Issue with Layer 0 and Color Display in Civil 3D Drawing

[michelle_ghosbditghosn]

I have noticed an inconsistency related to the display of Layer 0 and its associated color.

When I click anywhere on the screen that is not part of the drawing, Layer 0 is correctly displayed as white, which is the default color. However, when I click anywhere on the screen and use the Properties command, the General section shows the color 8 instead of white.

I would appreciate your help in understanding why this is happening and how I can resolve it.

Could you kindly provide insights into the following:

Why does Layer 0 display as white when clicking outside the drawing but show as color 8 in the Properties command? and how can I fix this?

Thank you!

[ChicagoLooper]

Hi @michelle_ghosbditghosn 

Would it be possible to upload two screenshots?

1. screenshot of properties palette including general section showing color=>white
2. screenshot of properties palette including general section showing color=>8

Make sure both screenshots ‘capture’ the top portion of the properties palette. 

[michelle_ghosbditghosn]

Hi @ChicagoLooper 

Kindly find screenshots

[Cadguru42]

That is the current color for anything new created. Change that to ByLayer and then it'll be what you expect.

[michelle_ghosbditghosn]

I know, but I don't want to change it every time. I want it to be ByLayer by default for layer 0. How can I do that?

[Cadguru42]

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@michelle_ghosbditghosn wrote:
I know, but I don't want to change it every time. I want it to be ByLayer by default for layer 0. How can I do that?

---

With nothing selected, from the Properties>Color just select ByLayer. That should make the default color for all new objects colored by Layer. Are you saying that the default color keeps changing even if you're not changing that drop down?

[michelle_ghosbditghosn]

I have a file I am always working on as I need to amend stuff in it, so every time I click anywhere on the screen to get layer 0, whenever I click anywhere and type properties, I get that the color for layer 0 is color 8.

[Udo_Huebner]

Type Sysvar

Command: CLAYER

and you see the current layer - in your case hopefully "0".

Then set the current object color with

Command: CECOLOR

and you see the current color for newly created objects - in your case hopefully "BYLAYER".

The color for every Layer including Layer 0 can be set with command LAYER. This affects all objects with color "BYLAYER". I hope it's okay if I briefly repeat these basics here.

[Cadguru42]

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@michelle_ghosbditghosn wrote:

I have a file I am always working on as I need to amend stuff in it, so every time I click anywhere on the screen to get layer 0, whenever I click anywhere and type properties, I get that the color for layer 0 is color 8.

---

Did you try doing what I suggested earlier? This is a little confusing. When you say you "click anywhere on the screen to get layer 0", what exactly are you doing? Are you left-clicking on an object? If you have nothing selected then the values listed in the Properties window are the current settings. If you select an object then the Properties window will show you what that object's properties have set. 

With nothing selected, in the Properties window you should have Color = ByLayer and Layer = 0. Whatever you select here will become the default layer and color for the next object created. If you have an object selected then these properties are for that object and you can change the properties of the currently selected objects.

[tcorey]

Believe it or not, those are different settings.

Are you selecting no objects, but you have Properties palette displayed? For Color the setting is 8? This means that a new object drawn now will be color 8, regardless of the layer color. Type CECOLOR and set it to Bylayer. Or set it on the Properties dialog while no objects are selected. This will change cecolor for you.

[ChicagoLooper]

@michelle_ghosbditghosn 

Regarding your uploaded screenshots in Post #3, which one is from modelspace? Which one from a Layout Tab? 

Or are both from modelspace? Or both from Layout Tab? 

If you are NOT selecting anything in both screenshots AND both images reflect conditions in modelspace,  then the colors in the Properties Palette should be the same. Since one is white and the other is 8, this indicates you’re doing something different from your original description. 

By default, both your screenshots should display:

1. No Selection
2. Layer=0
3. Color=ByLayer

Without anything selected, the color in the Properties Palette, whether (a) white, (b) 8, or (c) any other possible color, indicates the default color is being overwritten. The out-of-the-box default color = ByLayer. 

[michelle_ghosbditghosn]

Hi

Thank you for your response. It is overwritten probably as you said. Do you know how to fix it?

[ChicagoLooper · Accepted solution]

1. CNTL+A
2. Go to Properties Palette=>Color=>ByLayer