What does this status symbol mean in Layer Properties window?

[hannahwicki]

Please see attached snip of the layer properties. For the (2) layers shown in the middle, the rhombus shape is a different color compared to the other layers. What does this mean? And how can I change it? Note that these layers are part of an x-ref.

In my drawing, objects within these x-ref'd layers are not displaying in my floor plans. I need to make these objects visible. Your help is appreciated!

[BeKirra]

Sorry, I did not look at your screenshot as Windows blocks the link.

You can always click the icons in "ON" column to turn on the desire layer(s).

Hope this helps.

[Kent1Cooper]

Help is your friend:

[pendean]

@hannahwicki Are you new yo AutoCAD if I may ask? and/or XREFs by chance?

1) The well-defined shape to the left of the layer name simply means your layer has content on it: the fuzzy icon means your layer is "empty", although in AutoCAD that can be a relative word.

2) if you cannot see objects on layers, then you need to thaw/turn on ALL layers then pan/zoom around to look for those objects.

[hannahwicki]

Thanks for this info! I'm experienced in AutoCAD and x'refs -- haven't had this situation come up.

So this layer has objects in it; and the layer is on, it's not frozen, and it's unlocked. What do you mean "empty" can be a relative word in AutoCAD? Maybe that's a lead for me...

[hannahwicki]

This my new mantra: "help is my friend." lol Thanks for this, I learned something new. 

However, this layer has objects in it and the objects are visible, so I don't understand why it would say it's empty.

[pendean]

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@hannahwicki wrote:

Thanks for this info! I'm experienced in AutoCAD and x'refs -- haven't had this situation come up.

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@hannahwicki Good to know: wondering why you've never seen these before today though, nothing new there if you are talking about these

Her is what I meant:

1) You have a BLOCK that is on layer A.
2) But the elements inside that block are on layer B.

3) The LAYER palette will show layer B as empty, layer A as containing objects. But when you try and delete layer B AutoCAD refuses, telling you it's not empty.

When you cannot DELETE a layer, then you can always just MERGE it with one you want to keep around, like layer 0

HTH

[sragan]

Ok, but what does the status symbol next to the matchline layer mean?

And "help" is no help, because it doesn't show this symbol.

Hmmm.... it only has that symbol in one viewport window.  Model space and other viewports show a regular "layer that has objects" symbol.  ACAD 2022 by the way.

[cadffm]

Hi,

there is an Layerproperties overwrite.

A viewport layer property that doesn't match the original layer properties.

(VP Color, VP Linetype, VP Lineweight or VP transparency)

And the green hook means, this is the current Layer

[aperez3JKUQ]

Hi, what do you mean by Layerproperties overwrite? I tried changing all those properties and it still doesn't show in the viewport or plot, Model space and other viewports show a regular (as a dashed line)

[pendean]

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@aperez3JKUQ wrote:

Hi, what do you mean by Layerproperties overwrite?...

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Start here for an overview (product HELP):

https://help.autodesk.com/view/ACD/2025/ENU/?guid=GUID-04F71808-2FFA-4BFE-A3C5-7FD418A63B4C

Then explore more specific tips on that page at the bottom: