1. Sacramento City College EDT 310
Layer Filters
Sacramento City College
EDT 310
EDT Layer Filters

2. Layer Filters
In some applications, a large number of layer names are used to assist in drawing information management.
Having all layer names showing at the same time in the layer list can make it more difficult to work with your drawing layers.
Time consuming
Confusing
EDT Layer Filters

3. EDT Layer Filters

4. Layer Filters Layer filters Example:
Allow you to reduce the list to a subset of the entire layer list.
Example:
You could make filters to display only layers that are
Thawed
Only RED in color
Only layers that contain the word Furniture
EDT Layer Filters

5. Layer Filters
When working with drawings containing a large number of layers
Using filters can improve your productivity
Filters allow you to reduce the number of names in the layer list.
You can create multiple layer filters
EDT Layer Filters

6. Layer Filters The Filters area
On the left side of the Layer Properties Manager
EDT Layer Filters

7. Layer Filters You can create hierarchical filters
“Groups within groups”
Filters created are listed under the All
EDT Layer Filters

8. Layer Filters You can create two types of filters: Group Filters
Static filter
Properties Filters
Dynamic filter
EDT Layer Filters

9. Layer Filters
If any Xrefs are used in the drawing, AutoCAD automatically creates a filter for each Xref drawing and displays the list under the Xref heading.
EDT Layer Filters

10. Layer Filters You can click on any group of layers in the Filter Tree
Only layers in that group will be displayed.
Invert filter
Causes the list to be display all but the filter list.
EDT Layer Filters

11. Customizing the Layer Listing
Default choices in the Layer Tree include:
All
All Used Layers
EDT Layer Filters

12. Customizing the Layer Listing
Layer Filter Choices include: All
Is the Default option.
Shows all defined layer names.
EDT Layer Filters

13. Layer Filters
You can control the visibility and lock setting for an entire group of layers
Right-click, choose
Visibility Option
On, Off, Thaw, Freeze, Lock, Unlock
EDT Layer Filters

14. Layer Filters Isolate Group
Freezes all layers except those in the group.
Displays only the group layers in the drawing.
Careful!
There is NO “un-isolate” option
There is no UNDO.
EDT Layer Filters

15. Creating Group Filters
Layer Filters

16. Creating Group Filters
To create a new Group Filter
Pick the New Group Filter button Or
Right-click in the filter tree area
Select New Group Filter
Give a new name to the Group Filter
Pick “All” to show all the layers.
Layer Filters

17. Creating Group Filters
You can add layers to your Group filter two ways.
1. Drag and drop layers from the Layer List to new Group Filter to add them to the filter.
2. You can highlight the layers you want
Right-click and pick Select Layers from the shortcut menu.
EDT Layer Filters

18. Creating Group Filters
A layer can be removed from the Group Filter.
Right-click
Choose “Remove Layer”.
Layers can be replaced by other layers
Pick Replace from the Select Layers
Allows you to select objects on the layer to replace all other layers in the group filter.
Layer Filters

19. Activating Layer Filters
To activate filter
Select the filter from the filter tree area
Layer Filters

20. Activating Layer Filters
To activate filter
Select the filter from the filter tree area
Layer Filters

21. Inverting Layer Filters
Layer filter settings can be inverted.
Think of “inverted” as “opposite”
Pick the “invert filter” check box located in the lower-left corner or
right-click in the layer list area and select
Invert Layer Filter.
Layer Filters

22. Layer Filters

23. Layer Filters

24. Additional Layer Filter Options
Right-click the filter tree view area
Most options are available for all filters.
Some are only filter-specific.
Layer Filters

25. Additional Layer Filter Options
Visibility
Lock
Viewport
Isolate Group
New Properties Filter
New Group Filter
Convert to Group Filter
Rename
Delete
Properties
Select layers
Layer Filters

26. Additional Layer Filter Options
Visibility
Allows you to change the on/off and thawed/frozen states of the unfiltered layers.
Lock
Locks or unlocks the filtered layers.
Viewport
Allows you to freeze or thaw the unfiltered layers in the current layout viewport.
Layer Filters

27. Additional Layer Filter Options
Isolate Group
Freezes all layers except those associated with the filter and the current layer.
Layer Filters

28. Additional Layer Filter Options
New Properties Filter
Opens the Layer Filter Properties dialog box.
New Group Filer
Creates a new group filter
Convert to Group Filter
Converts a property filter to a group filter.
Layer Filters

29. Additional Layer Filter Options
Rename
Allows you to rename the selected filter.
Delete
Deletes the selected filter
Properties
Allows you to edit a property filter
Select Layers
Provides option to add or replace layers in an existing group filter.
Layer Filters

30. Creating a Properties Filter
EDT Layer Filters

31. Creating Layer Filters
Property Filter
Filters layers according to specific layer properties.
Layer Name
Layer color
Layer linetype, etc.
All layers that are turned on
All layer names beginning with “A”
All layer names that contain “1st floor”
Layer Filters

32. Layer Filters

33. Creating Layer Filters
Property Filter
Example: A property filter can filter all layers that are
Turned on.
Have a name beginning with the letter A
Or both
The default ALL Used Layers filter is an example of a property filter.
Layer Filters

34. Creating Layer Filters
Group Filter
Is created by adding layers to the filter without defining individual layer properties.
Example
To filter all layers used to draw an electrical plan, drag and drop the electrical layers into the group filter,
instead of
using properties, such as all layer names beginning with the letter E.
Layer Filters

35. Creating Layer Filters
Properties filters are dynamic
Group filters are static
Property Filters can be converted to Group Filters
Right-click on the filter name
Select Convert to Group
Only layers that currently match the properties are included in the new group filter.
EDT Layer Filters

