How do I duplicate a layer, drag layers into a new order, and hide layers that are empty on this sheet? (12.5 layer tools)

What changed in 12.5

Three layer features arrived together: a Duplicate command, drag and drop ordering, and a Layer Filter. All three live in the Layers tab and the layer list.

Duplicate a layer

1. Open the Layers tab.
2. Right-click the layer you want to copy.
3. Choose the duplicate option. The What's New page describes it as copying the layer together with its objects, leaving the original untouched.

Use it before a risky edit: duplicate, hide the original, and experiment on the copy.

Reorder layers

• Drag and drop: click a layer name and drag it. A solid black line shows where it will land.
• Arrows: the two arrow buttons next to the Layers List heading move the selected layer up or down.

Order matters for display. The documentation explains that objects on layers higher in the list are drawn first, so they end up underneath objects on lower layers in the 2D view. If a bitmap or a component preview is hiding your vectors, move its layer above the vector layer in the list.

Filter the list

The Layer Filter switches between two views:

• All layers in the project.
• Only layers that have vectors on the current active sheet, plus the active layer.

While filtered, a layer with nothing on this sheet is hidden from the list. One exception from the documentation: a layer that has no vectors on any sheet still shows, so truly empty layers do not vanish from view.

Gotchas

• A filtered-out layer is not deleted and is not switched off. Its vectors on other sheets are still there. If a layer seems to be missing, set the filter back to all layers before assuming it is gone.
• A layer with a blank white sheet icon contains no objects. Imported DXF and DWG files often bring in empty layers, and that icon is how you spot the ones that are safe to delete.

Pro tips

• Double-click a layer in the list to select everything on it.
• Merge Visible in the right-click menu collapses all visible layers into the one you clicked, which is a quick cleanup after an import.
• See the entry on using layers effectively for naming and color habits.