Freeze Specified Layers in a Layout Viewport

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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CAD for Collaborative Design

New Optics is a leading lighting and backlight products manufacturer and supplier in Korea. Aiming to provide the most efficient light source for the next generation of lighting products, they have been providing high quality products and services to users since their foundation in 2005. Being high-brightness, energy-efficient, and long-lifespan, their main product, BLU, has become one of the authorized suppliers of LG Display. 

The Need

New Optics has very strict requirements on collaboration since the majority of their designers work in teams on extensive and sophisticated projects. Besides, in order to further boost profitability, they are increasingly seeking out CAD software that incurs less financial and time investment. They think light weighted CAD software may be a good choice to meet both requirements.

The Solution

Recommended by the design team in their Chinese branch, New Optics decided to introduce ZWCAD+ into their Korean headquarters. The compatibility of ZWCAD+ is highly appreciated among those who have already used it. Designers and customers can open and edit most drawings saved by mainstream CAD software, enabling better collaboration and more accurate outputs. “We are enjoying tighter interoperability with ZWCAD+,” said Mr. Lee, CEO of New Optics. “When it is time to convert the file formats, the forms retain much greater integrity.”

In addition, ZWCAD+ looks into exactly what their customers use and want, and focuses their features on these needs. This removes redundant features that are not used, to make the whole workflow and interface simple and friendly, as well as to improve the speed of the software.

The Price

The price offered by Nitrosoft, the authorized distributor of ZWCAD+ in Korea, also helped New Optics to reduce expenses and drive up profits. “Using ZWCAD+, we no longer need to worry about expensive purchasing prices or upgrade fees, and I hope more and more companies can have such an enjoyable experience with ZWCAD+,” Mr. Lee added.

See also:

• How to convert plt file to dwg file in autocad?
• How Autocad expert reviews ZWCAD+?
• How to print a multi-page PDF from dwg drawings?

4 Reasons Why You Should Not Say No to Mobile CAD

Since the first mobile CAD applications hit the small screens of our PDA’s in the early 90’s, designers have been liberated from their offices, enabling them to take their designs anywhere. Only recently, however, has the quality of consumer mobile devices reached a stage, and therefore extending the reach of these applications to a wider range. With the increased competition between Samsung and Apple in the smart phone and tablet markets, the speed of development has increased dramatically, leading to highly advanced mobile devices. This makes it possible for CAD software developers such as ZWSOFT to produce mobile applications that feature all the tools that users need to make changes and annotations effectively.

Functionality vs. Practicality

Regardless of recent developments in mobile technology, as Ralph Grabowski, Managing Editor of 
Tenlinks.com recently asked in Part 3 of his article “Running CAD on a Small Screen”, why would 
users want to swap the full functionality of their desktop software, with its 15” screen, for limited 
functionality and a 4 inch screen? Well, as Steve Jobs once explained, it is like the small Swiss 
Army Knife carried on a key chain. The most useful tool is the one that we always have with us,
 and it is the portability that Grabowski suggests as the main benefit of CAD on mobile devices.

Design on the Go

The need for designers to work beyond their office is of unparalleled importance in almost any 
other office based profession. Whether it is site visits or product inspections, all designers will, 
at some point, be required to leave their desk and work without their desktop CAD software. 
With mobile CAD software such asZWCAD Touch, designers can now take their designs out of 
the office with them, instead of printing drawings or notes taking the old fashioned way.   
This enables them to make even more accurate examinations of their designs, and annotate directly, 
on the go. Some applications even allow for vocal annotations, such as ZWCAD Touch’s SmartVoice, 
making mobile CAD an even more appealing proposition.

With recent developments in 3G, 4G and even 5G mobile data, users can have their entire design 
portfolio available to them, wherever they are through “the cloud”. With most CAD applications linking
 up to 3^rd party cloud software, this can be done automatically.  Furthermore, with the growing capacity 
of smartphones’ hard drives, high data charges can be avoided by simply loading your drawings directly 
on to your device with even faster speeds.

Greater Productivity at Reduced Costs

Grabowski also suggests that price is a key factor that promotes CAD on mobile devices. Compared to 
the high prices of desktop CAD software, the monthly subscriptions for most mobile CAD software is an 
affordable investment, while some CAD applications, such as ZWCAD Touch, are free to download and 
use.

In addition to the price advantage, companies can also save money by making changes to their design 
process. Money can be saved on reduced printing costs, as designers don’t need to have designs on 
paper when working away from the office. Meanwhile labor costs are also reduced since users don’t 
have to transcribe annotations or alterations, as notes or changes to the drawing on site will automatically
be updated on the desktop version.

Collaborating with ease

Additionally, mobile CAD simplifies procedures and makes more cost efficient, favoring collaboration. 
In the past, users  had to print drawings and present them in person, while they can now email them to 
clients or collaborators, wherever they are. Annotations can then be added and returned to the designer.
 An important factor is that the client or collaborator doesn’t need expensive CAD software, or 
extensive CAD knowledge to view and annotate the drawings, leading to significantly reduced costs of 
collaboration.

In an interview with the Product Manager of ZWCAD Touch from ZWSOFT, Daniel Huang, he 
commented: “CAD on mobile devices may never replace desktop CAD software. Mobile CAD applications,
however, as a supplement to desktop software become truly effective.  With enhanced ease of use 
and cost savings, mobile CAD applications can provide is incredible, and will only improve with new 
mobile technologies.”

Mobile CAD applications have come a long way since their inception in the early 90s, from a mere 
novelty into an absolute necessity. With the development of mobile devices, however, who knows what
surprises will bring to us in the future.

Related Post

• Switch to Layout Space View on AutoCAD 360
• How Third Party Cloud Services are integrated with CAD app
• CAD app tip: Set up your views for 3D Design
• How to create new drawings in ZWCAD Touch