Keeping Track of Layers and Blocks - Mastering AutoCAD for Mac - page 162

TABLE 5.2: The Layers palette icons (CONTINUED)

ICON NAME USE

Isolate Object's Layer Click this icon, and then select an object to turn off all layers except

the selec ted objec t 's layer.

Unisolate Objects Layer Click this option to undo the action of the Isolate Object's Layer icon.

Freeze Object's Layer Click this icon, and then select an object to freeze its layer.

Turn Off Object's Layer Click this icon, and then select an object to turn off its layer.

Lock Object”s Layer Click this icon, and then select an object to lock its layer.

Unlock Object's Layer Click this icon, and then select an object to unlock its layer.

Keeping Track of Blocks and Layers
The Insert Block dialog box and the Layers palette let you view the blocks and layers available in
your drawing by listing them in a window. The Layers palette also includes information about
the status of layers. However, you may forget the layer on which an object resides. You've seen
how the Properties Inspector palette shows you the properties of an object or layer. The List
option menu bar also enables you to get information about individual objects.
Use these steps to see an alternate way to view the properties of a block:

1. Choose Tools  Inquiry  List. You can also type LIST ↵.

2. At the Select objects: prompt, click the Tub block, and then press ↵.

3. In the Command Line palette, a listing appears that shows not only the layer the tub is
on, but also its space, insertion point, name, rotation angle, and scale. You may need to
expand the Command Line palette to view the information (click the disclosure triangle
on the right side of the palette).

The information in the Command Line palette, except the handle listing, is duplicated in the
Properties Inspector palette when you select an object. But having the data in the Command
Line palette gives you the flexibility to record it in a text file in case you need to store data about
parts of your drawing. You can also use the Command Line palette to access and store other
types of data regarding your drawings.
The Space property listed for the Tub block designates whether the object resides in Model
Space or Paper Space. You'll learn more about these spaces in Chapters 8 and 15.

Getting a Text File List of Layers or Blocks
With complex drawings, it can be helpful to get a text file that lists the layers or blocks in your
drawing. You can do this by using the log-file feature in AutoCAD. At the Command prompt,
enter LOGFILEMODE ↵, and then enter 1 ↵. Type -LA ↵ ? ↵↵ (don't forget the minus sign at the
beginning of the LA command). Your list of layers appears in the Command Line palette. For
a list of blocks, enter -Insert ↵ ? ↵↵. When you've obtained your list, close the log-file feature by
typing LOGFILEMODE ↵ 0 ↵.