XLayer

Extended Modify Layer

XLayer Summary

XLayer solves the problem associated with Xrefs, blocks, and all their various layers in AutoCAD; mostly with editing the layer properties. The program allows you to click on an object and edit the layer properties without using the Layer Manager. This saves time because you do not have to know the name of the layer you want to edit ahead of time. Nor do you need to know what Xref it is contained in. The program will also let you edit any layer of a nested object.

For example, if you have a block that contains a line within another block, this block is in an Xref, which is in the current drawing. You are able to select the line and then modify any of four layers; the layer the Xref is inserted on in the current drawing, the layer the block is inserted on in the Xref drawing, the layer the other block is on, and the layer the line is drawn on in the Xref drawing. See the outline example below.

Current Drawing

Xref - Attached to your current drawing. Access the layer the Xref is currently on.
- Block - Contained within Xref. Access the layer the block is currently on in the Xref.
  - Block - Another block inside a block. Access the layer the block is currently on in the block.
    - Line - Contained within the block. Access the layer the line is currently on in the block.

In addition to the standard layer control functions included in the Layer Manager you also get a few that are not:

One-click selecting of the layer to modify
Nested entity layer selector
Isolate in the active viewport (active PS only)
Thaw in all paperspace viewports (active PS only)

License, Download, and Installation

License

XLayer is free!

I created XLayer over 20 years ago. It was the very first program I wrote for AutoCAD because I knew there was a better way to control layers. Since then it's been used hundreds of thousands of times making you more productive every day. XLayer is, and will continue to be, free!

Download

Click here to download latest version.

Make sure you save the file in a location you can find later. A good place to save is your Desktop or Downloads folder.

Installation

Extract the files to a folder on your computer which is also in the AutoCAD Support Directory list. A common location is your "Documents" folder, but you must add it to the AutoCAD Support Search Paths as well as the Trusted Locations Paths. Please see this Support entry for more information.
Start AutoCAD. Type "CUI" on the commandline.
Click on the tab called "Customize" at the top. Then click on "Load Customization File" button.
Locate the folder where you extracted the files. Open the "Xlayer.CUIX" file.
Finally, hit "OK" to close the dialog.
Select the "View" ribbon, then find the "Interface" panel.
Click the "Toolbars" button and select "Xlayer", then select "Xlayer" again.

Usage

Load the toolbar as instructed (you only need to do this once).
Run the command by selecting the toolbar icon or typing XLAYER.
Select object on layer you wish to edit. Dialog appears with layer properties.
Selecting an object while inside a Paperspace viewport will show additional properties for viewport overrides.
If object is nested (i.e. within an xref, within a block, etc) use the dropdown list at the top to select a different layer to modify.
Press PICK to cancel current modifications and select a new layer to modify.

Version History

1.7.4 (2025-02-13) - Removed unused command library (vl-load-com).

1.7.3 (2024-08-07) - Fixed bug in Layer Lineweight crashing when certain sizes were used.

1.7.2 (2021-09-10) - Fixed bug in Layer Transparency dialog.

1.7.1 (2021-01-28) - Fixed bug in Layer Lineweights again.

1.7.0 (2020-07-07) - Fixed longtime bug where Xref layers were shown as 0 layer sometimes; Fixed layer properties applied regardless if changed.

1.6.2 (2020-03-21) - Fixed layer TrueColor bug when selecting color (RGB not BGR).

1.6.1 (2020-02-11) - Fixed bug in VP Overrides and multiple viewports in current layout.

1.6.0 (2020-02-07) - Fixed bug in VP Overrides set in other viewports but detected as set in current viewport; Update help link url.

1.5.0 (2019-08-19) - Added support for VP Overrides; Added support for Named Plotstyles and Transparency; Removed dependency on external DCL file.

1.4.0 (2019-08-02) - Fixed bug when selecting the xclip border of an xref.

1.3.0 (2018-11-30) - Fixed bug with Layer Lineweight set to Default being changed to 0.00.

1.2.0 (2018-06-04) - Added support for TrueColor and ColorBook.

1.1.0 (2009-10-26) - Minor bug fixes.

1.0.1 (2004-12-28) - Revised readme file.

1.0.0 (2004-10-04) - First public release.

Known Issues

Version 1.7

If you set the Layer Transparency to a value other than an even 10, the dialog to change Transparency crashes. Update to Version 1.7.2 or newer.
Some Lineweight sizes cause XLayer to crash. Update to Version 1.7.3 or newer.

Version 1.6

Existing Layer TrueColor is incorrectly shown in dialog when selecting a new color (BGR instead of RGB). Update to Version 1.6.2 or newer.
VP Overrides incorrectly works when there are multiple viewport in current layout. Update to Version 1.6.1 or newer.

Version 1.5

Incorrectly displays Viewport Overrides in any Viewport when the layer has overrides in one or more viewports. Update to Version 1.6 or newer.

Versions 1.0-1.6

Sometimes xref layers are shown as being layer 0, and changes are not saved. Update to Version 1.7 or newer.
- This was not a bug in XLayer, but I was able to work around a limitation in AutoCAD.

Versions 1.0-1.3

XLayer crashes when selecting an XCLIPFRAME. Update to Version 1.4 or newer.

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