Large projects collect dozens of layers: imported parcels, survey data, old massing. Select several layers in the Layer Palette to clean them up or change them together instead of one row at a time.

Select multiple layers

This article is about selecting layers in the Layer Palette. To select shapes on the map, see selecting one or more geometries.

Click the first layer row.
Hold Shift and click another row to select every row between them. A Shift range stays within the same group or the same top level.
Hold Cmd/Ctrl and click a row to add it to the selection or take it out.

Click empty space in the list to clear the selection.

Lock or unlock several layers at once

Select the drawing layers or groups in the Layer Palette. Click the padlock on any selected row. Every selected layer locks or unlocks together.

Right-click a selected drawing layer and choose Lock or Unlock.

Only drawing layers and groups can be locked. Data layers in the selection are skipped. The active drawing layer is skipped too, and the rest of the selection still locks.

Show or hide several layers at once

Select the layers in the Layer Palette, then click the eye on any selected row. Right-click and choose Hide or Show to do the same from the menu. To keep only the selected layers on, hold Option/Alt and click one of their eyes, or right-click and choose Hide others.

You can't hide the active drawing layer. It stays on even when it's in the selection.

Select or zoom to geometries on several drawing layers

Select the drawing layers in the Layer Palette, then right-click one of them.

Choose Select all to select every geometry on the selected layers.
Choose Zoom to bounds to zoom the map to fit everything on them.

Change opacity for several layers

Select the layers in the Layer Palette, then change the opacity box on any selected row. The new value applies to every selected layer.

Move several layers

Select the layers in the Layer Palette, then drag any selected row. The drag shows how many layers you're moving. Drop them above or below another row, or onto a group to put them inside it.

Delete several drawing layers

Select the drawing layers in the Layer Palette.
Right-click one of the selected rows.
Choose Delete N layers…, where N is the number selected.
Confirm the delete.

🚨 Warning: deleting a drawing layer also deletes every geometry drawn on it.

Remove several data layers from a project

Select the data layers in the Layer Palette.
Right-click one of the selected rows.
Choose Remove N layers from project.

The layers leave this project and stay in the Layer Library.

To clear out drawing layers with nothing on them, keep the Layer Palette tidy with the empty layer cleanup.

What works on one layer at a time

These right-click options act only on the row you clicked, even with several layers selected: Set active layer, Duplicate, Rename…, Add to scenario…, and Delete group….

Bulk Layer Actions in Projects