‘Capturing’ a viewport?

[will.dameron]

Work has me using Autocad lately, and I can do most of what I need, but one feature that I feel like must exist, I haven’t had any luck getting to work.

i want to make a bunch of different paper space layouts. Each will have a viewport, and each viewport should have only certain layers turned on. But when I turn a layer on or off, it turns it on or off in every single viewport - I don’t want it to do that. Any way to sort of capture a viewport exactly as it is, and when I turn layers on or off it won’t be affected? I’ve tried googling but haven’t found a solution yet. Thanks,,,

[Kent1Cooper · Accepted solution]

You can turn Layers off [actually freeze them -- there's a difference] within individual Viewports with these:

But if you turn off or freeze a Layer in the overall Layer manager, or with the light bulb(s) or sun(s) at left in the image, that's universal, and you can't have it show in some Viewports.

[pendean]

Here is an easy to follow tutorial:
https://resources.imaginit.com/autocad/freezing-layers-in-specific-viewports-with-autocad-based-prog...

[will.dameron]

You guys are awesome! I spent forever googling and never figured that out!

[will.dameron]

Just sat down to actually use this functionality - it works, but is a little awkward. You have to turn on layers the normal way, then go to every single viewport and freeze every layer that you don't want in that individual viewport. There needs to be the exact same functionality, but to TURN ON a layer in an individual viewport. Also a 'lock all layers in this viewport' function would be great. If I ever decide I want to add a layer somewhere, it affects every single viewport and I have to remember to go back to every single one and freeze those layers. I'll have a minimum of 12 viewports, and if say I decide to add a 13th, with an additional layer, I have to go back to the previous 12 and freeze the new layer. Oh well at least I can get it done. Thanks for the help!

[pendean]

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@will.dameron wrote:

... There needs to be the exact same functionality...I'll have a minimum of 12 viewports, and if say I decide to add a 13th, with an additional layer, I have to go back to the previous 12 and freeze the new layer. Oh well at least I can get it done. Thanks for the help!

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That's what VPLAYER command exists for, explore it in HELP.

Also... see the highlighted sections on the page that discuss the ability when the command is used in modelspace when you want to add a layer but keep it from appearing in all of your viewports

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-EB4DA3DA-5466-4D48-9AEC-6828B82BDEF9#:~:text=....

And you can automate it all in LISP too, always could, instead of just using the LAYER palette.

[atGK8NU]

The "In all Viewports except current" option under "VP Freeze Layer" in the right-click menu might be very helpful to you. 

To lock all layers in a viewport, use CTRL + A to select all layers, and click the lock.