Working with AutoCAD Layers

Any referenced datasets can be downloaded from "Module downloads" in the module overview.

Manage AutoCAD Layers from Within Revit - Exercise

To see how we can manipulate AutoCAD layers in Revit, follow these steps.

  1. Open your Revit project, if not already open.
  2. Go to your Level 1 CAD Background view.
  3. Select the linked CAD drawing. Note the entire linked file highlights.
  4. In the contextual tab>Import Instance panel, click Query.



  5. Select any line in the CAD underlay. The Import Instance Query dialog box will open, noting what that object is and what the layer is.



  6. Click Hide in view, then click OK. 
  7. Press <Esc> a couple times to finish the command and deselect everything. 
  8. In Properties, click the Edit button adjacent to the Visibility/Graphic Overrides row, or type VG as the keyboard shortcut. 
  9. In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog box, select the Imported Categories tab and expand A101.dwg. 
  10. Note that this is like the AutoCAD Layer Manager. You can override anything about that layer you wish, as follows: 
    1. Browse to the layer you want to change. 
    2. Toggle the visibility with the checkmark in the Visibility column. 
    3. When the layer is selected, an Override… button is displayed. Click this to change the pattern, color and/or weight by picking the option(s) from the dialog box, as shown below.



  11. Click OK a few times to close all the windows.
  12. Save the file.

You can appreciate that managing layers within a linked CAD file is similar to managing layers in AutoCAD or levels in MicroStation. And you don't have to explode the linked CAD file to manipulate the layers. Since the linked CAD file resides only on the customized view you created, whatever overrides are made to the layers will not affect any other view.