Create Electrical Schematics and Circuit Diagrams

Using Layers in Engineering Drawings

You can create an engineering diagram with multiple layers to allow you to simplify complex diagrams by separating the elements of your outline. For example, you can place walls, wiring, plumbing, and HVAC each in a separate layer.

In addition to making drawing easier, layers also allow you to selectively print or display your document. For example, you might want to print just the wiring layer of a floor plan for an electrical contractor.

Layer tabs appear at the bottom of the drawing area when you have more than one layer.

By clicking on a layer tab, you make that layer active. Any objects added to the drawing are added to the active layer.

New Layer

To lock specific layers from editing (make them not clickable) or to turn some layers invisible before sharing a document select Define Layers.

You can selectively hide and show layers on the screen and in print. In engineering drawings, layers may typically be used to separate different schematic systems that may cause visual confusion by overlying each other. For example, in a building diagram, you could put the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems on separate layers to make it easy to view or print any one of them separately.