Layer Properties Manager

Displays a list of the layers in the drawing and their properties.

You can add, delete, and rename layers, change their properties, set property overrides in layout viewports, and add layer descriptions. The Layer Property Manager includes a Filters panel and a layer list panel. Layer filters control which layers are displayed in the layer list, and can also be used to make changes to several layers at a time.

The Layer Properties Manager is alway updated and displays the current state of the layer properties and filter selection in the current space: model space, a paper space layout, or in model space in a layout viewport.

List of Options

The following options are displayed.

Current Layer

Displays the name of the current layer.

The current layer is displayed in the top-left corner of the Layer Properties Manager. The current layer is also indicated by a green check mark in the layer list.

Search for Layer

Filters the layer list by name as you enter characters in the box.

Search for Layer is located in the top-right corner of the Layer Properties Manager.

New Property Filter

Displays the Layer Filter Properties dialog box, where you can create a layer filter based on layer settings and properties.

New Group Filter

Creates a layer filter that contains layers that you select and drag to the filter.

Layer States Manager

Displays the Layer States Manager, where you can save the current property settings for layers in a layer state and then restore those settings later.

New Layer

Creates a new layer with a default name that you can immediately change. The new layer inherits the properties of the currently selected layer in the layer list.

The new layer is created below the last currently selected layer.

New Layer Frozen VP In All Viewports

Creates a new layer and freezes it in all existing layout viewports. This button is accessible from the Model tab or layout tabs.

Delete Layer

Deletes selected layers. You can delete only unreferenced layers. Referenced layers include layers 0 and DEFPOINTS, layers containing objects (including objects in block definitions), the current layer, and xref-dependent layers.

Layers in a partially opened drawing are also considered referenced and cannot be deleted. (Not applicable to AutoCAD LT.)

Note: Be careful about deleting layers if you are working on a drawing in a shared project or one based on a set of layering standards.
Set Current

Sets the selected layer as the current layer. New objects are automatically created on the current layer. ( CLAYER system variable)

Status Line - Located at the bottom of the Layer Properties Manager

Shows the name of the current filter, the number of layers displayed in the list view, and the number of layers in the drawing.

Invert Filter

Displays all layers that do not meet the criteria in the selected layer filter.

Indicate Layers in Use

Displays icons in the list view to indicate whether layers are in use. (SHOWLAYERUSAGE system variable)

In a drawing with many layers, clear this option to improve performance.

Refresh

Refreshes the order of the layer list and the layer status information.

Settings

Displays the Layer Settings dialog box, where you can set various display options.

Filters Pane

Displays a hierarchical list of layer filters in the drawing, which control the layers listed in the Layer Properties Manager. The top node, All, lists all the layers in the drawing.

In the Filters pane, you can do the following operations:

Additional layer filters are displayed under the following circumstances:

Filters Shortcut Menu

Provides commands to be applied to the layers included in the filters you select in the Filters pane, including the All and All Used Layers filters.

Visibility

Changes the visibility state of the layers in the selected filters.

Lock

Controls lock state of the layers in the selected filters.

Viewport

In the current layout viewport, controls the VP Freeze setting of the layers in the selected filters.

Isolate Group

Freezes all layers that are not included in the selected filters.

  • All Viewports. In all layout viewports, sets VP Freeze for all layers that are not included in the selected filters. In model space, freezes all layers that are not in the selected filter, with the exception of the current layer.
  • Current Viewport Only. In the current layout viewport, sets VP Freeze for all layers that are not included in the selected filters. In model space, turns off all layers that are not included the selected filters, with the exception of the current layer.
New Properties Filter

Displays the Layer Filter Properties dialog box, where you can create a new layer property filter based on layer names and layer property settings such as color and plot style.

New Group Filter

Creates a new layer group filter. Enter a new name. Select the All filter or any other layer filter in the tree view to display layers in the list view, and then drag layers from the list view into the new layer group filter in the tree view.

Convert to Group Filter

Converts the selected layer property filter to a layer group filter.

Rename

Renames the selected layer filter.

Delete

Removes the selected layer filter. You cannot delete the All, All Used Layers, or Xref layer filters.

Properties

Displays the Layer Filter Properties dialog box, where you can modify the definitions of selected layer property filters. This option is available only when a layer property filter is selected.

