To Work with Layers

Create, rename, and remove layers. Set the current layer. Change layer properties such as color, linetype, lineweight, and transparency.

Use the Layer Properties Manager to work with layers. Click Home tab Layers panel Layer Properties. Find

Create a Layer

1. In the Layer Properties Manager, click New Layer.

   A layer name is added to the layer list.

2. Enter a new layer name by typing over the highlighted layer name.
   • Layer names can be up to 255 characters long (double-byte or alphanumeric), and include letters, numbers, spaces, and several special characters.
   • Layer names cannot include the following characters: < > / \ “ : ; ? * | = ‘
3. For complex drawings with many layers, enter descriptive text in the Description column.
4. Specify the settings and default properties of the new layer by clicking in each column.

Rename a Layer

1. In the Layer Properties Manager, click to select a layer.
2. Click the layer name or press F2.
3. Enter a new name.

Remove a Layer

1. In the Layer Properties Manager, click to select a layer.
2. Click Delete Layer.

The following layers cannot be deleted:

• Layers 0 and Defpoints
• The current layer
• Layers used in an external reference

Note: To remove all unused layers, use PURGE. Find

Set the Current Layer

1. In the Layer Properties Manager, click to select a layer.
2. Click Set Current.

Set the Default Layer for Specified Object Types

1. At the Command prompt, enter the system variable that controls the default layer for a specified object type:
   • Center marks and centerlines: CENTERLAYER system variable
   • Hatches and fills: HPLAYER system variable
   • Dimensions: DIMLAYER system variable
   • Mtext and text: TEXTLAYER system variable (added in the 2020.1 update)
   • Xrefs: XREFLAYER system variable
2. Enter the name of the layer to which subsequently created object types are to be assigned.

Change the Properties Assigned to Layers

1. If you want to change multiple layers, use one of the following methods in the Layer Properties Manager:
   • Press and hold Ctrl, and choose several layer names.
   • Press and hold Shift, and choose the first and last layers in a range.
   • Right-click, and click Show Filters in Layer List. Choose a layer filter from the list of layers.
2. Click the current setting in the column that you want to change.

   The dialog box for that property displays.

3. Choose the setting that you want to use.

When changing layer properties:

• If the linetype you want is not displayed, click Load and use one of the following methods:
  • In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, choose the linetypes to load.
  • In the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box, click File to open an additional linetype definition (LIN) file. Choose the linetypes to load and click OK.
• Lineweights are not displayed automatically. If you want to display or hide lineweights, click Show/Hide Lineweight on the status bar. Find

  If no change is visible, it's probably due to a combination of the thickness of the line compared to the display resolution of your monitor.

• Transparency is not displayed automatically. If you want to display or hide the transparency of objects, click Show/Hide Transparency on the status bar. Find

Note: The properties that you choose are used for all objects on the layer that have a ByLayer setting for that property.

View a List of Unused Layers

Note: To improve performance, all layers are indicated as containing objects in the Status column, , by default.

1. In the Layer Properties Manager, click Settings.
2. Check Indicate Layers in Use on the Layer Settings dialog box and click OK.
3. Click the Status column label to sort by status.

   indicates a layer is not in use.