Expert: Bob - 11/20/2006

Question
Hi,

My question has to do with layers and layouts. I am working with someone elses drawings (and hence, someone elses layer and layout organizational strategy). The original draftsperson has put the majority of layers in model space, and has a lot of layouts that represent different layers turned on or off. The problem is, when I try to turn a layer on or off per layout, it affects all of the other layouts. In other words, if I want to turn a layer called "Layer 1" on in "Layout A", it becomes turned on in "Layout B, C, D", etc. But if I want "Layer 1" turned off in "Layout B", then it becomes turned off in all the layouts. So my question is: How can I turn on or off layers in only one layout?  

Answer
I AM SORRY - ALL MY QUESTIONS FOR THE LAST MONTH REACHED ME TONIGHT.
-- In your case, to be blunt, you show a poor understanding of the concept of layouts, and need to read up.
-- This is true for all releases since 2000:
-- To freeze Layer A in a viewport (not a layout), go into model space through the viewport, then drop down the Layers on the Layer Properties toolbar. Simply click the symbol that looks like a freeze symbol overlapping a sheet of paper for each layer you do not wish to represent in that viewport.  
If the layout contain multiple viewports, you must do that for each, or if all vps should have the same layer state, copy the first viewport, and pan to show different objects.
Do not turn off or freeze any layers in the entire drawing, unless they contain construction lines, etc, that you never want to print.
Hope you found this out sooner, sorry.

BOB