Layers

To see a list of layers, click on the plus box next to the Layers heading. The Layers area expands to show all the layers in the design, with their corresponding number and name. To view information about Layer 1, click on the Plus symbol next to L1. The layer name and type is shown. The layer type is also indicated by an icon next to the layer number. For a list of each layer type and their associated icon, see the Color Bar topic.

All the layer information may be modified using the Navigator. To change the draw or flash color used on a layer, use the Color Bar or the Setup|Layers command.

To add a layer

1. Right-click on the Layers heading. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Add Layer command, and the Add New Layer dialog box appears

3. Specify the new layer’s Name and Type. If it is an NC layer, select the Tool Table that should be associated with it.

4. Click OK. The new layer appears in the list, though its visibility is turned off.

To delete a layer

1. Right-click on the desired layer in the list. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Delete command. You are asked to confirm the deletion.

3. Click the Yes button to delete the layer.

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1. Click on the desired layer in the list.

2. Press the Delete key.

3. You are asked to confirm the deletion. Click the Yes button to delete the layer.

To make a layer active

• Double-click on the desired layer in the list. The layer is made visible (if it wasn't already), and becomes the active layer.

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1. Right-click on the desired layer in the list. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Active command (when a layer is active, a checkmark appears next to the Active command). The layer is now active.

To make a layer visible

1. Right-click on the desired layer in the list. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Visible command (when a layer is visible, a checkmark appears next to the Visible command). The layer is now visible.

To make a layer invisible, select the command to remove the checkmark.

To view unused layers

1. Right-click on the Layers heading. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Show Unused command, and all unused layers immediately appear in the list.

To hide unused layers, right-click on the Layers heading. A checkmark appears next to the Show Unused command. Select the command to remove the checkmark and hide the unused layers.

To change a layer’s name

1. Click on the plus box next to the desired layer.

2. In the layer detail list, the first item is the layer name. Right-click on the name, and a shortcut menu appears.

3. Select the Rename command. A box appears around the name, indicating that it can be edited.

4. Type in the new layer name, and press the Enter key when you are finished.

To change a layer’s type

1. Click on the plus box next to the desired layer.

2. In the layer detail list, the second item is the layer type. Right-click on the type, and a shortcut menu appears. The current layer type has a checkmark next to it.

3. Select the new layer type from the menu.

If you change the type to an NC layer, a tool table is automatically assigned to it. Its name appears in the layer information in the Navigator. If you want to change the assignment, right-click on the tool table name, select the Change NC Tool Tables command, and the name of the desired tool table.

To move a layer

1. In the Layers list, click on the layer you wish to move, and continue to hold down the mouse button.

2. Move (drag) the mouse cursor until it is over the layer (in the Layers list) that you wish to move the layer to.

3. Release the mouse button. All other layers are reordered, as necessary, so that no empty layers are created and no duplicate layer numbers exist.

To copy all the data from one layer to another

1. In the Layers list, click on the layer you wish to copy from, and continue to hold down the mouse button.

2. Press and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.

3. Move (drag) the mouse cursor to the layer (in the Layers list) that you want to copy the data to.

4. Release the mouse button and Shift key. The data are immediately copied to the selected layer.

To copy all the data from one layer to multiple layers

1. Right-click on the layer you wish to copy from. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Select the Copy To command. The Select Layers dialog box appears.

3. Select one or more layers to copy the data to, and click OK. The data are immediately copied.

To renumber layers

If you have deleted layers or otherwise have created gaps between the layer numbers in your design, you can renumber the layers from lowest-to-highest and eliminate those gaps.

1. Right-click on the Layers heading. A shortcut menu appears.

2. Click the Compact command. The layers are immediately renumbered.