Open Overlay

Type the text equivalent at the command prompt

The OPEN OVERLAY command loads a selected file as an overlay, sharing the same coordinate space as other loaded overlay/reference drawings.

Choose a file as. The overlay loads into the same window as the first loaded drawing (loaded either by default when CC3 started, or with Open).

You can load as many overlay files as your computer’s memory allows.

All entities on an overlay file are editable as if they were in the main drawing. However, entities will not migrate between files. For instance, the DRAG command will only displace an entity within its source drawing, never to another drawing or overlay file.

To draw entities on an overlay file, use the Multi-Drawing Control dialog. Select the overlay to be active by checking the control box in the first column.

Overlay files are listed in the Multi-Drawing Control dialog with an overlay icon in the third checkbox column.

To save an overlay file, you can use the Multi-Drawing Control dialog, select the desired overlay, and choose the Save 1 button. You can use the SAVE ALL command to save all loaded files.

To close an overlay file, you can use the Multi-Drawing Control dialog, select the desired overlay, and choose the Close file button.

A file opened with the OPEN SEPARATE command is not an overlay file. They cannot be part of an overlay system unless they are closed and re-opened as such.

How does an overlay file differ from a reference file?

A reference file is an overlay file that cannot be edited. That is, no entities on a reference file can be selected for editing. Reference files cannot be selected as active in the Multi-Drawing Control dialog. Reference files can be made editable by checking off the "R" in the second column control box (changing its status to a selectable overlay). Conversely, an overlay can be made a read-only reference by checking on the "R" in the second column control box.

Text equivalent: OPENOVL