changes in pencolors and layers can't be seen on layouts

There are a lot of possible answers.

What version of Archicad are you using?
Are you using pen sets?
Are your views defined with "custom" layers or with named layer combinations?
What are the pen settings on the placed View?

Hi Bobita,

Here is what I recommend everyone does to make sure that what you are about the print is correctly linked and updated. Rather than work backwards from the layouts - here's working forwards through the workflow:

1. Create or edit two Index schemes in your Navigator: Views and Drawings. For each of these, modify them to show all settings associated with the view (layer combo, dimension scheme, view option combo, pen set, scale, etc.) and with the drawing (pen set, scale, etc.) Ideally, these will be in your template for for all future projects - so this is a one time setup.

2. Use the above schemes to verify that you NEVER see the words "Missing" or "Custom" anywhere. For predictable and auditable reproducibility, every view should be associated with named combos.

In the case of Layer Combinations - if you rename a combo, it will subsequently show up as Missing. In the case of Model View options, for example, if you change a view option setting and then save the view - you will see Custom. You'll have no idea of what the options associated with that view really are.

These schedules are interactive - you can fix the settings right in the schedule window. Use these 'auditing' schedules regularly - but particularly before your print.

3. Open Drawing Manager and verify that all drawings are updated. Some may have been set to be manually updated - which seems to be the case in your situation. (Custom/Missing is the other reason for seeing what you saw, as Tom says. And, as mentioned by Bier, rarely there can simply be a corrupt drawing linkage and you have to delete the drawing and place it again.)

HTH,
Karl