Layers

Layers allow you to organize objects for display according to specific criteria. They are comparable to the features in CAD programs that show and hide individual layers in a drawing. Objects that can be managed in layers include not only model objects, such as points, elements, or parts, but also guide objects, such as dimensions.

You can assign specific display properties to each layer using color and line style. Layers can also be locked to prevent objects from being accidentally shifted or deleted.

Layer for Objects of Reinforced Aluminum Section

Layer Manager

Layers are managed in the Layer Manager. There, you can create new layers, control the visibility of layers, or lock a layer to prevent editing.

Use one of the following methods to open the Layer Manager:

• In the Navigator – Data, double-click an entry in the category Guide Objects → Layers.
• Click the button in the toolbar.
• Use the menu View → Layer Manager.

Layer Manager

In the Navigator, only the “All Layers” entry is usually available. If you have created layer groups, these will also be displayed. The subentries allow you to manage the layers specifically: The table lists only the layers of the selected layer group.

Table

The table not only provides an overview of all layers but also offers control options for their display. The individual columns mean:

Buttons

The buttons in the Layer Manager toolbar have the following functions:

Button	Function
	Create a new layer group (see the chapter Layer Groups)
	Rename the selected layer group
	Delete the selected layer group
	Delete all layer groups
	Create a new layer
	Set the selected entry as the current layer (alternative: click in the "Current" column)
	Delete the selected layer
	Delete all layers
	Visibility activated for all layers
	Hide all layers
	Lock all layers (editing is not possible)
	Unlock all layers
	Display the objects selected in the table as a selection in the graphic
	Display the objects selected in the graphic as highlighted in the table
	Display invisible objects as transparent or not at all
	Display objects in the colors of their layers (see the section Rendering)

Assigning Objects to Layer

To manage objects in layers, follow these steps:

1. In the Layer Manager, click the button to create one or more layers.
2. Enter appropriate names and check the default settings, such as color or line style.
3. In the work window, select the objects you want to assign to a layer.
4. In the toolbar, select the relevant layer from the list.

Assigning Objects to Layer

The assigned objects are indicated in the Layer Manager with icons for points, elements, parts, and so on (see the image Layer Manager).

New objects are always assigned to the current layer. This layer is marked in the Layer Manager with the icon .

Toolbar

The toolbar in the work window offers several setting options for configuring layers.

Toolbar with Layer Functions

This text box shows the current layer. In the list, you can select a different layer and set it as the current one. The change is synchronized with the Layer Manager: This layer is marked with the icon .

As described above, you can select objects and assign them to a specific layer using the list. The icons before the layer name show whether the current layer is visible or locked.

The buttons have the following functions:

Button	Function
	Show or hide the selected layer
	Lock or unlock the selected layer
	Jump to the row of the selected layer in the Layer Manager for adjustments

Rendering

Each layer is automatically assigned a color. However, you can also customize the colors:

1. Double-click a color in the table of the Layer Manager.
2. In the Select Layer Color dialog box, select the desired color.

Specifying Layer Color

To display objects in their layer colors, you have to configure the display settings accordingly. There are two ways to enable these colors:

• Layer Manager button in the toolbar for displaying objects in material or layer colors
• Navigator – Display: Category Colors of rendered objects by → Layer

Display Objects in Layer Colors

In the control panel, you can check the colors assigned to the objects in each visible layer.