1. EDT 310 - AutoCAD Layers1 Using AutoCAD Layers Sacramento City College EDT 310

2. EDT 310 - Chapter 42 Introduction to Layers

3. EDT 310 - Chapter 43 Introduction To Layers u In manual drafting, details of a design are separated by placing them on different sheets. u This is called overlay or pin drafting u Each overlay is perfectly aligned with the others. u All of the layers can be reproduced to reflect the entire design. u Individual layers may be reproduced to show specific details.

4. EDT 310 - Chapter 44 Introduction To Layers u In AutoCAD, overlays are called layers u The use of layers increases productivity. u Specific information can be grouped by layer. u Drawings can be reproduced by layer or combined in any sequence desired. u Each layer can be assigned a different color to improve clarity.

5. EDT 310 - Chapter 45 Introduction To Layers u Each layer can be plotted in a different color or pen width. u Selected layers can be turned on or off, or frozen to decrease information clutter. u Changes can be made to a layer promptly.

6. EDT 310 - Chapter 46 Layers Used by Field u Mechanical drafting u The following may be placed on separate layers: u views u hidden features u dimensions u sections u notes u symbols

7. EDT 310 - Chapter 47 Layers Used by Field u Architectural Drafting u Drawings usually contain over 100 layers u Floor plan layer u Foundation plan layer u Partition layout layer u Plumbing layer u Electrical layer u Structural layer u Roof drainage layer u HVAC systems layer

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11. EDT 310 - Chapter 411 Layers Used by Field u Interior Design Drafting u floor plan layer u interior partition layer u furniture layer

12. EDT 310 - Chapter 412 Layers Used by Field u Electronics Drafting u Circuit boards have multiple layers to conduct electricity to different components. u Each layer of a circuit board is drawn on a different layer.

13. EDT 310 - Chapter 413 Setting Linetype by Layer u AutoCAD allows you to select a linetype for each layer. u Any item drawn on that layer would be assigned that linetype

14. EDT 310 - Chapter 414 The “O” Layer u AutoCAD uses Layer 0 as the default layer u It has a continuous linetype. u The ZERO layer or “0” layer is a special layer. u The “0” layer should be kept empty. u It is reserved for creating BLOCKS.

15. EDT 310 - Chapter 415 The “O” Layer u Create the layer FIRST. u MOVE to that layer. u THEN, draw objects on the new layer. u Do not draw objects on Layer 0.

16. EDT 310 - Chapter 416 Naming Layers u Name Layers to reflect what is on the layer. u Examples of good layer names: u 1stFL_PLAN u 1stFL_ELECTRICAL u 1stFL_MECHANICAL

17. EDT 310 - Chapter 417 Naming Layers u Name Layers to reflect what is on the layer. u Examples of poor layer names: u LAYER1 u LAYER2 u LAYER3

18. EDT 310 - Chapter 418 Naming Layers u Layer names can have up to 31 characters u Layer names can include u Letters. u Numbers. u Special characters. u Layer names cannot include / \ | * ? ; or :

19. EDT 310 - Chapter 419 LAYER Command u Access the LAYER command by: u 1. Typing LA or LAYER at the Command: prompt. u OR u 2. Select the Layers button on the Object Properties toolbar. u OR u 3. Select Layer from the Format pull-down menu.

20. EDT 310 - Chapter 420 LAYER Command u The only layer present in a new drawing is the 0 Layer. u Add Layers as needed. u To ADD a layer pick the New button u A new layer listing appears using the default name of Layer 1.

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23. EDT 310 - Chapter 423 LAYER Command u You can enter several new layers at the same time. u Entering several layer names at the same time is faster than entering them individually.

24. EDT 310 - Chapter 424 Setting a New Current Layer u You can set a new current layer by u 1. Highlighting the layer name in the layer list u Picking the Current: button. u OR u 2. Double-clicking on the layer.

25. EDT 310 - Chapter 425 Viewing Layer Status u The status of each layer is displayed with icons to the right of the layer name. u ToolTips indicate what each icon represents. u Changing layer name. u Turning layers on/off. u Thawing/freezing layers. u Thawing/freezing layers in viewports. u Unlocked and locked layers. u Layer color. u Layer linetype.

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29. EDT 310 - Chapter 429 Selecting Multiple Layers u Several layers can be selected at once in the layer dialog box. u Hold [Shift] to select layers contiguously. u Hold [Ctrl] to select multiple layers individually, NOT contiguously.

30. EDT 310 - Chapter 430 Shift

31. EDT 310 - Chapter 431 Ctrl

32. EDT 310 - Chapter 432 Setting the Layer Color u Layers are coded by name and number u 1red u 2yellow u 3green u 4cyan u 5blue u 6magenta u 7white u Memorize these numbers/colors.

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34. EDT 310 - Chapter 434 Setting the Layer Color u Color settings affect the appearance of plotted drawings. u Plotter pen widths are associated with drawing color. u Color = line width u Color = pen weight u The colors you use must correspond to the proper pen widths.

35. EDT 310 - Chapter 435 Setting the Layer Color u For this class, use u Thin LinesWhite OR (text, guidelinesYellow u Object LinesCyan OR u (medium thickness)Green OR u Magenta u Thick LinesBlue OR u (thickest)Red

36. EDT 310 - Chapter 436 Setting/Changing Linetype Assignments

37. EDT 310 - Chapter 437 Setting the Layer Linetype u AutoCAD linetypes are listed on Page 156 of the text. u Linetype assignments to a layer can be changed. u All entities drawn on that layer would be that line type u Center u Hidden u Continuous

38. EDT 310 - Chapter 438 Setting the Layer Linetype u To change a linetype for a layer. u Pick the layer you want to change u Pick its linetype.

