Controlling Layer Behavior

Use the Layers list to control the behavior and the properties for each Layer.

The list of all Layers of the active drawing is available in the Layers Manager and in the Layers palette.

Additional commands let you control the behavior of an entity's Layer.

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:

Do one of the following:

• On the Layers palette, click the visibility symbol in the cell corresponding to the Layer you want to show or hide.
• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Show cell you want to change.

  Symbol meaning:

   Visible Layer

   Hidden Layer

Note: Alternatively, you can use the following commands:

• HideLayer: Hides the Layer of the selected entity.
• ShowLayers: Displays all Layers that are visible except those that are frozen.

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:

Do one of the following:

• On the Layers palette, click the symbol in the cell corresponding to the layer you want to freeze or thaw.
• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Frozen cell you want to change.

  Symbol meaning:

   Frozen Layer

   Thawed Layer

Note: Alternatively, you can use the following commands:

• FreezeLayer: Freezes the layer of a selected entity.
• ThawLayers: Thaws all currently frozen Layers, making them visible and editable again.

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:

Do one of the following:

• On the Layers palette, click the symbol in the cell corresponding to the layer you want to lock or unlock.
• In the Layers Manager dialog box, click the icon in the Lock cell you want to change.

  Symbol meaning:

   Locked Layer

   Unlocked Layer

Note: Alternatively, you can use the following commands:

• LockLayer: Locks the layer of a selected entity.
• UnLockLayer: Unlocks the layer of a selected entity.

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.

  Symbol meaning:

  Print Layer

  Do not print Layer

Access

Command: Layer

Menu: Draw > Layer

Layers Palette: Layers Manager