Override Layer Properties in Viewports (Concept)

You can display objects differently by setting property overrides for color, linetype, lineweight, and plot style and apply them to individual layout viewports.

Using property overrides is an efficient way for displaying objects with different property settings in individual viewports without changing their ByLayer or ByBlock properties. For example, objects can be made to display more prominently by changing their color. Because layer property overrides do not change the layer’s global properties, you can have objects display differently in various viewports without having to create duplicate geometry or use xrefs that have different layer settings.

When the Layer Properties Manager is accessed from a layout tab, four columns for layer property overrides are displayed

When a property override is set for a layer, a Viewport Overrides filter is automatically created in the Layer Properties Manager.

If you do not want to display or plot property overrides, set the VPLAYEROVERRIDESMODE system variable to 0. Objects will display and plot with their global layer properties.

Property overrides that are on xref layers are not retained when the VISRETAIN system variable is set to 0.

Viewport Property Overrides and Visual Styles

Layer property overrides for color, linetype, and lineweights are displayed in viewports regardless of the visual style that is current. Although plot style overrides can be set when the visual style is set to Conceptual or Realistic style, they are not displayed or plotted.

Identify Layers with Property Overrides

Layers containing property overrides are identifiable in the Layer Properties Manager when accessed from a layout tab. You can see which layers have overrides by the following:

A background color displays for each layer name, override and corresponding global property setting.
A tooltip displays property override information when the cursor is placed over the status icon for the layer containing overrides.
A different icon displays in the Status column.
A predefined filter named Viewport Overrides is displayed in the tree view where all layers with viewport overrides are listed.

Layers that are assigned property overrides are also identifiable outside of the Layer Properties Manager. Other areas of the user interface that indicate which layers are assigned property overrides are as follows:

Layers toolbar. A background color displays behind layer names for the current viewport. For color overrides, the override color is displayed instead of the global color.
Properties toolbar. Displays ByLayer (VP) and a background color for layers or objects that are assigned property overrides. Override properties are displayed for color, linetype, and lineweight instead of global properties.
Layers panel on the ribbon. A background color displays behind the layer names in the Layer drop-down list. Override properties are displayed for color, linetype, and lineweight instead of global properties.
Properties panel on the ribbon. A background color displays behind the color, linetype, lineweight, and plot style controls. Override properties are displayed for color, linetype, and lineweight instead of global properties.
Properties palette. Displays ByLayer (VP) and a background color for layers or objects that are assigned property overrides. Override properties are displayed for color, linetype, and lineweight instead of global properties.

NoteThe background color for viewport overrides can be changed in the Layer Settings dialog box.

Identify Viewports with Layer Property Overrides

Use the VPLAYEROVERRIDES system variable to check if the current viewport contains layer property overrides. When VPLAYEROVERRIDES is equal to 1, the viewport contains overrides.

You can also use the Properties palette to determine if a viewport contains overrides. The Properties palette displays a Layer Property Overrides field. The value that displays is the same as the setting for VPLAYEROVERRIDES.

Remove Layer Property Overrides

When you right-click a layer in the Layer Properties Manager, a shortcut menu is displayed that lists options for removing property overrides. You can remove

A single property override from the selected layer for the selected viewport or for all selected viewports
All property overrides from the selected layer for the selected viewport or for all selected viewports
All property overrides from all layers in the selected viewport or for all selected viewports

NoteAnother method for removing property overrides is to use the shortcut menu when you right-click the border of the selected viewport or viewports. You can remove viewport overrides for all layers for that viewport.