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Create New Layer

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iceni

Mechanical
Sep 23, 2006
3
Why can't I create a new layer?

The dialog box is greyed out, what do I need to do to overcome this?

I learning solidworks from a book etc so all this is basic stuff
 
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You can only create layers in drawings.

Rob Rodriguez CSWP
President: Northern
Vermont SolidWorks User Group
(updated 8/12/06)
SW 2006 SP 4.0 / SW 2007 SP 0.0
 
You need to have a drawing open before being able to access the Layers toolbar.

[cheers]
Helpful SW websites faq559-520​
How to find answers ... faq559-1091​
SW2006-SP5 Basic ... No PDM​
 
Have I got this correct:

I can only create a layer in a 2D drawing not in a 3D sketch.

If I create a layer in the 2D drawing can I then switch it on and off in a 3D sketch?

 
What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Wes C.
------------------------------
No trees were killed in the sending of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
 
iceni said:
If I create a layer in the 2D drawing can I then switch it on and off in a 3D sketch?
No, the 3DSketch would be in the model.
Different from ACAD.
I second Wes's question, what exactly are you trying to accomplish?

Chris
Systems Analyst, I.S.
SolidWorks 06 4.1/PDMWorks 06
AutoCAD 06
ctopher's home (updated 06-21-06)
 
You can use seperate sketches or you can try using blocks.
 
Layers do not exist in (and cannot be used in) the 2D or 3D sketches which create the solid model. They can only be used in the 2D drawings created from the solid model.

Instead of using layers in a model, features can be shown or hidden, supressed or unsupressed using configurations. Specific feature types can also be assigned specific colours to help differentiate.

[cheers]
Helpful SW websites faq559-520​
How to find answers ... faq559-1091​
SW2006-SP5 Basic ... No PDM​
 
Thanks CorBlimey that was the answer I was looking for - I previously used a 2D system and was famililar with using layers in that.

The original purpose was to be able to switch in and out centre lines.

A centre line I used in one sketch was not available in a new sketch, so I though if they were in one layer (centre lines that is) I could switch them in and out as required.
 
What do you mean by "available"? You can show any previously created sketch and use any of its geometry for relations, dimensions, etc. I believe the only things you can't do are use them as a center of rotation for a revolve or as a mirror line for "mirror entities". However, if you need those functions you can draw a new centerline coincident with the old one.
 
Expand the feature (in the Feature Manager tree) till you see the sketch you need, then RMB click on the sketch and select Show.

Also, if it's just hole or cylinder centrelines you need, you can use the View > Temporary Axes function ... or if you created Reference Axes, View > Axes.

[cheers]
Helpful SW websites faq559-520​
How to find answers ... faq559-1091​
SW2006-SP5 Basic ... No PDM​
 
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