This tutorial demonstrates how to use point groups, layers, external references, and styles to display points. It also explains the various ways to edit points using standard AutoCAD tools.
You can use point groups to organize points and to control their appearance in a drawing. While points are independent objects that do not have to be categorized into specific point groups, every point in a drawing is always part of the _All Points point group. The point group display order determines which point group’s properties take precedence. For example, if a point belongs to a point group that is higher in the display order than the _All Points point group, the higher group’s properties override the properties set in the _All Points point group.
The point layer controls the display attributes of the point. To see this, open the Point Group Properties dialog box, click the Point List tab, and look at the Point Layer column. This column also appears in the Prospector list view when the point group is selected. The point layer can be assigned by using a description key. If a point layer is not assigned during creation, points are placed on the default point layer specified in the drawing settings.
An external reference drawing (xref) is a useful way to see points in relation to other surface features without adding these features to your drawing. You can reference another drawing and make it appear as an underlay in your current drawing. Then, you can detach the external drawing when you no longer need it.
Changing the point or label style of a point group can help you distinguish these points more easily from other points in the drawing.
Each point is an object that can be individually selected and manipulated. Point objects have commands, property attributes, and grip behavior that are similar to other AutoCAD entities.