
2. Type the new name and press Enter.

Setting Layer Properties

LineColors

When you start a new drawing, new Layers are automatically assigned the color white. When you create a new Layer, the Layer adopts the color of the selected Layer.

Entities you draw on the Layer appear in the assigned Layer color except those to which you assign a color with the LineColor command.

To set Layer LineColors:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the LineColor cell you want to change.
2. Select a LineColor or select Specify Color for more colors.
   
   The LineColor for the Layer is set. When you change the color, all entities on the Layer that were sketched with the color designated as ByLayer appear with the changed color. Entities on the Layer that were sketched with a color other than the ByLayer color are not affected.

LineStyles

To set Layer LineStyles:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the LineStyle cell you want to change.
2. Select a LineStyle or select Other to load a new LineStyle in the Line Style dialog box.
   
   The LineStyle for the Layer is set. When you change the LineStyle, all entities on the Layer that were sketched with the LineStyle designated as ByLayer appear with the changed LineStyle. Entities on the Layer that were sketched with a LineStyle other than the ByLayer LineStyle are not affected.

LineWeights

To set Layer LineWeights:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the LineWeight cell you want to change.
2. Select a LineWeight.
   
   The LineWeight for this Layer is set. When you change the LineWeight, all entities on this Layer that were sketched with the LineWeight designated as ByLayer appear with the changed LineWeight. Entities on the Layer that were sketched with a LineWeight other than the ByLayer LineWeight are not affected.

PrintStyles

To set Layer PrintStyles:

PrintStyles are only valid if the drawing uses named PrintStyles (.stb files), not color-dependent PrintStyles (.ctb files). You can set named PrintStyles in Tools > Options > System Options > Printing > Default settings > Default type.

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the PrintStyle cell you want to change.
2. Select a PrintStyle or select Other to load a new PrintStyle in the Print Styles dialog box.

Adding Layer descriptions

To add Layer descriptions:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, double-click the Description cell you want to add.
2. Type a description, then pressEnter.

Controlling Layer Behavior

Showing and hiding Layers

When a Layer is shown, the entities on it are visible. Entities on hidden Layers are invisible.

To show or hide Layers:

• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Show cell you want to change.
  
  A green dot  means show. A gray dot  means hide.

Freezing and thawing Layers

Freezing and thawing controls the visibility and the ability to edit Layers.

When a Layer is frozen, its entities are protected and invisible. Unlike entities on Layers that are turned off, entities on frozen Layers are ignored when the drawing rebuilds. Entities on thawed Layers are unprotected and visible.

  You cannot freeze the active Layer.

To freeze or thaw Layers:

• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Frozen cell you want to change.
  
  A snow symbol means frozen. A water symbol  means thawed.

Locking and unlocking Layers

When a Layer is locked, you cannot edit the entities on that Layer. You can edit entities on unlocked Layers.

  When you lock the active Layer, you can create, but not modify entities on it.

To lock or unlock Layers:

• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Lock cell you want to change.
  
  A closed lock  means locked. An open lock  means unlocked.

Printing Layers

You can determine whether Layers are printed or plotted. If you turn off printing for a Layer, the entities on the Layer are still displayed.

Hidden or frozen Layers are not printed regardless of the Print setting.

To specify whether a Layer is printed:

• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Print cell you want to change.
  
  The printer icon  means print. A stroked out printer icon  means do not print.

Setting Filtering Options

You can create filters that contain Layers you specify. Grouping Layers this way establishes group filters. Two Layer group filters are predefined: All and All Used Layers.

To create Layer group filters and assign Layers to them:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, click Edit Filters.
2. In the tree view of the Edit Layer Filters dialog box, click the filter in which you want to create a new filter.
3. Click Add Group Filter.
   
   A new filter is added to the tree view. The filter is a level below the item selected in the tree view so you can create a hierarchical Layer filter structure.
4. Double-click the new filter and type a name for it.
5. Click Close.
   
   The new group filter is added to the filter tree view.
6. Select one or more Layers from the Layer list and drag them into the filter tree view onto the filter name you created.

To delete filters:

1. In the Layers Manager dialog box, click Edit Filters.
2. Select the filter to delete and click Delete.
3. Click Close.

To display the Layers in a group filter:

• In the filter tree view, select a Layer filter.

Setting Display Options

Reverse Filter: Displays all Layers that match the inverted criteria of the selected Layer group filter.

Display "in use" status: Marks all Layers in the Status list with a white Layer icon. The icon changes from to . In large drawings with many Layers, clear this option to improve performance in the Layers Manager dialog box.

Apply to Layers toolbar: Reflects the active Layer of the Layers Manager dialog box in the Layers toolbar.

Access

Command: Layer

Menu: Format > Layer