Contents

• Overview
• No layer control
• Direct layer assignment
• Single layer Layer-Types
• Layer schemes

Overview

There are four layer control methods to choose from when using the APS layer control system: "No layer control", "Direct layer control", "Single layer Layer-Types", and "Layer schemes". Which you use depends largely on the complexity of the drawings that you do.

For some, layers are a nuisance. Either they don't use them or use very few. For these people "No layer control" may be the answer.

Others use layers, but there are never conditions when an object should go on any other layer except the one "it should always go on". Doors go on the "DOOR" layer, walls go on the "WALL" layer. Simple. Straight forward. For these people "Direct layer control" may be the answer.

For the rest, layers are a powerful tool that can be used to manipulate drawings and information. For these people we recommend using layer schemes. Once set up, layer schemes can save you enormous amounts of time and effort.

Below we will briefly describe each of the layer control methods so you can better understand what they can do for you and will help you to choose which to use.

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No layer control

No layer control means that every APS command will use whatever layer is current to draw or insert new objects. Like most standard AutoCAD commands if you would like something to be on a certain layer you must change to that layer first before executing a command or must change the new objects to the correct layer once they are created in the drawing.

This method requires no setup.

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Direct layer control

You specify the layer information that each APS command or system uses when creating objects.

This method requires the following setup:

• Configuring the layer information for APS commands

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Single layer Layer-Types

Each APS command is assigned to a layer type, each layer type is assigned a layer name. By using layer types you don't have to enter the layer information again and again for the commands that should use the same layer. You enter the layer information once in a layer type and then assign the commands to the appropriate layer type.

That's it. It's that simple. Looking at the diagram above we can graphically see how this works. When the NOTESC command is used, it will create text on the "A-TEXT-01" layer because NOTESC is assigned to the "NOTES" layer type which is assigned the "A-TEXT-01" layer name. Since the layer information has already been entered for the "NOTES" layer type it is not necessary to enter it again for the "LEADR" command, just assign the "LEADR" command to the "NOTES" layer type and it has all the information it needs.

This method requires the following setup:

• Customizing layer types
• Assigning layer types to commands
• Assigning layer names to layer types

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Layer Schemes

Rather than enter all the information for a layer over and over for all the commands that should use a specific layer we have devised a system of using a layer type so that information is only entered once and the commands that need to use that specific layer are just pointed to the layer type that holds that layer information. A layer type could be considered a "reason" for a layer. It often helps people to use the form "A layer for ______" when thinking about layer types. Instead of saying "dimensions" (which could get confused with a layer name) we could say "A layer for dimensions". We are just reserving a space for a layer name later.

In a nutshell...each APS command is assigned to a layer type, each layer type is assigned a layer name from the current layer scheme.

Looking at the diagram above we can graphically see how this works.

The NOTESC and LEADR commands have been assigned to the "C1" layer type which is called "NOTES".

Let's assume we are currently using the "Floor plan level 1" layer scheme. When the NOTESC command is used, it will create text on the "A-TEXT-01" layer because in the current layer scheme the "C1/NOTES" layer type has been assigned that layer name.

Now let's assume that we switched to the "Floor plan level 2" layer scheme. Now when the NOTESC command is used it will create text on the "A-TEXT-02" layer. Next we used the LEADR command and it also used the "A-TEXT-02" layer because it too was assigned to that layer type.

If we switched to the "Exterior Elevations" layer scheme and used either the NOTESC, LEADR, or any other command assigned to the "C1/NOTES" layer type the objects would be created on the "A-TEXT-ELEV" layer because that is the layer for "C1/NOTES".

Objects created in your drawing always go on the correct layer. This means one less thing for you to worry about so you can focus on what you're drawing instead of how it is being drawn.

This method requires the following setup:

• Customizing layer types
• Assigning layer types to commands
• Assigning layer names to layer types for each layer scheme

Also see Setting up Layer Schemes and Using Layer Schemes

Note to AutoCAD release 13 users

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