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40. EDT 310 - Chapter 440 Click on the word “Continuous” to select a linetype for this layer

41. EDT 310 - Chapter 441 Changing Linetype Assignments u The first time you use this dialog box only the Continuous linetype will be displayed u You need to load any other linetypes to be used in the drawing.

42. EDT 310 - Chapter 442 The first time you use this dialog box only the Continuous linetype will be displayed

43. EDT 310 - Chapter 443 Click on the word “Load” to access other line types.

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45. EDT 310 - Chapter 445 Loading Linetypes u 1. Pick the Load button to display the Load or Reload Linetypes dialog box. u 2. Select the file where the linetypes are stored “ACAD.LIN”. u AutoCAD stores line types in the file ACAD.LIN u 3. Select the linetypes to load u 4. Pick OK. u You can also double-click on a linetype to select it.

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48. EDT 310 - Chapter 448 Changing Layers

49. EDT 310 - Chapter 449 Quickly Setting a Layer Current u Use the Layer Control drop-down list located in Object Properties to quickly change to another layer. u Pick the name of the layer and that layer is set current. u The dialog box automatically closes. u You can also use CLAYER command

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52. EDT 310 - Chapter 452 Making Object’s Layer Current

53. EDT 310 - Chapter 453 Making Object’s Layer Current u You can select an object on the drawing and have the layer of that object become current.

54. EDT 310 - Chapter 454 Making Object’s Layer Current u 1. Select Make Object’s Layer Current in the Object Properties toolbar u 2. Select the object u AutoCAD then displays a prompt “PLUMBING is now the current layer” giving the name of the layer on which the object you selected was on.

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56. EDT 310 - Chapter 456 Changing Object Layers Easy Way

57. EDT 310 - Chapter 457 Changing Object Layers u Always draw objects on appropriate layers first. u Select the CORRECT layer first. u THEN, draw the object. u If objects are drawn on the wrong layer, they can be: u Moved from one layer to another.

58. EDT 310 - Chapter 458 Changing Object Layers u To change object from one layer to another: u 1. Select the object u 2. Select the desired Layer from the Layers button in the Object Properties toolbar u The object is moved to the selected layer.

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62. EDT 310 - Chapter 462 Changing Object Layers The Hard Time Consuming Way - The DDMODIFY Command

63. EDT 310 - Chapter 463 Changing Object Layers u DDMODIFY u Tells you EVERYTHING about a particular drawing entity. u Often it is TOO MUCH information. u Has a SMALL close box u Cumbersome to use.

64. EDT 310 - Chapter 464 Changing Object Layers u DDMODIFY can be used to change object from one layer to another u 1. Select the Properties button in the Object Properties toolbar u OR u Select Properties from the Modify pull- down menu u OR u Type “DDMODIFY” or “MO” u 2. Select the object. u A dialog box appears that relates to the specific object you selected.

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68. EDT 310 - Chapter 468 Overriding Layer Settings

69. EDT 310 - Chapter 469 Overriding Layer Settings u Color and linetype settings reference layer settings by default. u The “BYLAYER” setting on the Object Properties toolbar.

70. EDT 310 - Chapter 470 Overriding Layer Settings u When you create a layer, you also establish a color and a linetype to go with that layer, the ByLayer setting. u ANY SETTING except BYLAYER is an override.

71. EDT 310 - Chapter 471 Overriding Layer Settings u AutoCAD offers the user tremendous flexibility. u You can make any object any color u You can make any layer any color u You can make any object any linetype u You can make any layer any linetype

72. EDT 310 - Chapter 472 Overriding Layer Settings u You can override the current object color. u All objects created will be drawn with the color of the overrride setting. u Layer settings will have NO effect. u THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED !

73. EDT 310 - Chapter 473 Overriding Layer Settings u 1. BYLAYER setting result u Layer SettingObject Appearance u REDRED u CONTINUOUSCONTINUOUS u 2. Override setting result u Overrides set to Color = GREEN; Linetype = HIDDEN u Layer SettingObject Appearance u REDGREEN u CONTINUOUSHIDDEN

74. EDT 310 - Chapter 474 Overriding the Current Object Color u Select the Color Control drop-down list from the Object Properties toolbar. u Select the color you wish.

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76. EDT 310 - Chapter 476 Overriding the Current Object Color u Once an absolute color is specified, u All objects created are drawn in the specified color, u REGARDLESS of the current layer settings.

77. EDT 310 - Chapter 477 Overriding the Current Object Color u The system variable that controls color is u CEColor u CEColor stands for current entity color. u Setting the CELType variable from the Command: prompt u Command: CECOLOR u New value for CECOLOR : (enter new color value) u THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED !

78. EDT 310 - Chapter 478 Overriding the Current Object Linetype u You can override the current object linetype u All objects created will be drawn with the linetype of the overrride setting. u Layer settings will have no effect. u This is similar to setting the color different from the layer settings.

79. EDT 310 - Chapter 479 Overriding the Current Object Linetype u The variable that controls linetype is u CELType u CELType stands for current entity color. u Setting the CELType variable from the Command: prompt u 1. Command: CELType u 2. New value for CELTYPE : (enter new linetype value). u 3. Select the linetype you wish.

80. EDT 310 - Chapter 480 Overriding the Current Object Linetype u Once an absolute linetype is specified, all objects created are drawn in the specified linetype, REGARDLESS of the current layer settings. u THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED !