AutoCAD tutorial: Save and use layer states to streamline your work

Layer states let you save configurations of layer properties and states. For example, you might want a layer to be red sometimes, and blue at other times. You may need certain layers to be locked, off, or frozen when you’re editing one part of the drawing, but unlocked, on, or thawed when you’re editing another part.

You could spend lots of time adjusting layer properties, but instead, you can use layer states — they’re much easier and quicker.

At Autodesk University, I taught a session on visual styles, which are used in 3D modeling. One problem that comes up with visual styles is that they don’t play well with plot styles. That’s because they both control how objects look and would interfere with each other. Therefore, when you’re using any 3D visual style (anything except 2D Wireframe), plot styles don’t work. I realized that layer states would be helpful because people often use plot styles to control colors. (Another useful feature would be layer overrides.)

Create and restore a layer state

Follow these steps to create a layer state:

1. Set all of the layer states and properties the way you want them. A good idea is to first save the default, “normal” situation before saving variations.
2. Open the Layer States Manager dialog box in 2 ways: Either open the Layer Properties Manager and click the Layer States Manager button, or, in AutoCAD 2008, you can open it directly in the Layers control panel of the Dashboard.

1. Click New and type a name and description for the layer state. Click OK.
2. Click the More Restore Options button to expand the dialog box. (In earlier releases, the options are at the bottom of the dialog box.)

1. Uncheck any states or properties that you don’t want to savee. For example, if you don’t save the Color property, the color won’t be affected when you restore the layer state. Therefore, if you change a layer’s color and restore the layer state, the layer will remain the new color.
2. If you want your drawing to exactly match the way it looks now, check the Turn Off Layers Not Found in Layer State check box in the main section of the dialog box. When you check this box, any new layers that you create afterwards are turned off when you restore the layer state.
3. Click Close to save the layer state.

You can continue to display desired states and save them until you have all the layer states that you need.

To restore a layer state, open the Layer States Manager, choose the layer state and click Restore.

Share layer states

Layer states are saved in the drawing. To share them among drawings, you need to export them. Each layer state has its own LAS file. To export a layer state, select it in the Layer States Manager, and choose Export. In the Export Layer State dialog box, enter a name, choose a location, and click Save.

To import a saved layer state, open the Layer States Manager, and click the Import button. (In AutoCAD 2008, choose Layer States (*.las) from the Files of Type drop-down list.) Choose the LAS file that you want, and click Open.

Note: In AutoCAD 2008, you can import layer states from drawings, templates, and standards (DWG) files. Choose the type of file that you want from the Files of Tyhpe drop-down list, choose the file that you want, and click Open. The Select Layer States dialog box opens, where you can deselect any states that you don’t want to import. Then click OK.

You can save layer states in your templates for maximum ease and to maintain CAD standards. Layer states can be an important method for controlling how your drawings look and speeding up the drawing and editing process.

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