Layer Visibility

Related Information

Drawing Order

Groups

Layers Table

Layers Visibility

The visibility state of each layer depends on the state of the layer (ON or Off) and the selection for Enabled Actions. Enabled actions is used to control which visible graphics may be selected and edited.

These selections are made by opening the Layers Inspector for a drawing window. This is accessed from the "Layers" menu item found on the Format menu on the Main menu. Each EazyDraw drawing window (document) has a Layers Inspector and unique set of layers.

The individual layer state selection applies to the layer selected on the Layers Table . To change a state, select the layer then make a selection with the bottom popup menu, shown circled. You may also select and type in the desired state directly in the left column of the layer table. Only one layer may be the Active layer, if a layer is chosen to be the active layer the previous active layer’s state is changed to ON.

Two popup menus, Layer State and Enabled Actions, taken together specify what is visible and may be selected on a drawing. The first one defines the visibility of the full drawing. The second describes the Visibility state of the layer selected on the Layers Table . Graphics that are available for selection may also be modified.

The Hide Dimensions check box is used to turn off the drawing of all Dimensions for a given layer. When checked all dimensions for the layer are not shown on the screen or printed page. In all other respects the dimensions remain present in the drawing, they may be selected and deleted, so care must be taken when this hiding is in use.

The Active Above check box is used to show the Active layer above (on top-of) all other layers. This is normally used as a temporary arrangement for unobstructed access to the graphics on the Active layer.

Selection	Active	On	Off
Active Only	Show - Select	Hide	Hide
Show Others	Show - Select	Show	Hide
Show All	Show - Select	Show	Show
Select Others	Show - Select	Show - Select	Hide
Select Others	Show - Select	Show - Select	Show - Select

The Enabled Actions popup has several selections. The selection determines which layers are shown and available for graphic selection and modification. The selections are generally self explanatory. Show or Select All operates without regard for the On or Off state of the layer. Show or Select Others respects the On or Off state by not presenting layers that are Off. The "Above" or "Below" selections apply to the layer position in the drawing order - as shown by position on the Layers Table view.

The Graphic Details Inspector has a section that is useful when working with layers. The information shown near the bottom of the Inspector shows which layer contains a selected graphic. The popup menu found there shows the home layer for a selected graphic.

Use popup menu on the Graphic Details Inspector to move a graphic(s) from one layer to another. The graphic may disappear if it is moved to a layer that is Off and the visibility state is "Select Others".

The Advance Duplicate sheet, found on the Edit Menu, allows graphics to be copied to across layers. This action will copy a selected graphic(s) to all other layers, all other On layers, or to a specific layer.

Use the Active Only checkbox to limit graphic selection to only the Active Layer. Use caution, if this feature is ON, and you forget that you turned it ON, that would be a problem. It is useful for temporary assistance in graphic selection, especially if the layers drawer is not open.

Layers may be Cloaked from inclusion as snap guides or vertices. Cloaking is a menu action accessed from the Format main menu. Cloak states and settings are not present in the Layers Inspector.