What is the Defpoints layer in AutoCAD
You must have noticed Defpoints layer in layer property manager of AutoCAD which is automatically created. Have you wondered why this layer is created automatically and what is the use of this layer, keep reading this article to get answers.
What is Defpoints layer?
This layer is automatically generated when a dimension is created in your AutoCAD drawing, this layer stores information about definition points of dimensions. Objects on this layer are visible in drawing area but these objects will not appear when you plot your drawing, plotting is turned off for Defpoints layer.
Fig 1 – Defpoints as seen in dimensions
Definition points are reference points for dimensions these are same points which appear at grip location when a dimension is selected. In the image above you will notice tiny points at the location of red circles, these points are visible only in the drawing area and they are never plotted.
A Defpoint layer cannot be deleted and if you try to delete it then an error message will appear as shown in figure 2. Although LAYDEL command can be used to delete this layer but I would not recommend it as it may corrupt your drawing.
Fig 2 – Defpoint layer and error message
Should I place objects on Defpoints layer?
Drafters generally harness this property of Defpoints layer to place objects on this layer which they don’t want to plot for example viewports and construction geometries but it is not a good practice as it may lead to unexpected changes in drawing such as.
If you freeze layer 0 then anything placed on Defpoints layer will become partially locked and you will not be able to select objects on it.
On running AUDIT command all objects placed on Defpoints layer will be transferred to a new layer $AUDIT-BAD-LAYER and as a result, objects will remain visible in the plot.
So try to always create a new layer with its plot turned off and then place all objects which you don’t want to show in the plot like viewport and construction geometries on that layer.
How you use Defpoints layer and do you also use it for placing no-plot objects? Let me know in the comments below.
As to the statement that the audit command places all defpoints objects on the $AUDIT-BAD-LAYER, I believe that to be myth. Auditing an uncorrupted file, for example, doesn’t automatically purge non-point data from defpoints. I’d be surprised if AutoCAD would do that because AutoCAD Architecture content is built to use point data in view blocks and mvblocks put on layer defpoints as a built-in feature. I believe that the content put on $AUDIT-BAD-LAYER is content that didn’t have an owner or where the layer information was lost.
I find defpoints to be very useful for nesting points as osnap locations into blocks. I also color code layer defpoints to make sure that no geometry is accidentally put on that layer.
As a user of Autocad from Release 10 (approx. 30 years), I fully agree with you on this one. Defpoints is a layer that should not be used by users and if you want to draw something print change the layer to not plot.
I appreciate that others will have a different opinion but their opinion is on this occasion incorrect. Let the System do what it does and leave the Defpoints layer alone, this way you have full control of your drawing without risking the system causing you a problem doing its job.
I use the Defpoints layer in all my enclosure and tank designs, it is very use full as i can see if all the fittings are in the correct position and that every thing fits i just insert the transformer as a block in to this layer, and any dimensions i don’t want to plot.
I have never seen any problems with audit and using defpoints to hide my objects on plot. Basically I use defpoints as only non-plot layer: for viewports, for mesure objects in bloks for elevation dim, everywhere. But thank you for information about when it is created. I have always wondered, but forgot to search for that. I thought is connected with plotting, not dimensions. Well I was wrong. Not gonna change my habbit about using defpoints as main non-plot layer though
how i change def points layer in autocad 2021
WHY DEPOINTS ARE VESIBLE TO DRAWING VEIWPORT BUT INVISEBLE WHEN IN PRINT VIEWPORT HOW TO MAKE VESIBLE THANKS
On layer properties, right click on each invisible layer and select ‘VP Thaw Layer In All Viewports’
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I agree with you. This is Good information about what can go wrong.
I make a layer called VPORT and I make it non-printing. I give it a nice dark purple color (187),
and I put viewports and also viewport-clipping polygons on it. This works great! Then, I also
make a dashed-linetype yellow layer that is also non-printing, and I draw a rectangle just inside the viewport, in model space.
Then when I go into MS, I know where the limits of the viewport are. I could go on, about copying/making additional viewports and then using the -PAN command, but I must stop somewhere, yes?
Since 2018 Autocad also has the CHSPACE command, which allows you to move objects from paper space to model space. With this you can create an additional outline polyline of your viewport and send that through the viewport into model space, giving you the exact bounds of your viewport. You also don’t need an additional layer with this method, although you could just use one layer in your method also.
Hi John! I am a senior designer and I have never used the Defpoints layer as a “NO PRINT” layer.
super
i steer clear of Defpoints and layer 0. They both act funny so i find it much easier to create a no-plot layer. it’s frustrating to come across linework on defpoints because when you try to isolate the layer it disappears. which makes changing linework from defpoints to an appropriately named layer very timely and annoying.
thanks for the article.
Thanks for your input, defpoints is certainly not the layer on which you put your normal drawing objects.
Does anything else get put on the $AUDIT_BAD_LAYER?
Many years ago I created No Plot and Viewport layers when I heard it shouldn’t be used for elements but never had a good answer to why and the bad layer when auditing was never mentioned.
I use all the time, espicially for Vports. I’ve never had a problem with the Audit business and I’ve been using it since DOS rel. 11. (circa 1987). What I like about it is that it’s “bullet-proof” as far as not plotting and being able to forget about the no-plot setting getting changed. That said, if I do see the Audit problem show itself, I’ll reconsider.
Still its better to avoid using defpoints layer when you have virtually unlimited number of layers to play with in AutoCAD.
This is excellent! I need to present this to the senior designers at work who struggle to keep us in the previous century. They use the defpoints layer for non-printing notes to future designers doing a revision as well as non-printing reference geometry in the model or drawing tab. And of course, since it comes from someone else besides myself, they might be accepting of it. As for myself, I have been making a layer called NO_PRINT ever since they began to allow non-printing as an option for individual layers.
I am Glad to know that you don’t prefer using Defpoints layer for keeping no plot objects.
Been using Defpoints for over 30 years without a problem. Probably longer than Pandey is old. I’m not stopping now.
You are right for sure Mike :)
yep, me too… Never had a problem. I don’t draw on Defpoints, but I’ll put dimensions that I don’t want plotted or some notes…