• Home
  • Training Books
  • Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
  • About
    • Contributors
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookie Policy
  • Bahasa Indonesia

CADnotes

CAD Tutorials and Best Practices for professionals and students

  • Featured
  • AutoCAD
    • AutoLISP
  • Revit
    • Revit Architecture Basic
    • Revit MEP Basic Tutorial
  • Inventor
  • MicroStation
    • MicroStation Basic Tutorial
You are here: Home / AutoCAD / Simplify AutoCAD Layer Manager List with Layer Filter

Simplify AutoCAD Layer Manager List with Layer Filter

November 11, 2010 by Edwin Prakoso 7 Comments

In this Article...

  • Layer property filter
  • Layer Group Filter
  • Layer Filter and Template

Have you worked with standard layer naming convention? If you have, you probably get irritated to have so many layers in your AutoCAD drawings. It is more difficult to find layers, more clicks to freeze/unfreeze, or even changing the properties. Imagine that you can have dozens or even more than one hundred layers in your AutoCAD files!

If you have that problem, there is an AutoCAD feature that you can use. You can simplify the list and change the properties quite easily. You can use AutoCAD layer filter and group filter. Let us see how we can use them.

If you are not familiar with standard layer naming, you might want to see this AIA naming convention.

Layer property filter

The good thing about layer naming convention is we can define search criteria by their properties. In AIA standards, we give prefix such as A- for architecture drawing, S- for structural, C- for civil, and so on. So if we want to see Architecture layers only, it is very easy to filter them.

Now let us try to open AutoCAD layer manager. The left column will show you available filters. By default, you will see two available: all and all used layers. If you click all used layers, then you will see only layers containing objects. The unused will be filtered out. All will show you all layers in the drawing.

Now let’s say we want to see only architecture layers. It is easy to filter them, because the layers started with prefix A.

Click new properties filter, it’s the left most button in red rectangle at image below. AutoCAD will open layer filter properties dialog box.

layer_filter_and_layer_states

In this dialog, you can define which layers should be included in the list. In this example, we are going to give a simple criteria: all layers with prefix A. You can give wildcards (*) so AutoCAD will only include layers that have the characters. Because all architecture layers started with A-, you can add A* or A-* to match all architecture layers criteria.

See the filter preview to see if your search criteria is right.

architecture_layers_filter

Click OK to save this filter. Now make sure the layer filter selected, and you see only architecture layers in the layer list. Now in layer toolbar (or layer panel if you use ribbon) you will see only layers that met that criteria.

layer_selection_drop_down_list

This allows you to see only layers you are using at your current task, and hides all others that you don’t need.

Sub Properties Filter

Still not enough? The layers are still too many for you?  You can filter the layers further by adding more search criteria. Right click on the layer properties filter, then select new properties filter from contextual menu.

You need to use contextual menu to define the selected filter as the parent filter. If you click properties filter button, it will create parent level.

Layer_filter_contextual_menu

Now when AutoCAD open filter criteria, you will see only layers from it’s parent filter: architecture layers. Now you don’t have to worry about the prefix. In this sample, I give criteria *Flor* in layer name. If there are other layers similar to that name in structural layers with prefix S-, you don’t have to worry about them. They will not be included here.

Sub_filter

Changing Layer Properties in Filter

After your layers grouped with filters, you can quickly change all layers properties that match filter criteria. If you want to freeze, lock, or thaw layers, simply right click and choose the option you want in context menu.

freeze_layer_in_filter

Layer Group Filter

Layer group filter is similar with layer filter, but you don’t define the layer criteria. You select the layers you want. You can do it by dragging the layers from the list to the layer group filter. Or you can right click above the group and choose select layers>add from contextual menu.

I prefer layer filter, but I believe layer group can be useful. Sometimes you need to group layers from different disciplines, or different objects, that can’t be defined by search criteria.

Layer Filter and Template

If you have defined layers standard in your template, then you would want to have these layer filters in every new drawings you create. You might have already guessed: yes, you need to define them in your AutoCAD drawing template.

About Edwin Prakoso

I work as a Sr. Consultant in PT Cipta Satria Informatika. I've been using AutoCAD since R14 and Revit since Revit Building 9. I occasionally write for AUGIWorld magazine and I am also active in Autodesk discussion forum. I'm a member of Autodesk Expert Elite, an appreciation for individuals who give contributions to the Autodesk community.
Connect with me on twitter or LinkedIn.

Filed Under: AutoCAD Tagged With: layer filter

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest

guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

7 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
trackback
Katman Yöneticisi Tüm Katmanlarımı Listelemiyor | Cad Hocam
5 years ago

[…] Bu makalede Katman Filtresi hakkında daha fazla bilgi edinebilirsiniz: Katman Filtresi ile  AutoCAD Katman Yöneticisi Listesini Basitleştirme […]

0
Reply
CAD
CAD
8 years ago

You can also temporary change the Layers Properties (for ex. color) and back to default setup whenever you want. You can find a few more tricks with layers.

Good Luck,

http://www.CADMasters.guru

0
Reply
Dyro
Dyro
9 years ago

You made me swear a bit… it didn’t work then I looked into it and found in the settings “Dialogue Settings” – “Apply Layer Filter To Layer Toolbar” was off. Please note it down…..

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  Dyro
9 years ago

Sorry for the confusion Dyro,

It should be on by default. I will see what I can do to avoid the same problem. Maybe a separate article and link to that article.

0
Reply
VINCENT
VINCENT
14 years ago

IS IT POSSIBLE TO LIST LAYER NAMES AND PROPERTIES OF SELECTED AREA IN MODEL SPACE. I MEAN LISP PRGRAMME OR SOME THING. I NEED TO FIND SOME LAYERS USED IN THE MODEL SPACE OR NOT.

0
Reply
Edwin Prakoso
Edwin Prakoso
Author
Reply to  VINCENT
14 years ago

Vincent, if you are looking for AutoLISP program, try to post in CADtutor forum. There are many great LISP gurus there. I'm sorry that I can help you more.

0
Reply
snedj
snedj
14 years ago

IT S VERRY GOOD

0
Reply
wpdiscuz   wpDiscuz

Featured

AutoCAD Toolsets Tutorial – Get the Best of your Toolsets!

Autodesk released AutoCAD 2019 with seven toolsets. They are good software and can help your design process. But where can you can find the tutorials? It is a big step if you only use AutoCAD before!

Recent Articles

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud Activity Log
  • Exporting AutoCAD Plant 3D Model to Navisworks
  • Autodesk Data Connector for Power BI is Now Available

Advertisement

New on CADnotes

  • Autodesk Construction Cloud Activity Log
  • Exporting AutoCAD Plant 3D Model to Navisworks
  • Autodesk Data Connector for Power BI is Now Available
  • Autodesk Forma Design Contest
  • Revit 2025: Toposolid Enhancements

Meet the Authors

avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for
avatar for

Get Connected

CADnotes on FacebookCADnotes on InstagramCADnotes on TwitterCADnotes on YouTube

© 2009 – 2025 CADnotes · Feedback · Privacy Policy · Become an affiliate

wpDiscuz