The SETBYLAYER Command

This command was introduced in AutoCAD 2008. It is used to change the selected object's properties to ByLayer (& you can select all).

SETBYLAYER is different from changing properties from properties window. This command will change the properties of everything be it a block, nested block, layout and anyting you have on your drawing.

You can select the properties which you want to be set as ByLayer. Press "S" after issuing the command. You will see a dialog box shown in image below:

Here, you can select whatever properties you want to change.

The options available to you depend on a system variable "SETBYLAYERMODE". This variable is saved in registry. The value is saved as an integer using the sum of the following values:

          0          No properties selected
          1          Color
          2          Linetype
          4          Lineweight
          8          Material
          16        Plot style
          32        Changes ByBlock to ByLayer
          64        Include blocks when changing ByBlock to ByLayer

Hope you find the command useful. The command is specially useful when you are working on the drawing crowded with objects, nested blocks and annotations.

As always, your feedback is expected.

Thanking You,

- Abhay Chauhan

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