Select Layers

Adds or replaces layers in the selected layer group filter. This option is available only when a layer group filter is selected.

  • Add. Adds layers to the selected layer group filter from the objects selected in the drawing.
  • Replace. Replaces the layers of the selected layer group filter with the layers of the objects that are selected in the drawing.

Layer List Pane

Displays layers and layer filters and their properties and descriptions.

If a layer filter is selected in the Filters pane, the layer list pane displays only the layers in that layer filter. The All filter in the tree view displays all layers and layer filters in the drawing. When a layer property filter is selected and there are no layers that fit its definition, the list view is empty. To modify a property of a selected layer or of all layers in a selected filter, click the icon for that property. When a mixed icon or “Varies” is displayed for a layer filter, the property is not the same for all layers in the filter.

Status

Indicates the type of item: layer filter, layer in use, empty layer, or current layer.

— Layer is the current one

— Layer is in use

— Layer is not in use

— Layer is in use, and a property override is turned on in a layout viewport

— Layer is not in use, and a property override is turned on in a layout viewport

Note: To improve performance, this column is turned off by default, displaying the icon instead.
Name

Displays the name of the layer or filter. Press F2 to enter a new name.

On

Turns the selected layers on and off. When a layer is on, it is visible and available for plotting. When a layer is off, it is invisible and not plotted, even if Plot is on.

Freeze

Freezes the selected layers in all viewports, including the Model tab. You can freeze layers to improve performance and reduce regeneration time in complex drawings.

Objects on frozen layers are not displayed, plotted, hidden, or regenerated.

In drawings that support 3D modeling, they are not rendered. (Not applicable to AutoCAD LT.)

Tip: Freeze the layers that you want to remain invisible for long periods. If you plan to switch visibility settings frequently, use the On/Off setting to avoid regenerating the drawing. You can freeze a layer in all viewports, in the current layout viewport, or in new layout viewports as they are created.

Lock

Locks and unlocks the selected layers. Objects on a locked layer cannot be modified.

Color

Changes the color associated with the selected layers. Clicking the color name displays the Select Color dialog box.

Linetype

Changes the linetype associated with the selected layers. Clicking the linetype name displays the Select Linetype dialog box.

Lineweight

Changes the lineweight associated with the selected layers. Clicking the lineweight name displays the Lineweight dialog box.

Transparency

Controls the visibility of all objects on the selected layer. When transparency is applied to individual objects, the objects’ transparency property overrides the transparency setting of the layer. Clicking the Trasparency value displays the Layer Transparency dialog box.

Plot Style

Changes the plot style associated with the selected layers. If you are working with color-dependent plot styles (the PSTYLEPOLICY system variable is set to 1), you cannot change the plot style associated with a layer. Clicking the plot style displays the Select Plot Style dialog box.

Plot

Controls whether the selected layers are plotted. If you turn off plotting for a layer, the objects on that layer are still displayed. Layers that are off or frozen are not plotted, regardless of the Plot setting.

New VP Freeze

Freezes selected layers in new layout viewports. For example, freezing the DIMENSIONS layer in all new viewports restricts the display of dimensions on that layer in any newly created layout viewports but does not affect the DIMENSIONS layer in existing viewports. If you later create a viewport that requires dimensions, you can override the default setting by changing the current viewport setting.

VP Freeze (available only from a layout tab)

Freezes selected layers in the current layout viewport. You can freeze or thaw layers in the current viewport without affecting layer visibility in other viewports.

VP Freeze is an override to the Thaw setting in the drawing. That is, you can freeze a layer in the current viewport if it's thawed in the drawing, but you can't thaw a layer in the current viewport if it's frozen or off in the drawing. A layer is not visible when it is set to Off or Frozen in the drawing.

VP Color (available only from a layout tab)

Sets an override for the color associated with the selected layer for the active layout viewport.

VP Linetype (available only from a layout tab)

Sets an override for the linetype associated with the selected layer for the active layout viewport.

VP Lineweight (available only from a layout tab)

Sets an override for the lineweight associated with the selected layer for the active layout viewport.

VP Transparency (available only from a layout tab)

Sets an override for transparency associated with the selected layer for the active layout viewport.

