2004

174 | Chapter 14 Control the Properties of Objects
Work with Layers
Layers are like transparent overlays on which you organize and group dif-
ferent kinds of drawing information.
Overview of Layers
Layers are the equivalent of the overlays used in paper-based drafting. They
are the primary organizational tool in AutoCAD, and you use them to group
information by function and to enforce linetype, color, and other standards.
By creating layers, you can associate similar types of objects by assigning
them to the same layer. For example, you can put construction lines, text,
dimensions, and title blocks on separate layers. You can then control
■ Whether objects on a layer are visible in any viewports
■ Whether and how objects are plotted
■ What color is assigned to all objects on a layer
■ What default linetype and lineweight is assigned to all objects on a layer
■ Whether objects on a layer can be modified
When you begin a new drawing, AutoCAD creates a special layer named 0.
By default, layer 0 is assigned color number 7 (white or black depending
upon your background color), the
CONTINUOUS linetype, a lineweight of
Default (the default setting is .01 inch or .25 mm), and the
NORMAL plot
style. Layer 0 cannot be deleted or renamed.
walls
electrical
furniture
all layers