Freeze Specified Layers in a Layout Viewport

A major benefit to using layout viewports is that you can selectively freeze layers in each layout viewport. You can also specify default visibility settings for new viewports and for new layers. As a result, you can view different objects in each layout viewport.

You can thaw or freeze layer in current viewport and future layout viewports without affecting other viewports. Frozen layers are invisible. They are not regenerated or plotted. In the illustration, the layer showing terrain has been frozen in one viewport.


Thawing the layer restores visibility. The easiest way to freeze or thaw layers in the current viewport is to use the Layer Properties Manager.

In the Layer Properties Manager, on the right side, use the column labeled VP Freeze to freeze one or more layers in the current layout viewport. To display the VP Freeze column, you must be on a layout tab. Specify the current layout viewport by double-clicking anywhere within its borders.

Freeze or Thaw Layers Automatically in New Layout Viewports


You can set visibility defaults for specific layers in all new layout viewports. For example, you can restrict the display of dimensions by freezing the DIMENSIONS layer in all new viewports. If you create a viewport that requires dimensions, you can override the default setting by changing the setting in the current viewport. Changing the default for new viewports does not affect existing viewports.

Create New Layers That Are Frozen in All Layout Viewports

You can create new layers that are frozen in all existing and new layout viewports. Then you can thaw the layers in the viewports you specify. This is a shortcut for creating a new layer that is visible only in a single viewport.

To freeze or thaw layers in the current layout viewport

1. Double-click within a layout viewport to make it current.
2. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
3. In the Layer Properties Manager, select the layers to freeze or thaw.
4. Hold down CTRL to select more than one layer. Hold down SHIFT to select a sequence of layers.
5. Click the icon in the VP Freeze column for one of the selected layers.
6. Click OK.

To view a list of layers that are frozen in the current viewport

1. Click a layout tab.
2. Double-click within a layout viewport to make it current.
3. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
4. In the Layer Properties Manager, look at the VP Freeze column for the Freeze/Thaw in Current Viewports icon.
5. Click OK.

To freeze or thaw layers in all viewports

1. Click a layout tab.
2. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
3. In the Layer Properties Manager, select one or more layers to freeze or thaw.
4. Hold down CTRL to select more than one layer. Hold down SHIFT to select a sequence of layers.
5. In the Freeze column, click the icon to freeze or thaw.

To freeze or thaw layers in paper space

1. Click a layout tab.
2. Make sure that you are in paper space. (On the status bar, PAPER is on.)
3. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
4. In the Layer Properties Manager, select the layer or layers you want to freeze or thaw.
5. In the Freeze column, click the icon to change a layer's state. The sun icon means that a layer is thawed; the snowflake icon means that a layer is frozen.
6. Click OK.

To freeze or thaw layers in all new viewports

1. Click a layout tab.
2. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
3. In the Layer Properties Manager, select the layer or layers you want to be automatically frozen or thawed in new viewports you create.
4. Hold down CTRL to select more than one layer. Hold down SHIFT to select a sequence of layers.
5. In the New VP Freeze column, click the icon to change a layer's state. The sun icon means that a layer is thawed; the snowflake icon means that a layer is frozen.
6. Click OK.

 To create new layers that are frozen in all viewports

1. Click a layout tab.
2. Click Home tab  Layer panel  Layer Properties.
3. Click the New Layer button to create a layer.
4. Rename the new layer.
5. Click the icon in the Freeze column to change the layer's state to frozen. The sun icon means that a layer is thawed; the snowflake icon means that a layer is frozen.
6. Click OK.

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