Creating Layer Groups

Creating Layer Groups
The preceding exercise shows how you can filter out layer names based on the properties you specify
in the Layer Filter Properties dialog box. But suppose you want to create a layer filter list by graphically
selecting objects on the screen. You can use the New Group Filter tool to do just that:
1. Click the New Group Filter tool in the upper-left corner of the Layer Properties Manager dialog
box, and then press ↵ to accept the default name for the group. You see a new listing
appear called Group Filter1.
2. Right-click the Group Filter1 listing panel to the left, and then choose Select Layers  Add
from the shortcut menu. The Layer Properties Manager dialog box temporarily closes to
enable you to select objects in your drawing. Notice that your cursor is now an Object Selection
cursor.
3. Click a line representing a wall of the bathroom; then click the door. Press ↵ when you’re
finished with your selection. The Layer Properties Manager dialog box reappears, and the
layers of the two objects you selected are displayed in the layer list. Also note that Group
Filter1 is highlighted in the filter list to the left.



TIP You may have noticed the Select Layers  Replace option in the shortcut menu in step 2. This
option lets you completely replace an existing group filter with a new selection set. It works just
like the Select Layers  Add option.
Earlier, you saw how you can double-click a properties filter to edit a properties filter list. But
group filters work in a slightly different way. If you want to add layers to your group filter, you can
click and drag them from the layer list to the group filter name. Here’s how it’s done:
1. In the Layer Properties Manager dialog box, select All from the filter list to the left.
2. Click the Fixture layer in the layer list; then, Ctrl+click the Jamb layer in the list. These are
the layers you’ll add to the Group Filter1 layer group.
3. Click and drag the Fixture layer to the Group Filter1 listing in the filter list.
4. To check the addition to Group Filter1, click it in the filter list. The Fixture and Jamb layers
have been added to the Group Filter1 list.
If you want to delete a layer from a group filter, you can use the shortcut menu, as shown in
these steps:
1. With the Group Filter1 list selected, select the Jamb layer from the layer list, and then rightclick
it.
2. Select Remove From Group Filter in the shortcut menu. (Make sure you don’t select Delete
Layer.) Jamb is removed from the Group Filter1 list.
TIP You can also convert a layer property filter into a group filter. Select the layer property filter
from the filter list, right-click, and then select Convert To Group Filter. The icon for the layer
property filter changes to a group filter icon, indicating that it’s now a group filter.
You’ve seen how you can add property and group filters to the Layer Properties Manager dialog
box by using the tools on the left side of the dialog box. One tool you haven’t explored yet is the
Layer States Manager. To understand how this tool works, you’ll need to learn a little more about
AutoCAD; look for a discussion of the Layer States Manager in Chapter 15.
Before you move on, you’ll want to know about the options just below the filter list:


The Invert Filter check box changes the list of layers to show all layers excluding those in the
selected filter. For example, if the My List filter contains layers that are red, and you select Invert
Filter, the layer list will display all layers except those that are red.
The Indicate Layers In Use check box changes the icon in the status column of the list of layers
to indicate layers that have no objects assigned to them. If you turn this option on, “empty”
layers will display a gray icon in the Status column.
The Settings button opens the Layer Settings dialog box. This dialog box controls the way
you’re notified when new layers are added to a drawing.



In the next section, you’ll find some tips for how to use layer names so that you can use text filters
more effectively.