Lock and Unlock Layers

You cannot edit objects on a locked layer; however, they are still visible if the layer is on and thawed. You can make a locked layer current and you can add objects to it. You can freeze and turn off locked layers and change their associated colors and linetypes.

Use the IsLocked property to lock or unlock a layer. If you input a value of TRUE, the layer is locked. If you input a value of FALSE, the layer is unlocked.

Lock a layer

This example creates a new layer called “ABC” and then locks the layer.

VB.NET

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices

Imports Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices

<CommandMethod("LockLayer")> _

Public Sub LockLayer()

  '' Get the current document and database

  Dim acDoc As Document = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument

  Dim acCurDb As Database = acDoc.Database

  '' Start a transaction

  Using acTrans As Transaction = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction()

      '' Open the Layer table for read

      Dim acLyrTbl As LayerTable

      acLyrTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LayerTableId, _

                                   OpenMode.ForRead)

      Dim sLayerName As String = "ABC"

      Dim acLyrTblRec As LayerTableRecord

      If acLyrTbl.Has(sLayerName) = False Then

          acLyrTblRec = New LayerTableRecord()

          '' Assign the layer a name

          acLyrTblRec.Name = sLayerName

          '' Upgrade the Layer table for write

          acLyrTbl.UpgradeOpen()

          '' Append the new layer to the Layer table and the transaction

          acLyrTbl.Add(acLyrTblRec)

          acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acLyrTblRec, True)

      Else

          acLyrTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acLyrTbl(sLayerName), _

                                          OpenMode.ForWrite)

      End If

      '' Lock the layer

      acLyrTblRec.IsLocked = True

      '' Save the changes and dispose of the transaction

      acTrans.Commit()

  End Using

End Sub

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.Runtime;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.ApplicationServices;

using Autodesk.AutoCAD.DatabaseServices;

[CommandMethod("LockLayer")]

public static void LockLayer()

  // Get the current document and database

  Document acDoc = Application.DocumentManager.MdiActiveDocument;

  Database acCurDb = acDoc.Database;

  // Start a transaction

  using (Transaction acTrans = acCurDb.TransactionManager.StartTransaction())

      // Open the Layer table for read

      LayerTable acLyrTbl;

      acLyrTbl = acTrans.GetObject(acCurDb.LayerTableId,

                                   OpenMode.ForRead) as LayerTable;

      string sLayerName = "ABC";

      LayerTableRecord acLyrTblRec;

      if (acLyrTbl.Has(sLayerName) == false)

          acLyrTblRec = new LayerTableRecord();

          // Assign the layer a name

          acLyrTblRec.Name = sLayerName;

          // Upgrade the Layer table for write

          acLyrTbl.UpgradeOpen();

          // Append the new layer to the Layer table and the transaction

          acLyrTbl.Add(acLyrTblRec);

          acTrans.AddNewlyCreatedDBObject(acLyrTblRec, true);

      else

          acLyrTblRec = acTrans.GetObject(acLyrTbl[sLayerName],

                                          OpenMode.ForWrite) as LayerTableRecord;

      // Lock the layer

      acLyrTblRec.IsLocked = true;

      // Save the changes and dispose of the transaction

      acTrans.Commit();

VBA/ActiveX Code Reference