Selecting one layer for viewport

[kerrylyon01]

Hi all

I have a drawing with approx 80 layers, one of which is the lighting and circuit layer. This is frozen on the model space. I have created a viewport with the kitchen cabinetry plan and would like to create a separate layout page with the same plan but only showing the lighting layer. This is so that I can print it on tracing paper and overlay it. Should I be using isolate/vp freeze on the lighting layout page? Should I unfreeze the lighting layer in the model space beforehand? 

When I create this new layout the lighting layer will not display unless I unfreeze the layer in the model space first. What am I doing wrong?!

[rkmcswain]

Layers can be visible or invisible on a per viewport basis, using the VPLAYER command.

[cadffm · Accepted solution]

Hi,

the simple rule:

All layers of all objects you like to see wherever in the file (model, layout1...layout99) have to be ON and THAWED.

You can hide objects in layout viewports by VP Freeze.

That's all.

[kerrylyon01]

Thanks for taking time to reply.

Thanks for sharing this rule. It seems illogical that I can't just set which layers I want to print within each viewport without having to have all the layers turned on in the model. So any time I want to print I need to make sure all the layers are visible and thawed in the model space and just set the viewports up individually.

[pendean]

---

@kerrylyon01 wrote:

Thanks for taking time to reply.

Thanks for sharing this rule. It seems illogical that I can't just set which layers I want to print within each viewport without having to have all the layers turned on in the model. So any time I want to print I need to make sure all the layers are visible and thawed in the model space and just set the viewports up individually.

---

That's how AutoCAD works: MODEL space is the "master" where all layers need to stay on/thawed all the time, layout viewports are the "slave" where your individual custom layer needs to each are set under the VP-columns in LAYER command while inside each viewport.

- Most of use create predefined layouts with predefined viewport layer settings in template files then add to project DWG files when needed.

- And just as many users prefer using LAYERSTATE command to create layers "scenes" to call when needed to do the same too.

- And even more users just rely on custom created SCRIPTs (or LISP) to do the same.

All three above do require pre-planning, but then automation and easy-of-use become a reality day to day.

HTH

[freddcad425]

If it helps any, you can lock the layer in model. And then somewhere in your settings you can adjust the visibility of the locked layer so it's at least somewhat faded.

[h_s_walker]

@freddcad425  You can do both of those

There is an icon (ringed in the image below) which locks layers or at the command line you can type LAYLCK. To change the transparency of the locked layer at the command line type LAYLCKFADECTL and change the number there.