The layers dialog lets you manage the layers in this drawing. You can add or delete layers, turn them off, set the current layer and more.
Each layer in the drawing is included in the layer list. The icons in the layer list indicate the current status of each layer.
Each drawing includes ‘Predefined layers‘ that are indicated by the asterisk ( * ) at the end of the layer name. These layers are created to hold objects like line labels and point symbols. You can not delete predefined layers but you can do most other layer functions with them.
Change the properties of the selected layers.
Turning a layer off makes it invisible in the Drawing View. The objects on the layer are recomputed during a drawing regen, but can not be selected with the mouse. Layers that are turned off are not exported to a DXF file.
Freezing a layer makes it invisible in the Drawing View like turning a layer Off. The difference between Off and Freeze is that objects on a frozen layer are not recomputed during a drawing regen. Frozen layers are still exported to a DXF file and will import into CAD with the Frozen flag set.
When you lock a layer, objects on that layer can not be moved or modified. You can still add objects to a locked layer, but once the object is inserted or drawn, it to is locked and can not be moved or modified.
When you ignore a layer, the mouse doesn’t know when it is over any object on the layer. As a result, objects on an ignored layer can not be selected.
When you have objects, very close to each other, the objects overlap, making it hard or impossible to select just the objects you want. Ignoring the layers of the objects you don’t want makes it easier to select the objects you do want.
When you isolate a layer, TPC turns off all other layers, drawing just the isolated layer in the drawing. When you restore layers, TPC returns the layers to their state prior to the isolation. You will see that change in the drawing when you select these options.
Clip / unclip the selected layers to the drawings clip object.
These buttons change the drawing order of the selected layers.
Move the selected layers all the way to the front / back of the drawing.
Moves the selected layers backward or forward in the drawing. You will see that change in the drawing when you select these options.
The current layer is displayed above the layer list. To change the current layer, highlight the layer you want and choose Current. Predefined layers can not be chosen as the current layer.
Rename the selected layer. TPC displays a small dialog with the current layer name so you can edit it.
You can add up to 200 of your own layers. These are sometimes called ‘User’ layers as opposed to ‘Predefined’ layers. You will give the new layer a layer name and then treat it like any other layer. You can make it the current layer and add objects to it, turn if off, freeze it, lock it, etc.
User layers are assigned a layer ID between 50 and 254 inclusive. The layer ID is not displayed in this dialog but is used to relate objects in a drawing file to their appropriate User layers.
You can delete any User layer that does contain any objects. Just highlight one or more layers and choose Delete. If you select a layer that does not qualify for deleting, the Layers dialog simply displays a message telling you that one or more layers could not be deleted.
Select all the layers. The next operation you perform in the dialog will affect all layers.
Close this dialog.
Choose this option to convert the selected layer objects to survey points. See Converting Drawing Objects to Survey
Turn on this option to include the number of objects in each layer. The object count is appended to the layer.
Click this button to show or hide the by-layer settings for the selected layers.
The color of each layer is displayed as a small rectangle in the layer list. To change colors, highlight one or more layers and select a Color.
The line type of each layer is displayed in the layer list. To change line types, highlight one or more layers and select a Line Type.
The line width (also called Pen Width) of each layer is displayed in the layer list. To change the change the line width, highlight one or more layers and choose a Line Width.
Many of the operations in this dialog can be performed right in the drawing by right-clicking an object on the layer you want to modify.
For instance, You can freeze any layer by right-clicking an object on that layer then choosing Layer Tools | Freeze.
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