Expert: Paul Jordan - 3/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi, Normally when picking up an object/line, the layer tool bar and properties tool bar will give you the name of layer/linetype/color/ for that particular object/line. but recently my autocad programe doesn't do that anymore.It just show the current layer. Why is that? Everytime this happen, I have to reinstall autocad. Please help.
Thank you.

p.s/ sorry my english is bad.

ANSWER: It sounds to me like your properties toolbar has been turned off.  Right click in your toolbar area and select properties to restore the toolbar.  

I don't use this technique.  I usually have my Properties tool palette open and autohiding on the left side of my screen.  I also keep my Tool Palettes open over there as well.  Then you can just hover over it and it will open so you can see what properties you're looking for.  If everything is being drawn correctly, checking things like layer/linetype/color aren't really necessary.  I use the properties tool palette for more specific properties of an object or line.  

Give that a try.  I know it saved me several hundred hours on a project several years ago.  I had it opened on my second monitor and when I clicked on an object, I saw that it was linked to a data set.  I I hadn't had it opened,  I would have ruined a data set with thousands of customer links to it.  I'll always have mine open from now on.

Hope that helps.
Paul

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Paul,
Thank you for your fast reply.
I also rely on the properties tool palette for more specific properties.
The thing is that when working on a big project where there are a lot of layers/linetype/colors, ect.. involved, i like to use the tool bar for fast action especially the layer tool bar where i can directly off/freeze/lock certain object when selected.
My problem is that the TOOL BAR doesn't work as its supposed to. ie when picking up a line it doesn't show the line layer. It still showing the default layer.
My question is how can i fix this. Do i need to tweak anything from the option menu or is this just a bug that the "developer" missed out to fix?
Thank you. Hope to hear from You soon.

Answer
Matt,

There's really nothing to "tweak" on this tool.  You said it was working before and now it's not.  The last time you had to reinstall Autocad.  I might suggest just running the repair first instead of a full uninstall and reinstall.  Won't hurt and if it works, it'll save you some time and a lot of work.  

You might also take a look at the layerII toolbar that's available.  A lot of the commands you mentioned are on there and I use that a lot of the time.  The layerisolate and layerunisolate commands are a godsend when trying to do piping in 3D.

Hope that helps,

Paul