Layer

Manages layer properties.

Layers are a way of organizing objects so you can manipulate them all at once or keep track of them in some way. When objects are on a layer, you can turn them all off at once, change their wireframe display color, and select them all with one selection.

The layer dialog box gives you tools for managing the layers in your model.

To display a shortcut window

To open the Layers dialog box

Layer Toolbar Options

New Layer

Layer names are created with incremented numbers. Edit the layer to change its name. In addition to using the context menu, you can select the layer and click the layer name or press F2. Both of these actions will highlight the layer name so you can type a new one.

Tab key

While editing a layer name, press the Tab key to save the layer and create a new layer. This lets you create multiple layer names more easily.

layer_new_sublayer.png

New Sublayer

Creates a new layer subordinate to the selected layer.

Delete

If a layer you want to delete has objects on it, a warning dialog appears.

Move Up

Move the selected layers up in the list.

Move Down

Move the selected layers down in the list.

layer_move_uponeparent.png

Move Up One Parent

Moves the selected layer up one level in the layer tree structure.

Filters

When a model has a large number of layers, the list of layers may be difficult to manage. Layer filters let you adjust the visibility of the layers in the dialog box. The status of the filter displays in the dialog box title.

Layer Filter Options

All Layers

On Layers

Off Layers

Locked Layers

Unlocked Layers

Layers with Objects

Empty Layers

Selected Layers

Filtered Layers

Allows a custom filter.

Filter Options

Match

Type a string of characters to match the layer name to. You can include wildcard characters:

* = match zero or more characters
? = exactly one character
# = exactly one numeric (0-9) character
& = exactly one alpha (a-z, A-Z) character

Set the layer attributes to match (on, off, or locked, and whether or not there are objects on the layer).

And are:

On

Off

Locked

Unlocked

And have:

Objects

No objects

layer_tools.png

Tools

Select All

Select all layers currently displayed in the list.

Invert selection

Inverts the selection state. All selected layers are unselected and all unselected layers are selected.

Select Objects

Select objects for layer change.

Select Object Layers

Select layers to match selected objects.

Change Object Layer

Change object to selected layer.

Copy Objects to Layer

Copy objects to selected layer.

Collapse All

Hide all child layers.

Expand All

Show all child layers.

Help

Display the Layer Help topic.

To sort the list

To hide or show columns

To change a column width

To edit a layer

Layer Options

Current

A check and shading indicates current layer.

Name

Layer name.

Locked/Unlocked

The layer is visible and you can edit objects on this layer.

The layer is visible, but you cannot edit objects on this layer.

On/Off

The layer is visible and you can see objects on this layer.

The layer is not visible and you cannot see objects on this layer.

Color

The default screen display color for objects on this layer.

Material

The material is the color and other properties used for rendering.

Material Library

The material library is assigned to objects on this layer by default.

Linetype

The linetype assigned to the layer.

Print Color

layer_printcolor.png

The color assigned to the layer for printing only.

Print Width

The line width assigned to the layer for printing only.

Note: Change the properties of individual objects with the Properties command.

To select layers

To edit a layer

Layer context menu options

Set Current

Makes the selected layer current.

Set Properties

On

Off

Lock

Unlock

Color

Material

Linetype

Print Color

Print Width

New Layer

Creates a new layer.

New Sublayer

Creates a new sublayer.

Rename Layer

Renames the current layer.

Delete Layer

Deletes the selected layers.

Select All

Selects all layers currently displayed in the list.

Invert selection

Inverts the selection state. All selected layers are unselected and unselected layers are selected.

Select Objects

Selects objects on the selected layers.

Change Object Layer

Selects objects in the model to change to selected layer.

Copy Objects to Layer

Selects objects to copy to selected layer.

-Layer

Layer.png

Standard > Edit Layers

Layer > Edit Layers

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Edit Layers

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OneLayerOff

Turns off a layer designated by selecting an object on the layer.

Steps:

OneLayerOff.png

Layer > One Layer Off

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > One Layer Off

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OneLayerOn

Turns a specified layer on and all other layers off.

Steps:

-OneLayerOn

OneLayerOn.png

Layer > One Layer On

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > One Layer On

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ChangeLayer

Changes the layer of selected objects.

Steps:

  1. Select the objects.

  2. Select the layer name from the list.

Options

Pick

Select an object to specify the layer.

New

Create a new layer.

Set layer current

Set the selected layer current.

-ChangeLayer

ChangeLayer.png

Layer > Change Object Layer

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Change Object Layer

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ChangeToCurrentLayer

Changes the layer of selected objects to the current layer.

Steps:

_ABlankButton.png

None

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Change Object to Current Layer

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CopyToLayer

Copy selected objects to a specified layer.

Steps:

  1. Select objects.

  2. Select the layer name from the list.

Options

Pick

Select an object to specify the layer.

New

Create a new layer.

Set layer current

Sets the target layer current.

-CopyToLayer

CopyToLayer.png

Layer > Copy Objects to Layer

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Copy Objects to Layer

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MatchLayer

Changes the layer property of selected objects to correspond to the layer property of another selected object.

Steps:

  1. Select the objects for layer change

  2. Select an object on the target layer.

MatchLayer.png

Layer > Match Object Layer (Right click)

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Match Object Layer

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DupLayer

Copies a layer including all layer attributes and geometry.

Steps:

  1. Select a layer name from the list

  2. Type a name for the new layer.

Options

Set the new layer current

DupLayer.png

Layer > Duplicate layer

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Duplicate Layer

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SetLayerToObject

Makes the layer of a selected object the current layer.

Steps:

SetLayerToObject.png

Layer > Set Current Layer to Object (Right click)

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Set Current Layer to Object

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LayerStateManager

Saves the current state of layers to a file or restores the state of layers from a saved file.

Steps:

  1. Set up your layers.

    The Layer State Manager saves the current layer settings.

  2. In the Layer State Manager dialog box, click Save, and then type a name for the configuration.

To restore a layer state

To delete a layer state

To import a layer state from a saved file

To export a layer state to a file

LayerStateManager.png

Layer > Layer state manager

Menu2.png

Edit > Layers > Layer State Manager

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SetLayerLinetype

Sets the linetype option for a specified layer.

Steps:

  1. Type the layer name.

  2. Type the linetype name.

_ABlankButton.png

None

Menu2.png

None

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