Saving and Restoring Layer States

Use the LayerState command to save, restore, and manage configurations of layer properties and states. Layer states are snapshots of current Layer settings.

You can also edit the Layer properties within Layer states.

Layer states are saved with the drawing.

You can export Layer states to files of type *.las. You can import Layer states from *.las files and from drawing files.

To save Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. In the dialog box, click Add.

   A new table item is created in the list of Layer states with a preset Name and the Space information indicating whether the Layer state was created in the Model or on a Sheet.

3. Optionally, edit the Layer state Name.
4. Optionally, type a Description.
5. Under Layer properties to restore, select or clear the Layer properties to save with the Layer state: On/Off, Freeze/Thaw, Lock/Unlock, LineColor, LineStyle, LineWeight, PrintStyle, Transparency, Print/No print, Freeze/Thaw in new Viewport, and Visibility in active Viewport. The Visibility in active Viewport is available only if you save the Layer state in a Sheet Viewport, not in the Model.
6. Under Options, set:
   • Hide layers not assigned to layer state: Hides any Layers that you added since the Layer state was last saved when you restore the Layer state.
   • Set properties as viewport overrides (available only when you define a Layer state when a Viewport on a Sheets is active): Specifies whether Layer property overrides apply to the current Viewport.
7. Click Save.
8. Click Close.

To restore Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. In the dialog box, select a Layer state.
3. Click Activate.
4. Click Close.

  Note: Layers that you added since the Layer state was last saved remain uneffected when you restore the Layer state.

To edit Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. In the dialog box, select a Layer state.
3. Click Edit.

   The Edit Layer States dialog box appears.

4. To add Layers that you added since the Layer state was last saved:
   1. Click Show deleted layers  to show the list of Layers that are not part of the Layer state.
   2. Select Layers.
   3. Click Add.
5. To delete Layers from the Layer state:
   1. Select Layer entries in the Layers table.
   2. Click Delete.
6. To make a different Layer the active one in the Layer state:
   1. Select Layer entries in the Layers table.
   2. Click Activate.
7. To change properties of Layers in the Layer state:
   • Select properties in the Layers table and modify them (the same way as in the Layers Manager).
8. Click OK.
9. Click Close.

  Note: Changes in the Edit Layer States dialog box do not affect Layer settings until you restore the modified Layer state.

To delete Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. In the dialog box, select a Layer state.
3. Click Delete.
4. Click Close.

  Note: Layers remain in the drawing when you delete Layer states.

To import Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. Click Import.
3. In the dialog box, select a file name from which you want to import a Layer State.

   You can import Layer states from:

   • Drawing files (*.dwg), drawing template files (*.dwt), and drawing standards files (*.dws)
   • Layer state files (*.las)
4. In the Import Layer States dialog box, select the Layer states to import.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Close.

To export Layer states:

1. Click Format > Layer States (or type LayerState).
2. In the dialog box, select a Layer state.
3. Click Export.
4. In the dialog box, specify the folder and name of the Layer states file (*.las) to write.
5. Click OK.
6. Click Close.

Access

Command: LayerState

Menu: Format > Layer States