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Using Layers in a Document

Unlike tables, layers let you stack objects, overlapping them as needed without sacrificing the ability to position elements with precision. You can also control the visibility of layers, as well as their appearance and position on the page, using cascading style sheets. This flexibility makes layers a far more powerful choice for page design than tables.

To add a layer to a page:

1. On the Insert bar, make sure the Layout category is selected and click the Draw Layer button.
2. Click and drag the mouse to draw a layer on the page. The layer acts as the container for an element you add to the page, such as text, a button, a graphic or a Flash movie file.
3. If necessary, you can reposition the layer by dragging it with the mouse, or by entering values into the L (Left) and T (Top) fields of the Property Inspector.

Tip:

Turning on the grid can help you position layers exactly where you want them: Open the View menu and select Grid, and then Show Grid. A grid appears over the document. In the same menu, select Snap To Grid to help you align a layer precisely to the lines. As you near a line in the grid, the layer "snaps" into place.

4. You can resize the layer in the same way you reposition it: either click and drag one of the selection handles at the edge of the layer, or enter specific values into the W (Width) and H (Height) fields.
5. Use the Property Inspector to define additional properties for the layer, including background image, background color, visibility, clip, and overflow. Clip specifies the visible area inside the layer; that is, if you want only a small portion of the contents of a layer to be visible, define the visible area by entering left, right, top and bottom coordinates (in pixels). Overflow specifies how the layer should appear when the contents exceed the size of the layer. You can choose whether or not the extra contents should be hidden or visible, or whether or not to include scroll bars.
6. Enter a name for the layer into the Layer ID field. Naming layers helps you manage them later, using the Layers panel.
7. Once you've set the properties for a layer, insert the element it will contain using the buttons on the Insert bar. You can insert a graphic, a Flash movie - even a table. To insert text, simply type the text directly into the layer and format it as usual.