Frequent tipster Tawfik Shehata shares a tip regarding layer filters and management in AutoCAD.

“If your drawing contains a large number of layers, this is a quick and easy method to monitor and control your layers’ states and properties: In the Layer Properties Manager, right-click anywhere within the layer list area and tick Show Filters in Layer List; this will add a new row named All Used Layers at the very top of the layer list. Now, if you need for example to lock all the used layers, or change their color or linetype, etc., simply perform the change to this top row, and it will be applied instantly to all the used layers in your drawing.

“This row can easily tell you whether a certain layer state or property is the same or not across all the used layers, so if for example all the used layers were turned on, and had the Default lineweight except for one layer, then the top row will display the lightbulb icon half-on, and will display *Varies as the lineweight.

“Also, if your drawing contains Property and/or Group filters, additional rows will be displayed at the top of the layer list. Each row will exclusively monitor and control the layers belonging to the relevant filter and its subfilters."

Notes from Cadalyst tip reviewer R.K. McSwain: This is a great tip. Even if you are currently using layer filters, you are probably not using this method of layer management. What an easy way to find differences or otherwise manipulate layers common to a group — excellent!