Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
F I LT E R I N G L A Y E R S B Y T H E I R N A M E S
Once you start to use a layer-naming system, you can use the Layers palette's Search text box
to isolate layers that you want to work on. For example, if you want to isolate only those layers
that have to do with floor plans, regardless of their discipline, enter -FP in the Layers palette's
Search text box. Once you do this, the layer list changes to display only layers with FP in their
names. In addition, if you press ↵ after typing -FP, -FP becomes an option in the Search text box
pop-up list, which can be opened by clicking the magnifying glass icon to the left of the list.
(Figure 5.18).
FIGURE 5.18
Enter -FP in the
Layers palette's
Search text box
and the name
becomes an option
in the search list.
Click the magnifying
glass icon to display
previous searches.
Once you've filtered your layer list using the Search text box, you can turn off all of the
remaining layers in the list, change their color assignment, or change other settings quickly
without having to wade through a long list of layers you don't want to touch. You can add more
Search options to the Search text box list. AutoCAD keeps these options for future use until you
delete them by selecting Clear from the Search text box pop-up menu.
As the number of layers in a drawing grows, you'll find the Search text box an indispensable
tool. But bear in mind that the successful use of the Search text box can depend on a careful
layer-naming convention. If you're producing architectural plans, you may want to consider the
AIA layer-naming guidelines.
Assigning Linetypes to Layers
You'll often want to use different linetypes to show hidden lines, center lines, fence lines,
or other noncontinuous lines. You can assign a color and a linetype to a layer. You then see
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and complex linetypes, including lines
that can be used to illustrate gas and water lines in civil work or batt insulation in a wall cavity.
AutoCAD comes with several linetypes, as shown in Figure 5.19. ISO linetypes are designed
to be used with specific plotted line widths and linetype scales. For example, if you're using
a pen width of 0.5 mm, set the linetype scale of the drawing to 0.5 as well. (See Chapter 15 for
more information on plotting and linetype scale.) You can also create your own linetypes (see
Bonus Chapter 2 on the topic's companion website).
Linetypes that contain text, such as the gas-line sample at the bottom of Figure 5.19, use the
current text height and font to determine the size and appearance of the text displayed in the
line. A text height of zero displays the text properly in most cases. See Chapter 9, “Adding Text
to Drawings,” for more on text styles.
AutoCAD stores linetype descriptions in an external file named Acad.lin, or Acadiso.lin for
metric users. You can edit this file in a text editor like Notepad to create new linetypes or to mod-
ify existing ones. You'll see how this is done in Bonus Chapter 2 on the topic's companion website.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search