Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
NOTE Objects and layers are analogous to people and countries; just
as all people must reside in some country, so too must all objects be on
some layer.
All objects in AutoCAD are assigned a layer. In this topic, I'll refer to objects
assigned to a particular layer as being on that layer. You can place objects on
a layer in two ways: you can move or copy them to the layer, or you can create
them on the layer in the first place. You'll learn how to do both in this chapter.
However, first you need to learn how to set up layers. To see how you do this,
you'll create seven new layers for your cabin drawing, and then move the exist-
ing objects in your drawing onto the first five of these layers. After that, you'll
create new objects on the Headers and Roof layers.
In much the same way you used the U.S. National CAD Standard (NCS) to
name your .dwg file in Chapter 3, “Setting Up a Drawing,” you'll also follow
the NCS in naming your layers. Although file names and layer names are each
unique in many ways, the NCS naming convention is much the same for both.
Before creating any layers, let's have a quick look at the basic structure we'll use
to name the layers, illustrated in Figure 6.3.
D
MMMM
NNNN
DISCIPLINE
A - Architecture
MINOR CODES
(optional)
MAJOR CODE
(mandatory)
FiGuRE 6.3 National CAD Standards layer-naming framework
Discipline [D] The discipline designator specifies the trade to which a layer
belongs. In larger projects, it also helps establish ownership of a specific portion
of a design. For instance, the only people on the design team who would use “A”
layers would be the members of the architectural design team; “E” layers would
be reserved for the electrical design team; and so on. The standard discipline des-
ignators in NCS are the same for filenames and layers and are listed in Table 6.1.
Major Discipline Designator [MMMM] At a minimum, each layer must contain
both a discipline [ D ] code and a Major Discipline Designator [MMMM] . The
Major Discipline Designator is always four characters in length, and it helps to
group like objects together in the layer list. For instance, you may have multiple
types of walls, but regardless of type, each wall layer would begin with A-WALL.
 
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