2011

Assign a Default Color and Linetype to a Layer
Each layer has associated properties such as color, linetype, and transparency
that are assumed by all objects on that layer when the setting is ByLayer.
For example, if the Properties Inspector palette set to BYLAYER when no object
is selected, the color of new objects is determined by the color setting for the
layer in the Layers palette.
If you set a specific color to the Properties Inspector palette when no objects
are selected, that color is used for all new objects, overriding the default color
for the current layer. The same is true for Linetype, Lineweight, Transparency,
and Plot Style properties on the Properties Inspector palette.
The BYBLOCK setting should be used only for creating blocks. See
Control
the Color and Linetype Properties in Blocks
on page 416.
Override Layer Properties in a Layout Viewport
Some layer properties can be changed using overrides on a viewport basis in
layouts. Using layer property overrides is an efficient way to display objects
with different property settings for color, linetype, lineweight, transparency,
and plot style. Layer property overrides are applied to the current layout
viewport.
For example, if you want objects on the Electrical layer to display prominently
in one of two layout viewports, you set a Color override on the Electrical layer
for each of the two viewports. By setting the color red for one viewport and
gray for the other, you easily accomplish this objective without changing the
global color property assigned to the layer. See
Override Layer Properties in
Viewports
on page 173 for more information.
Lock the Objects on a Layer
When a layer is locked, none of the objects on that layer can be modified until
you unlock the layer. Locking layers reduces the possibility of modifying
objects accidentally. You can still apply object snaps to objects on a locked
layer and perform other operations that do not modify those objects.
You can fade the objects on locked layers to make them appear more faint
than other objects. This serves two purposes:
■ You can easily see what objects are on locked layers.
■ You can reduce the visual complexity of a drawing but still maintain visual
reference and object snapping capabilities to those objects.
168 | Chapter 15 Control the Properties of Objects