Layers

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Layers


 

editor.icon Layers

 


 

Click Layers (or press Ctrl+L) to open the Layers pane:

 

architecture.layers.document

Figure 1. View Tab, Panes Dropdown Menu, Layers

 

The Layers pane displays information about document layers:

 

architecture.layers

Figure 2. Layers Pane

 

Layers contain page content that can be displayed/hidden as desired. They are a useful feature in cases where documents need to feature a varying appearance depending on the intended audience. For example it is possible to create text-based layers that each feature a different language and fit over image-based content. The desired layer can then be enabled in order to match the language of the target audience:

 

layers.document.english

Figure 3. Sample Layers Document, English Layer Enabled

 

layers.document.spanish

Figure 4. Sample Layers Document, Spanish Layer Enabled

 

Use the icons in the Layers pane to perform the following operations:

 

Click layers.options Options to view options for layers, as detailed below.

Click add.new.layer Add New Layer to add a new layer to the current document, as detailed below.

Click rename.layer Rename to rename selected layers.

Click delete.layer Delete to delete selected layers.

Click layers.bulb to show/hide layers.

Click layers.properties.image Properties to view/edit the properties of selected layers. The Layer Properties pane will open:

 

layers.properties

Figure 5. Sample Layers Document. Layer Properties Pane

 

The Title property displays the title of layers as they appear in the Layers pane.

The Intent property displays the intended use for layers:

None means there is no specified intent.

View means that the layer is intended for use as a viewing aid.

Design means the layer is intended for use in understanding the design of the document.

Design and View means both Design and View.

Please note that PDF applications may use the Intent property to determine whether or not layers are displayed.

The Default State property displays the default state of layers when the document that contains them is opened.

The Locked property displays the editable status of layers.

The Visibility property displays the visibility status of layers.

The Print property displays the printing status of layers.

The Export property displays the export status of layers. This property determines whether or not layers appear in resulting documents when the file is exported to an application/file format that supports layers.

 

Click layers.options Options for layers options:

 

layers.options.v7

Figure 6. Layers Options

 

Click Add New Layer to add a new layer to the current document. The Add New Layer dialog box will open, as detailed below.

Click Add Text Label to add a text label to selected layers.

Click Flatten All Layers to convert all layers into base content. Layers converted in this manner can then be edited using the Edit Content Tool.

Click List Layers for All Pages to display layers on every page of the document.

Click List Layers for Visible Pages to display layers on the pages currently visible in the document.

Click Reset to Initial Visibility to revert all layers to their default state.

Click Apply Layers Overrides to display all layers. This option includes layers not listed in the layers pane.

Click Show All Layers/Hide All Layers to show/hide all layers in the document.

Click Expand All to expand all layers in the Layers pane.

Click Collapse All to collapse all layers in the Layers pane.

Click Rename to rename selected layers.

Click Properties to view/edit the properties of the selected layer, as detailed above.

 

add.new.layer.dialog.box

Figure 7. Add New Layer Dialog Box

 

Enter the name of the new layer in the Layer Name text box.

Select/clear the is ON box to set the default state of the layer to on/off.

Select the Add to Layers Pane box to add the new layer to the Layers pane.

Select/clear the Is Locked box to disable/enable subsequent users from changing the state of the layer.

Use the Object Visibility Options dropdown menus to determine the visibility of the layer when the documents that contains it is viewed/printed/exported.

Select the Show when system language matches box to show the layer when the application language matches a given language, then select the desired language in the adjacent dropdown menu.

Select the Use partial language match to display the layer when there is a partial language match with the language specified. A partial language match occurs when the region of the language is the same as in the language specified but the locale is different. For example, if US English is specified in the Show when system language matches dropdown menu and the Use partial language match box is selected, then the layer will be displayed when the application language is identified as US English, United Kingdom English, South African English and all other derivatives of English listed in the dropdown menu.

Select the Show on Zoom box to display the layer when the zoom function is used. Use the adjacent number boxes to specify the minimum and maximum levels of zoom at which the layer is displayed.

Select the Add to a Layer Radio Button Group to add the layer to a Layer Radio Button Group. Layers contained in a radio button group are mutually exclusive - if one layer is enabled then the rest are disabled.

Select the Add selected Comments to this layer box to add selected comments to the layer.

 

Click OK to save changes.

 

Please note that it is necessary to save, close and reopen documents in order for some of the settings detailed above to be displayed.