To Work With Layer States

Save, restore, and import layer settings using layer states. Add layers, remove layers, and change layer settings within a layer state.

Use the Layer States Manager to work with layer states.

1. Click Home tab Layers panel Layer State. Find
2. In the Layer State drop-down list, click Manage Layer States.
   Note: The Layer States Manager is also accessible from the Layer Properties Manager. Find

Save Layer Settings to a Layer State

To include the viewport overrides in the layer state, double-click in a layout viewport to make it current before opening the Layer States Manager.

1. Click New.
2. In the New Layer State to Save dialog box, enter a name for the new layer state, or choose a name from the list. You can also add a description. Click OK.
3. Click Close.

Note: The Save button in the Layer States Manager is used only when you want to overwrite the selected layer state with the current layer settings.

Restore Layer Settings from a Layer State

1. Click a layer state.
2. Click expand and choose the layer properties and settings to restore.
3. Select from the Restore options:
   • Turn off layers not found in layer state. The intent is to preserve the visual appearance of the drawing at the time that the layer state was saved.
   • Apply properties as viewport overrides. If a layout viewport is active, the layer properties are applied as viewport overrides to the current layout viewport.
4. Click Restore.
Note: The layer that was current when the layer state was saved is made current. If that layer no longer exists, the current layer does not change.

Add Layers to a Layer State

If you create layers after creating the layer state, you may want to add those layers to the layer state.

1. Click the layer state to which you want to add layers, and click Edit.
2. In the Edit Layer State dialog box, click Add.
3. In the Select Layers to Add to Layer State dialog box, click the layers that you want to add. Click OK.
4. Click Close.

Remove a Layer from a Layer State

1. Click the layer state from which you want to remove a layer, and click Edit.
2. In the Edit Layer State dialog box dialog box, click the layers that you want to remove.
3. Click Remove.
4. Click OK.
5. Click Close.

Change Layer Settings Within a Layer State

1. Click the layer state you want to change the layer settings for, and click Edit.
2. In the Edit Layer State dialog box, change the individual layer settings, and click OK.
3. Click Close.

Export a Layer State

1. Click the layer state that you want to export, and click Export.
2. In the Export Layer State dialog box, specify a destination folder for the layer state LAS file, and click Save.

Import Layer Settings from a Layer State (LAS) File

1. Click Import.
2. In the Import Layer State dialog box, open the LAS file that you want to use.
3. Select to close the dialog box or restore one of the layer states.

Note: If a layer state is imported from an LAS file that contains linetype or plot style properties that do not exist in the drawing, a message notifies you that the property could not be restored. The message reports only the first such property that is encountered.

Import Saved Layer Settings from Another Drawing

1. Click Import.
2. In the Import Layer State dialog box, open a .dwg, .dws, or .dwt file.
3. In the Select Layer States dialog box, choose the layer states to import, and click OK.

Note: When a layer state is imported from a drawing, layer properties such as a linetype or plot style that are not available in the current drawing, are imported from the source drawing.