Page 183 - Xara Designer Pro X17

Page & Layer Gallery 183

Make the current layer always visible
It's possible that the current layer can be hidden or even locked. Just clicking on a layer
to select it and making it the current layer does not normally change its visible or locked
state. But there is a preference in the General (on page 626) tab of the Options dialog
(right click a page and choose PAGE OPTIONS or choose OPTIONS from the UTILITIES
menu) to make the current layers always visible and editable (unlocked). If you select this
option then whenever you select any layer in the PAGE & LAYER GALLERY it's made visible
and unlocked. Moving to another layer will restore the previous visible and locked state of
the layer you just moved from.

Layers in PDF documents
Layers are useful for producing overlays. For example on a floor plan of a building, you
might have overlays showing the fire points, power outlets or wiring. By putting such
items on named layers you can easily show or hide them. When saving a document as a
PDF (on page 594), you can select to enable layers in your PDF document, and so then
using the Layers control in PDF reader you can turn the layers on or off.

To enable layers in your PDF file: When exporting as a PDF, select the Advanced option
on the export screen, and then choose Adobe Reader 6 or higher (PDF version 1.5 or
higher) from the PDF Version list. And then on the Layers tab of the same dialog, select
the 'Enable Reader layers..' option. When you view your PDF file in Adobe Reader there
is a Layers control available.

Soft Groups and Layers
Soft Groups (on page 101) are unusual because they are groups of objects that can span
different layers. (Normal groups have to be contained within one layer). When you select
any part of a soft group the other parts are also selected, even if they are on hidden or
locked layers. The PAGE & LAYER GALLERY will show all selected items highlighted in blue,
but in the case of soft groups these items may be on other layers that you've not
expanded, and so are not immediately visible.

See the section on Soft Groups (on page 101) in the Object Handling chapter to find out
more.

Layer Operations

Clicking the LAYERS button on the top of the Page & Layer Gallery (or right clicking in the
gallery and choosing LAYER MODE) will display only the layers on the current page. This is
a mode - the Layers button stays depressed. While in layers mode, as you move to
different pages the layers for the current page are always shown and all other page
nodes are collapsed. Click the LAYERS button (or right click and choose LAYER MODE)
again to turn off layers mode.

You can re-order the layers, that is, the stacking order on the page, by using drag and
drop on the layers in the Page & Layer Gallery.