36. Layer Filters

37. Creating Properties Filter
Layer Filters

38. Creating a Properties Filter
A properties filter is a group of layers that contain the properties that match the properties you specify in the Filter Definition.
A property could be:
Color, linetype, lineweight
ON/OFF status, Freeze/Thaw status
Lock/Unlock status
Specific characters in the Layer Name.
EDT Layer Filters

39. Creating Properties Filter
Creating a Property Filter
Pick New Property Filter Or
Right-click the filter tree area
Select “New Properties Filter” menu option.
The Layer Filter Properties dialog box is displayed.
Layer Filters

40. Creating a Properties Filter
EDT Layer Filters

41. Layer Filters

42. Layer Filters

43. Creating Properties Filter
Name the filter
Layer Filters

44. Creating Properties Filter
Multiple properties can be selected
Notice that filter takes effect immediately.
Any of the layer settings fields can be selected.
Linetype
Color
Lineweight
Characters in Layer Name.
Layer Filters

45. Creating Properties Filter
Filter options that are available for each setting:
Status
Use to display
the names of all layers
Used layers only
Unused layers only
Layer Filters

46. Creating Properties Filter
Name
Text edit box
Can type in a layer name or a partial layer name.
Wild cards can be used
Asterisk
Matches all characters
Layer Filters

47. Layer Filters

48. Creating Properties Filter
EDT Layer Filters

49. Creating Properties FilterOn
Displays only the names of layers that are on Or
Only layers that are off.
Freeze
Display only frozen layers
Thawed layers only
Layer Filters

50. Creating Properties Filter
Lock
Only layers that are locked Or
Unlocked
Layer Filters

51. Creating Properties Filter
Color
Type a color name Or
Pick the ellipses button to select a color from the Select Color dialog box.
Layer Filters

52. Creating Properties Filter
Linetype
Type a linetype Or
Pick the ellipses button to select a linetype from the Select Linetype dialog box.
Lineweight
Type a lineweight
Pick the ellipses button to select a lineweight from the Select Lineweight dialog box.
Layer Filters

53. Creating Properties Filter
Plot Style
Type a Plot Style or
Pick the ellipses button to select a Plot Style from the Select Plotstyle dialog box.
Layer Filters

54. Creating Properties Filter
Plot
Pick layers that plot or
Pick layers that do not plot.
New VP Freeze
Display only frozen or thawed layers applied when a new layout viewport is created.
This option is only available in Paper Space
Layer Filters

55. Creating Properties Filter
Other layer filter options that appear only in Paper Space mode
VP Freeze
VP Color
VP Linetype
VP Lineweight
VP Plot Style
Layer Filters

56. Creating Properties Filter
Simple or complex filters can be created
One or more rows can be inserted.
Layer Filters

57. Layer Filters

58. Layer States
Layer Filters

59. Layer States
A layer state is a combination of layer settings that can be
Saved and
Later restored.
Layer states differ from layer filters.
Filters only allow you to stave short lists of layers.
A layer state saves all the visibility and properties settings for all the layers in the drawing
Layer Filters

60. Layer States
The status of layer settings for all layers in the drawing can be saved as a layer state.
Saving multiple layer states allows you to quickly reset particular
On/off
Freeze/Thaw combinations
To improve your efficiency working with particular groups of layers.
EDT Layer Filters

61. Layer States For example: Use the Layers Properties manager to
Turn on/off layers as desired
Use the Layer States Manager to
Assign a name to this current layer settings
Save the settings
The Layer State can be recalled at any time regardless of what the current layer settings are.
EDT Layer Filters

62. Layer States Note: Create a “normal settings” layer state (!)
Where layers are in the “normal positions”
This way, you can quickly restore the layer settings to their normal positions, no matter what changes are made subsequently.
EDT Layer Filters

63. Layer States A layer state can be recalled at any time.
Layer states can be saved
in the Layer States Manager.
Button is on the Layers Toobar.
Layer Filters

64. Layer States
Layer Filters

65. New Layer State Type a name for the new layer state.
Enter an optional description.
Pick OK to save new layer state.
Layer Filters

66. Layer States After Layer State has been created
Adjustments to layer properties as required can be made.
Layer Filters

67. Layer States
Layer Filters

68. Layer Filters

69. Layer States Options available in Layer States Manager Layer States
Save
Edit
Rename
Delete
Import
Export
Don’t list layer states in Xrefs
Restore Options
Layer Filters

70. Layer States Options available in Layer States Manager Layer States
Lists saved layer states
Name
Space
Indicates whether the layer state was saved in model space or in paper space.
Same as DWG
Indicates whether the layer state is the same as the current layer properties.
Yes No
Layer Filters

71. Layer States Save Resaves layer state
Overrides the selected layer state according to the current layer properties
Layer Filters

72. Layer States
Edit – Edit Layer State
Layer Filters

73. Layer States Edit – Edit Layer State Remove Layer from Layer State
Can adjust layer properties without exiting the Layer States manager
Remove Layer from Layer State
Can be used to delete a layer from the layer state.
Add Layer to Layer State
Can be used to add a layer to the layer state.
Layer Filters

74. Layer States
Import
Allows you to select an LAS file containing an existing layer state.
Layer Filters

75. Layer States
Import
Allows you to select an LAS file containing an existing layer state.
Pick the Layer State
Pick Restore
Layer Filters

76. Layer States Export Saves Layer State as an LAS file
LAS file can be imported into other drawings.
Allows sharing of layer states between drawings containing identical layers.
Layer Filters

77. Layer States Don’t list layer states in Xrefs Restore
Select if you do not want to display layer states associated with external reference drawings.
Restore
Check Box: Turn off layers not found in layer states
Turns off new layers or layers removed from a layer state when the layer state is restored.
Layer Filters