Using layers

Introduction

This example will show how to create, and name, groups and layers, how to move layers between groups, move entities to different layers, how to select entities by color, as well as how to adjust the layer order.

Layers

The Layers are what CAD geometry is created on. The default CAD layer is always visible in the Layers Manager. While the original CAD layer, cannot be deleted, it can be renamed. Any geometry, or dimensions, which are created, are automatically placed on the Active layer.

The Layer Manager

The Layer Manager is located, by default, on the right side of the application. The location of the Layer Manager, however, can be adjusted to preference, as explained in the  Introduction to Docking Panes topic. The purpose of the Layers Manager is to provide a way to keep your CAD drawings organized. Layers can be hidden to only show certain aspects of a drawing, or you can place different versions of the same part on separate layers.  The Layers Manager can be used to specify a particular color and line style to use for each layer, and you can also select all the geometry on a given layer for use with other CAD functions or CAM features.

Example

In this example we have a bunch of entities in the graphics area with only basic layer separation. We do have our points, profile, and solids separated by layer, but with group folders available, we can organize this much better to make any work we're doing a lot easier. In the graphics area, we currently we have: 

 

• Profile

• Points for: 

  • Two different hole sizes

  • One tap size

  • One counterbore size

• Solids:

  • Fixtures for: 

    • First job

    • Second job

  • Stock

  • Workpiece

 

We can use the same logic seen in these bullet points to build our layers and group folders! 

Part 1) Creating Groups and Layers

1. Click the Solid layer to highlight it, then click Move to New Group.
   
   
   
   This creates the new group and places our Solid layer in it at the same time.
   
   

2. Now click our new group and click Move to New Group again to place it in a group as well.
   
   
   
   

3. Highlight our Points layer and click Move to New Group.
   
   
   
   Now that we have the groups we will need, we add the additional layers our entities will placed on.
   
   

4. With Group-5 highlighted, click New Layer.
   
   
   
   Layer-6 is created inside Group-5. Notice the new names of the groups and layers are followed by a number showing the total amount of layers/groups in the Layer Manager.
   
   

5. Add three more layers to Group-5 to accommodate each hole type to be created for the part.
   
   
   
   

6. Repeat this process to add three more layers to Group-3.
   
   

Part 2) Renaming Groups and Layers

Although we could have been naming groups and layers as we went, once a name is changed, hitting enter automatically makes the next name editable. Because of this, you'll find it's much easier to create the group and layer structure you intend to use first, and then go back to name them all at once.

 

1. Double-click our Profile layer to make the text editable.
   
   
   
   

2. Update the name to Profile Cut, and press Enter.
   
   
   
   The group name becomes editable.
   
   

3. Repeat this process to update each item to the following: 
   
   
   
   

• Profile Cut

• Points 

  • 0.875 Hole

  • 1/4 20 Tap

  • 0.5 Hole

  • Counterbore

• Solids:

  • Fixtures 

    • Job A

    • Job B

    • Stock

    • Workpiece

Part 3) Moving Layers Between Groups

You might have noticed in creating our solid layers, all layers were placed inside the Fixtures folder. This was done to demonstrate the way to move layers.

 

1. Drag and drop the Workpiece layer to the Solids group.
   
   
   
   Notice the layer is now outside the Fixtures folder.
   
   

2. Click the Stock layer to highlight it and click Move Out.
   
   
   
   The Stock layer is moved out of the Fixtures group and is now located in the Solids group with our Workpiece layer.
   
   

3. Right-click anywhere in the Layers manager and select Collapse All.
   
   
   
   All groups and layers are created, organized, and can easily be collapsed.
   
   

4. Right-click anywhere in the Layers manager and select Expand All.
   
   

Part 4) Moving Entities to Layers

Now that we have our layers created, and organized in groups, we can move the entities to the appropriate layers.

 

1. Click in the Active Layer column of the Job A row to make it the active layer.
   
   
   
   

2. Since the Profile Cut geometry is already on the correct layer, click to hide it.
   
   
   
   

3. Hide the Solids group.
   
   
   
   

Tip: Notice the active layer remains visible. Occasionally you will want to have the active layer hidden. To do this, make another layer active, hide the layer you want to be the hidden active layer, and once the layer is hidden, set that to the active layer.

 

4. Set the Stock layer as the active layer.
   
   

5. In the graphics area, turn on selection mode and select the geometry shown.
   
   
   
   

6. With the Stock layer set to active, select Modify to Current Layer.
   
   
   
   The stock is placed on the hidden layer and is no longer visible.
   
   

7. Set the Workpiece layer as the active layer.
   
   

8. Select the workpiece.
   
   
   
   

9. With the Workpiece layer set to active, select Modify to Current Layer.
   
   
   
   

10. Set Job B layer to active, choose the two further fixtures, and select Modify to Current Layer.
    
    
    
    

11. Hide Job A layer.
    
    
    
    Since this was the original Solid layer, this is where we were moving all the solids from.

Part 5) Selection by Color

To make selection of multiple points a little easier, we will use the Pick By Color option in the Home ribbon.

1. Right-click the 0.875 Hole layer and select Show Only This Layer.
   
   All other layers are now hidden.
   
   

2. Set the 1/4 20 Tap layer to active.
   
   

3. In the Quick Selection group of the Home ribbon, click Pick By Layer to see additional options and select Pick By Color.
   
   The Select Colors dialog appears.
   
   
   
   

4. Select Yellow, and click OK.
   
   
   
   The Yellow points are all selected.
   
   
   
   

5. In the Layers Manager, select Modify to Current Layer.
   
   
   
   The Yellow points for our tapped holes are moved to the hidden 1/4 20 Tap layer.
   
   
   
   

6. Set the 0.5 Hole as the active layer.
   
   

7. Select Pick By Color again.
   
   The Select Colors dialog appears.
   
   
   
   

 

Note: Notice the Yellow is no longer an option in this dialog. This dialog, along with the Solid information in the CAD Tree, only shows the currently visible colors. Since we've hidden our yellow tap points, that color does not appear in the dialog.

7. Select Orange, and click OK.
   
   
   
   The Orange points are all selected.
   
   

8. Select Modify to Current Layer.
   
   The Orange points for our 0.5 Holes are moved.
   
   

9. Repeat this process to put the Red points on the Counterbore layer.

Part 6) Adjusting Layer Order

As a final piece of organization, let's put the two hole layers next to each other. We've seen how we can drag layers, and use the Move Out arrow to get layers out of a group. Now, we use the Move Up arrow to adjust the position of a layer.

 

1. Right-click anywhere in the Layers Manager and select Show All Layers.
   
   
   
   All entities become visible again.
   
   

2. Highlight the 0.5 Hole layer, and click Move Up.
   
   
   
   The position of the layer is updated to put our two hole layers next to one another.

 

 

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

The Layers