To change the active layer in a SOLIDWORKS drawing, right-click in the drawing area (but not directly on a drawing entity) and select "Change Layer" from the context menu.
Here's a more detailed explanation:
SOLIDWORKS uses layers to organize and manage different types of drawing entities, such as dimensions, centerlines, and annotations. Changing the active layer determines which layer new drawing entities will be created on. This allows for better control over the visual properties (line type, color, thickness) and visibility of your drawing elements.
Steps to Change the Active Layer:
- Open your SOLIDWORKS drawing.
- Right-click in an empty space within the drawing sheet. Crucially, you must not click on an existing drawing element like a line, dimension, or note.
- From the context menu (shortcut menu) that appears, select "Change Layer".
- A submenu will display a list of available layers.
- Click on the layer you want to activate. The selected layer will now be the active layer.
What happens when you change the active layer?
- Any new drawing entities you create after changing the layer will be automatically assigned to the newly active layer.
- The properties of these new entities (color, line style, line thickness) will be determined by the settings defined for that layer.
Important Considerations:
- Layer Properties: Manage layer properties (color, line style, thickness, visibility, print settings) through the Layer Properties dialog box. You can access this through the Heads-Up View toolbar, or by going to Format > Layer.
- Moving Existing Entities to a Different Layer: You can change the layer of existing entities by selecting them, then in the PropertyManager, look for the "Line Format" section. Under "Layer", select the desired layer from the dropdown menu.
- Default Layer: SOLIDWORKS has a default layer (typically "None"). Understanding how to create and manage your own layers allows for far greater control and organization than relying solely on the default.
By using layers effectively, you can create organized and visually clear SOLIDWORKS drawings.
