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CAD 5

Object
Properties

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5. Object Properties

5a – Object Properties Overview

5b – The Layer Command
5c – Controlling Layer Status

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5a - Object Properties Overview
Every AutoCAD object, such as a line or a circle has properties. Some properties such as
Colour, Linetype and Layer are common to all objects.

Assign Object Properties

Typically, you assign object properties using one of the following strategies:

■ By layer.
Properties are assigned to a layer. Objects that are drawn on that layer automatically use those
properties.

■ Individual properties.
Properties are assigned to objects individually, regardless of the layer that they are drawn on.

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Use the Properties Panel

You can use the controls in the Properties panel and the Layers panel to view, set, and modify the
properties the same way as the Properties palette. By default, these panels are displayed in the Home
tab of the ribbon located above the drawing area.

The Properties panel provides convenient access to the most important object properties.

Use the Layers Panel

The Layers panel controls layers and layer properties. Use the Layer Properties Manager button to
change layer settings. The Layer control, a drop-down list, provides a quick method for changing
several layer properties and for changing the current layer.

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Use the Properties Palette

Toolbars Standard
Menu Modify > Properties
Keyboard PROPERTIES short-cut PR

The Properties palette is the primary tool for viewing,

setting, and modifying the properties of objects. The
Properties palette operates as follows:

■If no objects are selected, the Properties palette

displays the current default property settings, and you
can set the default properties for all subsequently
created objects.

■When you click an object, the Properties palette displays the properties of that object, and you
can change its properties.

■If you click multiple objects, the Properties palette displays all the properties that they have in
common, and you can change their common properties.

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5b - The Layer Command

Layers

Basically, layers are the computer equivalent of tracing overlays on a drawing

board. However, layers are much more powerful because you can have many
layers in a single drawing and you can control the visibility, colour and linetype of
layers independently. This makes working with very complicated drawings much
more efficient. Layers are effectively a way of ordering your drawing.

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The Layer Command

Ribbon Home > Layers

Menu Format > Layer
Keyboard LAYER short-cut LA

Layer Properties
Click on in the Layer
Properties toolbar, the Layer &
Linetype Properties dialogue box,
illustrated below, appears.

● When you start a new drawing, AutoCAD has only one layer.
● This layer is special and is called layer "0" (zero). Layer 0 is special because you
cannot change its name or delete it and it has certain properties which we do not need
to consider just now.
● By default layer 0 is assigned the colour white (colour number 7) and the "Continuous"
linetype. Layer 0 is always the current layer when you start a new drawing, however, it
is bad drawing practice to use layer 0 for normal drawing.
● The first thing you should do, therefore, when you start a new AutoCAD drawing is to
create some new layers. 7
1. Creating a New Layer
Press Alt+N to create new layer. A new layer with name of
‘Layer 1’ will be created. Change the name, colour and
linetype.
2. Setting the Colour of a Layer
You can select any of the 255 standard
AutoCAD colours by picking on the colour
palette or by entering the colour name or
number in the text edit box.

3. Setting the Linetype of a Layer

By default, layers have the "Continuous" linetype. Clicking on
the linetype name brings up the Select Linetype dialogue box.

To load a
linetype, click on
the "Load..."
button in the
Select Linetype
dialogue box.

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Loading Linetypes

● To load a linetype, click on the "Load..."

button in the Select Linetype dialogue box.

● The Load or Reload Linetypes dialogue box

appears and displays a list of the available
linetypes.

● Select as many of the listed linetypes as

you wish and then click the OK button to
return to the Select Linetype dialogue box.

● When you return to the Select Linetype

dialogue box the loaded linetypes are
Select Linetype
displayed in the list.

● To assign a particular linetype to a layer,

simply click on the name to highlight it and
then click on the OK button.

Exercise

Draw 3 parallel lines with a

length of 500mm on 3 different
layers. Set each layers with
different colour, linetype and
lineweight.
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5c - Controlling Layer Status
Icon Name Description
Turning Layers On and Off
On The layer is visible
unless it is also frozen Objects on a layer which is turned off aren't displayed in
The layer is invisible but the drawing window and they won't be plotted. The objects
Off objects are still still exist in the drawing; they are just invisible.
regenerated unless it is
also frozen
Unlock The layer is unlocked Locking and Unlocking Layers
The layer is locked and You can't select or edit the objects on a locked layer;
Lock objects cannot be selected however, the objects are still visible if the layer is on and
or modified thawed.

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Making a Layer the Current Layer
You can only draw on one layer at a time. In order to
draw on a particular layer you must first make it the
current layer.
Command Sequence
Select Make Object's Layer Current from
the Object Properties toolbar.
When AutoCAD prompts
Select object whose layer will become current:
pick the object you know to be on the required
layer. If you miss the object you are trying
to select, the command is automatically
canceled.
The Match Properties Command
Another way to change the properties of an object or objects is to match the properties of any other object
using the Match Properties command on the Standard toolbar.

Ribbon Home > Layers

Menu Modify > Match Properties
Keyboard MATCHPROP short-cut MA

Select source object: Select the object whose properties you want to copy
Current active settings: Currently selected matchprop settings
Select destination object(s) or [Settings]: Enter s or select one or
more objects to copy properties to

Destination Object(s)
Specifies the objects to which you want to copy the properties of
the source object. You can continue selecting destination objects,
or press ENTER to apply the properties and end the command.
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Layer Exercise 1
Open a new file and name it
“Layer Exercise 1”. Create the
layers accordingly follow the
name, color and linetype
settings.

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Object Properties
Exercise 1

Open file named “Hyperbola” which you

have created in CAD 3. Create four layers
and name it color1, color2, color3 and
color4. Assign color accordingly. Change
the properties of each line to “bylayer” and
assign layer accordingly.

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Object Properties Exercise 2
Create 2 different layers for
(1) boundary lines (blue)
and (2) building setback
lines (red). Assign different
color accordingly. Draw Lot
18 & 19 on the correct
layer.
Do not type the texts.

Save the file as “Object

Properties Exercise 2”

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