VPFL
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User's Manual Getting Started Setup & Configuration Documentation	Sales Support Software Support Troubleshooting

Keyboard shortcut: DW
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Compatible with AutoCAD Versions: 2000, 2000i, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010

VIEWPORT FREEZE LAYERS

Isolates a layer scheme in a viewport by freezing all the layers NOT in a selected layer scheme. For this command to work you must be using layer schemes to control layers. See Layer Control in the APS Configuration Utility or Setting up Layer Schemes for more on layer schemes.

This command is perfect for when you draw several plans in a single plan file and need to display each of them in the same plot sheet. For example if we had a foundation plan, floor plan, reflected ceiling plan, and roof framing plan all drawn in the same drawing file and needed to show all four plans in the same sheet for plotting we would use a layout view (Paper Space) and this command to show each plan as if they were all separate plans.

For those who are new with setting up a drawing in this manner, see this short tutorial on Setting up a multi-view plotsheet using a single drawing file.

User configurable options: none

Known limitations:

Must use layer schemes as your method of layer control.
Once this command has been used on a plot sheet any new layers that are created in the drawing that is viewed in the viewports will appear in ALL of the viewports that this drawing appears in. When this occurs you must run VPFL again in any affected viewports to once again freeze all the layers except those in the scheme selected.
If an XREF in the viewport has been inserted on a layer that will be frozen by this command the entire XREF (even the layers that should stay on) will disappear. The XREF itself (not just objects inside of it) must be on a layer that will not be frozen. Since the layer "0" (zero) is usually in all layer schemes and therefore would not be frozen we generally recommend using it for all of your XREF's.
Submit a limitation not listed.

Alternate uses:

None reported. If you have an alternate use for this command submit it here.

SAMPLE VPFL COMMAND SYNTAX:

Before the command is executed some conditions need to be met.

You need to be using layer schemes to control layers. See Layer Control in the APS Configuration Utility.

The drawing should either be in a layout view (R2000+) or in Paper Space (R14)

There should be one or more viewports that view a drawing that is in Model Space.

If the drawing being viewed is is a block or an XREF it must be on layer "0" (zero).

The viewport that is to have layers frozen in it is current. (you are in Model Space with the cursor inside the viewport)

Command:
Command: VPFL

Assuming that the five conditions above have been met you will see the following dialog:

The layer schemes from the current layer scheme file will be listed. Select the layer scheme to show in the viewport and the command will freeze all layers BUT those in that scheme.

If the layer scheme you want is not listed press the button and select the layer scheme file that contains the layer scheme desired. The new layer schemes will be listed and you may select the scheme to use.

--all the layers not in the layer scheme selected are frozen in the viewport--

Using VPFL in a drawing

To further clarify what this command does, we will continue the example started in the tutorial Setting up a multi-view plotsheet using a single drawing file , and start from where it left off:

We start with a drawing in a Layout view (Paper Space) that has a plan file (in Model Space) shown in each of four viewports as shown above. Each viewport is looking at the same copy of a plan file in model space. This file has all the information for a foundation plan, floor plan, reflected ceiling plan, and roof framing plan drawn in it. Turn on all the layers as shown above and you get quite a mess. We'll use VPFL to clean these viewports up for us.

Go in to Model Space (click or type "MSPACE") and select the viewport to isolate a layer scheme in. For our example the top left viewport should show the foundation plan. Make this viewport current (so the cursor is stuck inside it) and press the button or type in VPFL.

If the list of schemes that shows in the window does not contain the foundation plan layer scheme press the button and select a layer scheme file that will have the foundation layer scheme in it.

For this example we will assume the "Plans-1" layer scheme file was selected so we may select the "Foundation Plan" layer scheme as shown above. (Due to customization which file your layer schemes reside in may vary)

--All the layers EXCEPT those in the foundation plan layer scheme will be frozen in the current viewport--

Note: If your drawing completely disappeared, chances are that the plan file was inserted/XREFed on a layer other than "0" (zero). Type "Undo" at the command prompt to undo the VPFL command, change the block/XREF to layer "0" (zero), and try it again.

Click to the next viewport over to the right and once again use the VPFL command, but this time click on the "First Floor New Plan" layer scheme.

The bottom left should be the power plan and the bottom right the roof framing plan. For each, click in the appropriate viewport and then run the VPFL command selecting the appropriate layer scheme.

--the four plans are displayed--

Now switch to Paper Space (click or type "PSPACE") and you are ready to plot.

If you prefer not to plot the viewport borders you can change them to any layer that does not plot.

Note: In this example we are displaying four different layer schemes, and any of the normal layer schemes we make current will turn off the layers from all but it's own scheme allowing us to only see one of the plans at a time. To get around this we can do one of two things: We can not worry about the layer scheme and just turn on all layers prior to plotting (since we have frozen all of the layers that we don't want in each viewport this will only turn on the layers that we want) or we we need to make current a layer scheme that includes all layers. The "Plotting.lyr" layer scheme file contains a layer scheme that uses wildcards so that it includes all layers (no matter what combination of layer schemes you use). This file was created just for this condition. Make this layer scheme file current and you won't have to worry about turning on all of the layers just prior to plotting.