Name

If one layer is selected, displays the layer’s name, which can be edited

Description

Click to enter additional information about the design layer. The description displays as a screen tip when you position the cursor over the design layer name in the Organization dialog box, Navigation palette, or (on Mac only) the Layers list from the View bar. Descriptions also display in the New Design Layer dialog box, so that you can see descriptions of layers before you import them.

Scale

Sets the scale for the selected layer; see Changing the Scale of Selected Design Layers

Stacking Order

Changes the 2D stacking order of the layer; see Changing the Design Layer Stacking Order

Story

(Architect required)

Associates the layer with a story; select the story from the list, or create a new story for the layer (see Creating and Managing Stories). Layers that are associated with story levels derive their elevation value from the associated level.

Story Level

(Architect required)

Associates the layer with a story level; select the level from the list of levels for the story selected in Story. The level elevations are displayed in brackets to assist with choosing the correct level. Alternatively, create a new level (see Default Story Levels).

Elevation

Sets the height of a layer relative to the ground plane.

For Vectorworks Architect users, the elevation is set relative to the story, if the layer is associated with a story level, and the elevation cannot be changed here.

The elevation relative to the ground plane also displays. For example, the second story of a building might be slightly offset from the story elevation, and also several feet above street level.

When a new layer is added to a drawing, its elevation values are automatically entered based on the previous layer’s elevation and layer wall height values.

Layer Wall Height

Indicates the height of walls (and certain other objects such as columns) created on that layer, when the Top Bound option for those objects is set to Layer Wall Height

Enable Cut Plane at Layer Elevation

(Architect required)

The cut plane is the intersection of an imaginary XY plane and object geometry. This option enables cut plane display for the following items on the layer: auto hybrid objects, walls and curtain walls (including the objects, like windows, that are within the walls), structural members, and wall features. When enabled, set the cut plane elevation.

Opacity

Controls how the selected layer and other visible layers display; on Windows, the Vectorworks display preference for GDI+ imaging must be enabled

Transfer Mode

(Windows only)

Controls how the selected layer and other visible layers display; the Vectorworks display preference for GDI+ imaging must be disabled

Renderworks Background

Select the render background to use for the selected layer from a library or the current file.

The background selection is controlled by the render style in effect. If the background choices are not available, set the background in the render style instead; see Renderworks Styles.

Colors

Specifies the default layer color for the selected layer

Saved Views

Specifies the visibility settings for the selected layer in each saved view; see Visibility Columns

Viewports

Specifies the visibility settings for the selected layer in each viewport; see Visibility Columns

Georeferenced

(Architect or Landmark required)

Enables georeference information to be attached to the layer; click Edit Georeferencing to open the Georeferencing dialog box. See GIS and Georeferencing for details.