topic Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible in AutoCAD Forum

Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

takashi_takei — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 02:50:05 GMT

Hello. I'm a beginner at AutoCAD, as I have been using Rhino and other CAD softwares.

I want to prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible, just as Rhino,

as I'm losing a lot of time because of it.

Does anyone know the solution...?

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

Kent1Cooper — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 10:23:09 GMT

This is another topic that comes up repeatedly. You will find many threads about it, with some Searching.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

pendean — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 13:06:10 GMT

@takashi_takei You'll need to use different CAD programs then, not an option in this AutoCAD golden oldie.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

pkolarik — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 13:22:29 GMT

I don't have an actual solution for you, but depending on what purpose you're creating your selection set for, including locked-layer items in your selection set won't hurt anything as you won't be able to actually do anything with the locked items. So if you're selecting objects for a command like "move", "erase", etc., it's fine to include those objects in your selection set.

"ERASE 2 found
1 was on a locked layer."

However, if you want to get various bits of info out of your selection set (like via the Properties box), then including the locked-layer objects is a problem.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

rafael4AHFJ — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:43:27 GMT

When you accidentally select a locked layers on a HATCH group, it tries to hatch it.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

Kent1Cooper — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:29:18 GMT

@rafael4AHFJ wrote:

When you accidentally select a locked layers on a HATCH group, it tries to hatch it.

... and barring other problems such as no closed boundary, I assume it succeeds.

Locking a Layer in AutoCAD means only that things on it can't be modified or removed. Hatching doesn't change the object(s) used to define the boundary, so there's no reason they can't be on locked Layers.

There are other reasons why something on a locked Layer should still be available for selection and/or Object-snapping -- as TRIM cutting edges, as EXTEND boundary edges, as reference locations for MOVE or COPY, as boundaries in PRESSPULL, as Paths for EXTRUDE or SWEEP or ARRAY, etc. You will find it all, including an ill-advised workaround, discussed in multiple threads -- see Message 2.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

pendean — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 13:40:19 GMT

@rafael4AHFJ wrote:
When you accidentally select a locked layers on a HATCH group, it tries to hatch it.

What you want does not exist. Sorry.

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

jreidKVSUZ — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 14:24:07 GMT

No problem. If you select your "Locked" layer objects when selecting what you want hatched, just type R (for remove) and select the "Locked" layered objects you don't want to be included in your hatch selection. You still can use C for crossing, or W for windowing, or just pick them individually to be removed. Hit enter and bam... your now hatched what you wanted to hatch and the locked layers did not affect your hatching.

Other then that, Mr. Pendean is right, it does not exist otherwise in AutoCAD.

Hope this helps!

Thanks, JRR!!

Re: Prevent objects on a locked layer from being selected while keeping it visible

Kent1Cooper — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 15:11:24 GMT

@jreidKVSUZ wrote:

... just type R (for remove) and select the "Locked" layered objects you don't want to be included ....

[Or, just hold down the Shift key while you pick things, including Window and Crossing and Lasso selection, and they will be removed from the selection set. No explicit option designation is required.]