Mechanical Layer Manager Dialog Box (AutoCAD Mechanical Toolset)

Use this dialog box to create, delete, and rename layers and layer definitions, change their properties, or add layer descriptions

Note: If you use layer groups to categorize/organize geometry, take note that

• Layer group management is no longer possible with the AMLAYER command. This functionality is now handled by the AMLAYERGROUP command.
• The AMLAYER command, like all other AutoCAD Mechanical toolset commands, acts on the group that has been set as the current layer group with the AMLAYERGROUP command. If you have not explicitly selected a layer group as the current layer group, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset assumes that the base layer group is the current layer group.

Toolbar Buttons
	Creates a layer. The drop-down menu adjacent to the button provides the following options: New Layer - Creates a layer and layer definition. New Layer Definition - Creates a layer definition only.
	Deletes the current selection in the list of layers. If the current selection is an AutoCAD layer, the layer is deleted. If the current selection is a mechanical layer, the layer is deleted, but the layer definition continues to remain. If the current selection is a layer definition, the layer definition is deleted. Note: The following layers cannot be deleted: Layers that contain objects Layer definitions that have been assigned to objects Layer definitions shipped with AutoCAD Mechanical toolset (The default layer definitions that begin with AM) The current layer The special layer AM_0 The special layer DEFPOINTS, which contains the definition points of non associated dimensions. xref dependant layers.
	Sets the selected layer as the current layer. AutoCAD commands always draw objects on the current layer. Set the current layer appropriately before you use AutoCAD commands. On the other hand, when Automatic Property Management is on, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset commands draw objects on the appropriate layer no matter what layer is set as the current layer.
	Enables you to select objects and determine what layers they are drawn on. This button closes the dialog box temporarily to enable you to select an object in the drawing area. Once all the objects you want to check are selected, you press Enter to return to the dialog box. When the dialog box appears again, the layers that the selected objects lie on are highlighted.
	Temporarily hides the dialog box to enable you to select objects and move them to the layer that is selected in the list of layers.
	Temporarily hides the dialog box and highlights the objects on the layer that is selected in the list of layers.
	Hides layer definitions layer definitions in the list of layers.
Right-click menu items that are not available as toolbar buttons
	Convert to Mechanical Layer Converts the layer to a mechanical layer by creating a layer definition for it. AutoCAD Mechanical toolset commands use the layer definition to replicate this layer, on demand, in a layergroup. Note: Once you convert to a mechanical layer, there is no way to convert it back to an AutoCAD layer. If you convert a layer unintentionally, you can: Use the UNDO command. Delete the layer and layer definition, and recreate it using the AutoCAD LAYER command. Continue to use the layer as is - As long as you do not delete the layer, replicate the layer in layer groups or assign the layer to an object using AMOPTIONS, mechanical layers behave exactly like AutoCAD layers.
	Use as Selection Set Selects all the objects on the layer as part of a selection set. In subsequent commands, when you are prompted to select objects, you can access this selection set by entering the Previous keyword at the command prompt.
	Invert Selection Selects all items in the list, except the items that are currently selected.
	Simple View Hides the columns that show the properties of the layers and the names of the objects that use the layers.
	Full View Displays the columns that show the properties of the layers and the names of the objects that use the layers.
Search for Layer Filters the list of layers to match the name you enter. You can use wildcard characters when specifying the filter. For example, if you only want to display layers that start with the letters AM, enter AM*. Note: For more information on wild cards, search for “Wild-Card Characters” in AutoCAD online help.
Filter type Enables you to filter the list of layers based on the object types that use the layers.
Current layer Displays the name of the current layer. AutoCAD commands always draw objects on the current layer. On the other hand, when Automatic Property Management is on, AutoCAD Mechanical toolset commands draw objects on the appropriate layer no matter what layer is set as the current layer.
Columns in list of layers
	Status - Indicates that the layer is a mechanical layer (layers created by AutoCAD Mechanical toolset commands). - Indicates that the layer is a mechanical layer that does not get replicated with layer groups. Layer groups are created with the AMLAYERGROUP command. - Indicates that the layer was created by the AutoCAD LAYER command. No Icon indicates that it is a layer definition.
	Name Displays the name of the layer or layer definition. Click to enable the ability to rename the layer or layer definition.
	On Indicates whether the layer is on or 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. Click to toggle the on/off status of that layer.
	Freeze Indicates whether the layer is frozen or not. When a layer is frozen, objects on it are not displayed, plotted, hidden, rendered, or regenerated. Click to toggle the freeze/thaw status of that layer. Note: Freeze only the layers you want to make invisible for long periods. If you plan to switch visibility settings frequently, use the On/Off setting to avoid regenerating the drawing.
	Lock Indicates whether the layer is locked or unlocked. When a layer is locked, objects on it cannot be modified. Click to toggle the locked/unlocked status of that layer.
	Color Indicates the color associated with the layer. Click the color to display the Select Color dialog box, which enables you to select a different color.
	Linetype Indicates the linetype associated with the layer. Click to display a list of linetypes you can select for that layer.
	Lineweight Indicates the lineweight associated with the layer. Click to display a list of lineweights you can select for that layer.
	Plot Indicates whether the layer is plotted or not. Click to toggle the plot status of that layer. Objects on layers that have plotting turned off continue to be visible in the drawing area. Layers that are off or frozen are not plotted regardless of the plot setting.
	New VP Freeze Indicates whether the layer is frozen in new layout viewports . This option has no effect on the visibility of the layer in other viewports. This column is visible only in layout. Click to toggle the freeze/thaw status.
	VP Freeze Indicates whether the layer is frozen in the current layout viewport. This option has no effect on the visibility of the layer in other viewports. This column is visible only in layout. Click to toggle the freeze/thaw status. Right-click to apply the setting to a viewport other than the current viewport, or to all viewports. Note: You can freeze a layer in the current viewport while it is thawed in the drawing, but you cannot thaw a layer in the current viewport, if it is frozen in the drawing.
	Replicate in Layergroup Indicates whether the layer is replicated when a new layer group is created with the AMLAYERGROUP command. Click to toggle the replicate status of that layer. Note: AutoCAD Mechanical toolset does not delete any existing layers if you turn off this setting after layer groups have been created.
	Override color by Layergroup Indicates whether the color associated with the layer is overridden by the layer group color, when the layer is part of a layer group. Click to toggle the override status of that layer
	Associated objects Contains the names of the objects that use the layer. This option is applicable only to mechanical layers.
	Description Contains an optional description of the layer or layer definition. Click to enable the ability to change the description for that layer.
Import Imports the layer settings and Automatic Property Management settings from another drawing (.dwg), drawing template (.dwt) or configuration file (.cfg):
Lineweight Mapping Displays the Lineweight Mapping dialog box, which allows you to assign a lineweight to a color and thereby change the lineweight of all layers of that color.
Restore Defaults Resets all settings to the default values for the active drafting standard.