Layers and Layouts

[KevinMacDonald]

Within a layout I often want a certain set of layers to be visible with others turned off. And then for another layout I may want a different set of layers visible. But then, when I'm in model space I am arbitrarily turning layers on and off to suit my current drawing needs. It makes no sense to me that changing the visibility of a layer in model space impacts all of my layouts! Is there a way to fix the visibility of layers for a given layout?

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> It makes no sense to me that changing the visibility of a layer in model space impacts all of my layouts!

Otherwise you would not have any chance to turn off the visibility of one layer with one action for the global drawing/all layouts, e.g. help layer.

Make one command that thaws all layers and turn them on before plotting, that's it. Another option is to save layer states, also one command to switch between predefined layer settings.

- alfred -

[doni49]

Have a look at VPFreeze.  With this, you can freeze a layer in one VP but not in others.

EDIT:  I meant to include this image.

[Kent1Cooper]

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@KevinMacDonald wrote:

Within a layout I often want a certain set of layers to be visible with others turned off. And then for another layout I may want a different set of layers visible. ....

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By "within a layout" do you mean in paper space there, or in a Viewport there, looking into model space?  If the latter, the VPLAYER thing is what you want, controlling which model-space Layers are visible within each Viewport, independently of all other Viewports.  If the former, I don't think you can control them separately except with some additional step beyond simply moving from one layout to another, such as menu items to restore Layer States or the like.  [It might be doable with a reactor, but I'm not versed in those.]

[doni49]

Before posting my reply, I tried it.  I was able to VPfreeze individual layers in both modelviews (on a layout) and in paperspace (also on a layout).  But for this to work, you really don't want to be turning things off in the Model tab.  If you really need to, a possible work around would be to create a new layout called MSpace (or whatever you want to call it).

Don't worry about placing a title block or anything else in paperspace.  The layout tab would contain one vport that is large enough to see the entire site.  Make this VP active (so that you can zoom/pan within it).  Edits you make here will also be shown anywhere else that portion of modelspace is shown but you can freeze layers here as needed without effecting other viewports.