Introduction to Layers

In Dia, layers are managed through the Layers Dialog and all layers related operations can be achieved from this dialog.

As a general purpose, layers aim at being a shortcut for grouping related objects within a diagram. They allow you to isolate the different parts of a diagram, in the way which you can decide to show only certain parts of it and not some others will stay hidden even when exporting or printing the diagram.

Inside a layer, any operation you would like to perform on objects are possible through the Main Popup Menu, then you can act on objects just the way you use to.

Only objects present in the current layer can be selected. If an object doesn't want to be selected, you should check if it is laying in the current layer or not.

By default, each new diagram comes with the default layer which it's called the Background layer. Of course you can change its name and settings to customize it to your needs as you can do with any other layer.

You can create as many layers as you want, Dia will put a new layer on top of all the layers have been already created. Layers can be thought as a stack of transparent papers. Meaning you will be able to change their stack order, decide whether or not to show them, draw any number of objects onto them and so on.

All this can be manage through the Layers Dialog.