Unified Layer View

The Unified View command accesses a modeling mode to view, snap to, select, and edit objects in multiple design layers within a unified 3D coordinate system. This mode is active by default to see the entire model and edit multiple objects across layers easily, or to align objects across layers, without having to create a viewport or use layer links.

In a unified view, the Vectorworks program aligns all visible design layers in the drawing file with the active layer, and displays them using the active layer’s scale, lighting options, render mode, and Renderworks background. The unified view also provides a unified coordinate system; the Z coordinates of all objects are expressed relative to the active layer plane. Other layers are above or below the active layer, depending on their elevation’s relationship to the active layer.

The active layer’s layer options setting (View > Layer Options) determines whether other layers can be rendered and snapped to, and whether objects on other layers can be selected and modified. For rendering, select Show Others or Gray Others. For both rendering and snapping, select Show/Snap Others or Gray/Snap Others. When Show/Snap/Modify Others is selected, objects on other layers can be selected and they can be modified.

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Setting Unified View Options

Set the unified view options to obtain the desired behavior.

To set unified view options:

1. Select View > Unified View Options. Alternatively, double-click the Unified View button from the View bar.

The Unified View Options dialog box opens.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Display Screen Objects	Displays screen plane objects from all visible objects in the unified view, and allows access to 2D tools
Only on Active Layer	Only displays screen plane objects for the active layer
Restore Original Views when exiting Unified View mode	Returns layers to their original view status and Renderworks background when turning off unified view. When deselected, the layer views remain aligned when turning off unified view, and the current layer’s Renderworks background applies to all layers.
Ignore Layers with Different Scale	Does not include layers with a scale that is different from the active layer in the view; select this option to hide annotation or detail layers
Show only Layers belonging to Stories	Displays only layers that belong to stories in the unified view; select this option to exclude layers, such as detail layers, from the view
Center View on Activated Layer	When selected, centers the view on the active layer in unified view; the view does not shift when switching to another layer

2. Set the parameters and click OK.

Unified View

To enable unified view:

1. Select View > Unified View. Alternatively, click the Unified View button from the View bar.

2. To return to a normal layer view, select View > Unified View again.

A check mark next to the Unified View command indicates that the feature is activated.

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Aligning Layer Views

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