Understanding Layers

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

What are layers, and how are they used in Chief Architect and Home Designer?

ANSWER

It can be helpful to think of each layer in the program as a transparency sheet on which objects are drawn. Each object in the program is assigned to a layer, and nearly all views in the program use multiple layers, like stacking transparency sheets together.

Layers are used to stay organized, as well as to increase efficiency by allowing you to quickly change how (or whether) a group of objects are collectively displayed, rather than changing the display of objects one-by-one.

You can learn more about layers in the following sections:

• Toggling the display of a layer
• Changing the properties of a layer
• Locking or unlocking a layer*
• Changing an object's layer**
• Creating a new layer**
• Deleting a layer**
  
  *Applies to Home Designer Pro and Chief Architect Premier only.
  **Applies to Chief Architect Premier only.
  

To toggle the display of a layer

1. Open  the plan in which you would like to toggle the display of a layer.
   
   
   
2. From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options .
   
   In Home Designer, select Tools> Display Options  instead.
   
   
   
3. In the Layer Display Options dialog that opens, you'll see a list of all available layers in the current plan. Scroll to the target layer and click in the Disp column for that layer to toggle its display on or off.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK to confirm your changes and close the dialog.
   
   

To change the properties of a layer

1. From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options .
   
   In Home Designer, select Tools> Display Options  instead.
   
   
   
2. In the Layer Display Options dialog that opens, scroll to the target layer, then click in the Color column for that layer to change its color.
   
   In Home Designer Pro and Chief Architect Premier, you can also select a layer, then use the Properties for Selected Layer section to change the Color, Line Weight, Line Style, Text Style.
   
   In Chief Architect Premier only, you can double-click on the Name of a layer to rename it.
   
   
   
3. Click OK to confirm your changes and close the dialog.
   
   In this example, the color and line style of the "Roof Planes" layer is changed.
   
   
   

To lock or unlock a layer*

*Available in Home Designer Pro and Chief Architect Premier only.

Objects on a locked layer cannot be selected.

1. From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options .
   
   In Home Designer Pro, select Tools> Display Options .
   
   
   
2. In the Layer Display Options dialog that opens, scroll to the target layer and click within the Lock column or Lock checkbox toggle the lock status on or off.
   
   
   
   Some layers that are locked by default include:
   
   
   • Roofs, Gutters
   • Roofs, Overhang Area
   • Roofs, Ridge Caps
   • Roofs, Trim
   
   
   
3. Click OK to confirm your changes and close the dialog.

To change an object's layer**

**Available in Chief Architect Premier only.

1. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the target object, then click on the Open Object  edit button.
   
   
   
2. In the object's Specification dialog, select the Layer or Line Style panel.
   
   
   
3. Using the Layer drop-down menu, select the layer you want to assign the object to.
   
   
   
   
   
4. Click OK to confirm the change and close the dialog.
   
   

   There are other ways to change an object's layer, such as using the Layer Painter and Layer Eyedropper tools. For more information, please see the Related Articles section below.

To create a new layer**

**Available in Chief Architect Premier only.

1. From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options .
   
   
   
2. In the Layer Display Options dialog that opens, click the New button to open the New Layer dialog and give it a name. Layers must have unique names, so if you try to give a new layer the same name as an existing layer, the program will prompt you to give it a different name.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Once a name is specified and you click OK, the newly created layer will be selected in the Layer Display Options dialog, and you can specify its properties as desired.
   
   
   
4. Click OK to confirm your changes and close the dialog.
   
   

   To create a new layer that has the same properties as an existing layer, select a layer and click the "Copy" button, then rename and modify the properties of the new layer as desired.

To delete a layer**

**Available in Chief Architect Premier only.

1. From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options .
   
   
   
2. In the Layer Display Options dialog that opens, scroll to the target layer and on it to select it.
   
   
   
3. Click the Delete button to delete the selected layer.
   
   
   Note: If the Delete button is grayed out, the selected layer cannot be deleted. A layer cannot be deleted if it is a system layer, has one or more objects assigned to it, or is specified in the Default Settings.
   
   
   
4. Click OK to confirm your changes and close the dialog.