How to put different BricsCAD objects on separate ʼsheetsʼ (Layers)?
Short Answer
Yes. In BricsCAD, the standard professional way to put different objects on separate “sheets” is to place them on separate layers using the LAYMCUR command or the Layers panel. This lets you control visibility, color, and plotting by layer. Limitation: layers are not layout sheets or separate files.
What You Need to Know Before
Warning: If objects are inside blocks or on locked layers, moving them to other layers may not behave as expected. A common failure is changing only the block reference layer while the nested geometry remains on its original internal layers.
How to Put Different BricsCAD Objects on Separate “Sheets” (Layers)
Command: LAYMCUR
Shortcut: none by default
Quick Steps:
- Open the Home tab > Layers panel, and make sure the target layer already exists in Layer Explorer.
- Start LAYMCUR, then select one object that is already on the layer you want to make current.
- With that layer now current, select the other objects and move them to the current layer using the Properties panel or the layer control drop-down.
Real setting or option: in Layer Explorer, verify the target layer is On, Thawed, and Unlocked before moving objects.
Variables & Settings
- Key Setting: In the Properties panel, set Layer for selected objects to the target layer. This is the most direct way to reassign existing geometry after making the correct layer current.
Why it Fails
- Cause 1 (Geometry): The selected objects are inside a block, so changing the outer reference does not move the nested entities to separate layers.
- Cause 2 (Layers/Locks): The destination layer is locked, frozen, or off, preventing proper reassignment or making objects seem to disappear.
- Cause 3 (Command/Logic): The current layer was changed, but existing objects were not actually reassigned; changing current layer only affects new objects.
Quick Fix & Best Practice
- Quick Fix: Use Layer Explorer to create and unlock the target layers, then select objects and change their Layer property in Properties.
- Manager’s Verdict: Use layers for discipline, visibility, and plotting control; do not treat them as paper-space sheets. For true sheets, use Layouts with viewports.
FAQ
Can I move multiple object types to one layer at once?
Yes, select them together and change their Layer property in one operation.
Do layers work the same as layout tabs in BricsCAD?
No, layers control object organization; layouts control plotted sheets.
Can I separate block contents onto different layers?
Yes, but usually only after editing or exploding the block, depending on the block structure.
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