Layer by entity

Menu: Express > Layer by entity

Keyboard: LAYBYENT

Allows you to select an entity to control the current layer, freeze/thaw, on/off, lock/unlock, or viewport layer settings.

Freeze/Off/Lock/Unlock/VPDFreeze/VPDThaw/VPFreeze (Set): To select an entity and set its layer as the current layer, choose Set. To select an entity and freeze its layer, choose Freeze. To select an entity and turn its layer off, choose OFF. To select an entity and lock or unlock its layer, choose Lock or Unlock. To select an entity and freeze or thaw its layer by default for new viewports, choose VPDFreeze or VPDThaw. To select an entity and freeze its viewport layer, choose VPFreeze (available in paperspace only).

To select an entity and set its layer as the current layer

Choose Set.

Select an entity to set the current layer: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to set as current. The current layer is displayed in angle brackets.

To select an entity and turn its layer off

Choose Off.

Select an entity to turn off a layer for all viewports: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to turn off.

When a layer is turned on, you can draw and edit entities, and all entities on the layer will print. When a layer is turned off, those entities are invisible. You can edit entities (including erasing them) on layers that are turned off, but we recommend that you freeze and thaw layers, rather than turn them on and off.

To select an entity and lock or unlock its layer

Choose Lock or Unlock.

Select an entity to lock/unlock a layer: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to lock or unlock.

You can see a layer that is locked, but you cannot edit it, and you cannot draw new entities on a locked layer.

To select an entity and freeze its layer

Choose Freeze.

Select an entity to freeze a layer: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to freeze.

A layer that is frozen does not display or print. Freezing and thawing layers is usually helpful for long periods or time; for shorter periods of time, turn layers on and off.

To select an entity and freeze or thaw its layer by default for new viewports

Choose VPDFreeze or VPDThaw.

Select an entity to freeze/thaw a layer by default for new viewports: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to freeze or thaw by default when a new viewport is created.

To select an entity and freeze its viewport layer

Choose VPFreeze. This option is available only when you are working in paperspace.

Select an entity to freeze a layer in the current viewport: Select the entity that is on the layer you want to freeze for the viewport.

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