VP Plot Style (available only from a layout tab)

Sets an override for the plot style associated with the selected layer for the active layout viewport. Override settings are not visible in the viewport or plotted when the visual style in the drawing is set to Conceptual or Realistic. If you are working with color-dependent plot styles (the PSTYLEPOLICY system variable is set to 1), you cannot set a plot style override.

Description

(Optional) Describes the layer or the layer filter.

List View Shortcut Menus

Provides options for modifying the list and modifying selected layers and layer filters.

Column Label Shortcut Menu

Column Names

Lists all columns by name. Columns that are checked indicate they are displayed. Hidden column names are not checked. VP Freeze, VP Color, VP Linetype, VP Lineweight, and VP Plot Style are available only when a layout viewport is active.

Customize

Displays the Customize Layer Columns dialog box, where you can specify which columns are hidden or displayed.

Maximize All Columns

Maximizes all columns to the width of the column headers and the data content. This option is available on the shortcut menu that is displayed when you right-click a column heading.

Maximize Column

Changes the width of the column to maximize display of the column content. This option is available on the shortcut menu that is displayed when you right-click a column heading.

Optimize all columns

Changes the width of all columns to maximize display of the column content. This option is available on the shortcut menu that is displayed when you right-click a column heading.

Optimize column

Changes the width of a column to maximize display of the column content. This option is available on the shortcut menu that is displayed when you right-click a column heading.

Freeze column (or Unfreeze column)

Freezes (or unfreezes) the column and any columns to the left. This option is available on the shortcut menu when you right-click a column heading.

Restore All Columns to Defaults

Restores all columns to their default display and width settings. This option is available on the shortcut menu when you right-click a column heading.

Layer Shortcut Menu

Show Filter Tree

Displays the layer Filters panel. Clear this option to hide the panel.

Show Filters in Layer List

Displays layer filters at the top of the layer list panel. Clear this option to display only layers in the layer list panel.

Set Current

Sets the selected layer as the current layer. ( CLAYER system variable)

New Layer

Creates a new layer. You can edit the default layer name immediately. The new layer inherits the properties of the currently selected layer in the layer list (color, on or off state, and so on).

Rename Layer

Changes the layer name.

Delete Layer

Deletes selected layers from the drawing file. You can delete only unreferenced layers. Referenced layers include layers 0, DEFPOINTS, layers containing objects (including objects in block definitions), the current layer, and xref-dependent layers.

Note: Be careful about deleting layers if you are working on a drawing in a shared project or one based on a set of layering standards.
Change Description

Adds a description or changes the text in the description for the selected layer or, if layer filters are displayed in the layer list, a layer filter. The description for a filter is added to the filter and to all layers in the filter.

Remove from Group Filter

Removes the selected layers from the layer group filter that is selected in the Filters panel.

Reconcile Layer

Removes new layers from the Unreconciled New Layers filter. This options is available only when unreconciled layers are selected.

Remove Viewport Overrides For . . .

Removes a single override property or all property overrides on selected layers (or all layers) for the current viewport or all viewports. Different options display in a flyout menu depending on where the cursor is located when the shortcut menu is accessed. To remove a single property override, right-click the property override. This option is only available in in layout viewports.

New Layer Frozen in All Viewports

Creates a new layer and freezes it in all existing layout viewports and new viewports.

VP Freeze Layer in All Viewports

Freezes the selected layer in all existing layout viewports and new viewports.

VP Thaw Layer in All Viewports

Thaws the selected layer in all existing layout viewports and new viewports.

Isolate Selected Layers
Turns off all layers except the selected layer.
Merge Selected Layer(s) To . . .
Combines the selected layers into a specified layer. Objects on the selected layers are moved to the new layer and inherit its properties.
Select All

Selects everything displayed in the list view.

Clear All

Removes selection from all items in the layer list.

Select All But Current

Selects everything displayed in the list view except the current layer.

Invert Selection

Selects everything displayed in the list view except the items that are currently selected.

Invert Layer Filter

Displays all layers that do not meet the criteria in the selected layer property filter.

Layer Filters

Displays a list of layer filters, including All and All Used Layers. Click a filter to apply it to the layer list.

Save Layer States

Saves the current layer settings to a specified layer state.

Restore Layer State

Displays the Layer States Manager, where you can select a layer state to restore. This operation restores only those layer state and property settings that were specified in the Layer States Manager when the layer state was saved.

Related Concepts

Related Reference