Total Newbie Layer Question

[Fritz]

Alright so I've got a really dumb question, but it's one I never quite figured out. What is the difference between turning a layer off and freezing it? They always seem to do the same thing.

[jaylo23]

The best way i usually explain to my new hires straight out of school is that turning off a layer merely just makes it invisible. You can still draw on this layer, erase things on this layer and they will even affect your plotting and plot ghosted even though you do not see (turn some 3D stuff off and type hide and youll see what im talking about. Freezing a layer not only makes it invisible to you but you cannot draw or erase things (unless you put a little effort) and will not show up when plotting or hiding a view. Hope this helps its the easiest way i can put it.

[YZ]

Even if a layer is switched off, if you were to "Select All", then objects on that layer would be selected, even though you cannot see them, and could, for example, be erased.

 

If a layer is frozen, then it will not be selected, and objects on it cannot be inadvertently edited. It's a bit like being locked, but without displaying or plotting.

 

I use freezing as a semi permanent thing, which leaves the on/off function free to be used when I need to quickly turn some layers off, make changes, then global select the layers to turn back on. Even though I select all, it does not affect the frozen status because that is a level of "off" deeper down.

[ReMark]

When you use any editing command on a drawing that has a layer or layers turned "off" rather than "frozen" will have no affect as long as you do not use the option "Select All". Don't be afraid to turn layers off. It's mostly personal preference. I was taught to freeze layers and not to turn them off.

[soleary]

When you use any editing command on a drawing that has a layer or layers turned "off" rather than "frozen" will have no affect as long as you do not use the option "Select All". Don't be afraid to turn layers off. It's mostly personal preference. I was taught to freeze layers and not to turn them off.

The previous posts are absolutely correct but there is one other thing to be aware of. Turning layers on and off does not cause the drawing to be regenerated while freezing and thawing does. This affects large drawings and hence the performance. I would recommend that if you need to toggle between seeing and not seeing a layer often, use on/off. If you only need to see the layer once in a while use freeze/thaw.

[ReMark]

The performance issue soleary speaks of was more of a concern back when we were using 486-25MHz computers. Those days are long gone. Unless you're running full-blown AutoCAD under Windows XP or Vista using just 1GB of RAM I wouldn't pay it much heed. IMPO.

[soleary]

The performance issue soleary speaks of was more of a concern back when we were using 486-25MHz computers. Those days are long gone. Unless you're running full-blown AutoCAD under Windows XP or Vista using just 1GB of RAM I wouldn't pay it much heed. IMPO.

It can still be an issue on really large drawings. Have used some from councils and ordnance survey where regen times can still take longer than one would expect. Having said that though - I'm still using my Olivetti 286, 20MB Hard Drive and 1 MB RAM. Maybe that's the problem What's IMPO?

[ReMark]

Say it isn't so! Olivetti 286?? You're pulling my leg! I bet you can go wash and wax your car in the time it takes to do a regen and have plenty of minutes left over for a smoke. LOL

 

IMPO? Beats me. Made it up on the spot. How about...It's My Personal Opinion? Rather than IMHO.

[soleary]

Say it isn't so! Olivetti 286?? You're pulling my leg! I bet you can go wash and wax your car in the time it takes to do a regen and have plenty of minutes left over for a smoke. LOL

 

IMPO? Beats me. Made it up on the spot. How about...It's My Personal Opinion? Rather than IMHO.

Joking about the 286!! However that was my first PC. No windows on there believe it or not. DOS 3.2 I think!! Showing my age now. And you're right about the layers - it's not an issue most of the time but it can be on rare ocassions so thought I would add it. But that just MHO!!!

[ReMark]

DOS...I loved good old DOS. Writing and tweaking config.sys files, autoexec.bat files and little DOS programs to get things done "faster". Playing with Himem.sys, lispheap, freeram.... ahhhhhhh.... those were the days my friend.

 

We had an Olivetti-Underwood computer we used for calculating curve stationing stake outs. Had to load the program off a magnetic strip! What a hoot. If you're hands were sweaty when you touched the strip the program wouldn't load. Now we have CDs and DVDs and hard drives in the tetrabyte range. What a difference a few of decades make. :lol:

[rkent]

Alright so I've got a really dumb question, but it's one I never quite figured out. What is the difference between turning a layer off and freezing it? They always seem to do the same thing.

 

Freezing a layer will "hide" it from the program so when a regen is made AutoCAD doesn't have to recalculate those vectors, making things faster. Now 15 years ago when computers were much slower the freeze layers made a big difference in speed. With todays computers I doubt anyone would see the difference, assuming the drawings are a reasonable size, like 5MB or smaller. Above that you will probably see a speed difference in regenerating if you are able to freeze a bunch of layers, effectively reducing the size of the drawing for a regen.

 

See the other answers for the other differences in freeze -vs- off.

[YZ]

The previous posts are absolutely correct but there is one other thing to be aware of. Turning layers on and off does not cause the drawing to be regenerated while freezing and thawing does. This affects large drawings and hence the performance. I would recommend that if you need to toggle between seeing and not seeing a layer often, use on/off. If you only need to see the layer once in a while use freeze/thaw.

 

I think that that is an important subtlety, and one I had not realised. Great point soleary.

 

A regen on any of our big jobs can take almost 10 seconds, sometimes considerably more, even on our newest machines. So I am glad to understand on/off vs thaw a little better, thanks.

[soleary]

I think that that is an important subtlety, and one I had not realised. Great point soleary.

 

A regen on any of our big jobs can take almost 10 seconds, sometimes considerably more, even on our newest machines. So I am glad to understand on/off vs thaw a little better, thanks.

You're welcome. Glad to be of some help. Cheers for the comment

[Boromir]

Hello,

 

Soleary do you still have your old 286. I have the same model but currently searching for the boot disks for this machine.

 

If you have them do you see any chance to mail them to me?

 

Thanks in advance

 

Boromir

[ReMark]

Boromir:

 

In all likelihood original boot disks for a 286 machine may not work due to age. Go to this website to get the what you need:

 

http://www.allbootdisks.com/download/dos.html

[Boromir]

Hello,

 

Thx for your help.

 

Unfortunately it seems that I have asked for the wrong thing.

 

I need the SYSTEM-disks of this old system, not the boot disks for MS-DOS.

 

In the old days. some computer needed special boot disks that contained diagnostic and system data. Without them you can´t boot the computer or certain components won´t be detected. (In my case - the hard disk isn´t detected).

 

Thnx anyhow for the interesting link

 

Boromir

[ReMark]

Good luck finding system disks. Those would have been on 5.5" floppies right? They were notorius for being useless after a couple of years. The last ones I had I cut up and threw away.

 

Why are you trying to revive a 286 computer?

[Boromir]

I know the problem with floppies! I hope maybe someone has made images. I, myself have saved all my floppies on an external harddisk.

 

Why I try to revive a 286 Computer? You see - I collect old machines and also collect old computer games.

 

In this case I use the machine for gambling such classics as "leisure suit larry 1" or "maniac mansion" etc.

 

I have some 30 PCs at home ranging from an PC XT to a Dual Core Athlon

 

some days ago the 286 didnt´find the harddisk anymore and I tried to change it. In another PC the hdd did quite well so the problem is the 286 machine.

 

thanks for your interest.

 

Boromir