secret flag for use in "adding new layers"

Sure, use this lisp routine instead of the layer command. It will create layers using the standard layer dialog box, then make sure the new layers are frozen in all viewports EXCEPT those in the current Tab.
Jeff
;| routine to make new layers and have them frozen in all viewports except viewports in the current Tab by Jeff Mishler - June 2003 |;
(defun c:mlvp (/ OLDECHO IDX LAYSTR NAMELST NEWNAMELST TEMPSS OLDERR) (vl-load-com) (setq olderr *error*)
(defun *error* (msg) (command "undo" "end") (if (/= nil msg) (princ msg) ) (setvar "cmdecho" oldecho) (setq *error* olderr) (princ) (vl-exit-with-value 1) )
(or *acad* (setq *acad* (vlax-get-acad-object))) (or *doc* (setq *doc* (vla-get-activedocument *acad*))) (setq *layers* (vla-get-layers *doc*)) (vlax-for x *layers* (setq namelst (cons (list (vla-get-name x)) namelst))) (setq oldecho (getvar "cmdecho")) (setvar "cmdecho" 0) (command "undo" "be") (initdia) (command ".layer") (cond ((= "Model" (getvar "ctab")) (alert "You created layers while in Model Space, no further action required.") ) ((= :vlax-false (vla-get-mspace *doc*)) (alert "You created layers while in Paper Space, no further action required.")) (t (setq *layers* (vla-get-layers *doc*)) (vlax-for x *layers* (setq newnamelst (cons (list (vla-get-name x)) newnamelst))) (if (/= (length namelst) (length newnamelst)) (progn (foreach x namelst (if (member x newnamelst) (setq newnamelst (vl-remove x newnamelst)) ) ) (setq laystr "") (foreach x newnamelst (setq laystr (strcat laystr (car x) ",") ) ) (setq laystr (substr laystr 1 (1- (strlen laystr)))) (setq tempss (ssget "x" (list '(0 . "VIEWPORT") '(-4 . "/=") '(69 . 1) (cons 410 (getvar "ctab"))))) (command "vplayer" "f" laystr "a" "t" laystr "s" tempss "" "") (princ "\nLayer(s) created and frozen in all Vports except those in the current Tab") ) ;progn ) ;if) ) ) (command "undo" "end") (setq *error* olderr) (setvar "cmdecho" oldecho) (princ) )