Changing the position of a layer

About this task

When you create a layer, it contains default position values. You can change the position of a layer in several dimensions by changing its position values. Note that you specify a layer position in relation to the block that contains it (also called the parent element).

Procedure

Select the layer.
Choose Layer - Layer Properties and click the Positioning tab.
Choose a position and position value, as described in the following table:

Results


Layer Position	Description	Default value
Top	Specifies the location of the leading edge of the layer.	"Auto" aligns the beginning of the layer vertically with its original location (insertion point).
Left	Specifies the location of the left edge of the layer.	"Auto" aligns the left edge horizontally with its original location (insertion point).
Width	Specifies the width of the layer, a value based on the location of its right edge relative to its left edge.	One-third of the width of the window or the parent element, whichever applies.
Height	Specifies the height of the layer, a value based on the location of its trailing edge relative to the leading edge.	One-third of the height of the window or the parent element, whichever applies.
Z-Index	Specifies the stacking order of the layer; that is, how close to or far from the front of the parent element the layer is located.	0; that is, in front of the parent element.

Table of values for layer positions

About this task

The following table summarizes the possible values for each position.


Layer Position	Value	Description
Top	Pixels	The location in pixels from the leading edge of the parent element.
Inches	The location in inches from the leading edge of the parent element.
Ems	The location in em units from the leading edge of the parent element.
Percent	The location from the leading edge of the parent element, computed as a percentage of the height of the parent element.
Characters	The location in characters from the leading edge of the parent element.
Auto	The default location of the leading edge. The layer leading edge is aligned vertically with the leading edge of the original insertion point.
Left	Pixels	The location in pixels from the left edge of the parent element.
Inches	The location in inches from the left edge of the parent element.
Ems	The location in em units from the left edge of the parent element.
Percent	The location from the left edge of the parent element, computed as a percentage of the width of the parent element.
Characters	The location in characters from the left edge of the parent element.
Auto	The default location of the left edge. The layer left edge is aligned horizontally with the left edge of the original insertion point.
Width	Pixels	The layer's width in pixels.
Inches	The layer's width in inches.
Ems	The layer's width in em units.
Percent	The layer's width, computed as a percentage of the width of the parent element
Characters	The layer's width in characters.
Auto	"Auto" sets the width automatically based on the layer's contents.
Height	Pixels	The layer's height in pixels.
inches	The layer's height in inches.
Ems	The layer's height in em units.
Percent	The layer's height, computed as a percentage of the height of the parent element.
Characters	The layer's height in characters.
Auto	"Auto" sets the height automatically based on the layer's contents.
Z-Index	Integer	A layer with a greater Z-Index value (for example, layer A) is located closer to the user; that is, it is stacked in front of a layer with a lesser Z-Index value (for example, layer B). If the layers overlap and layer A is opaque, the contents of layer A obscure the contents of layer B. In addition, the contents of layer B cannot be clicked or selected, even if layer A is tranparent. A negative Z-Index is placed behind the parent element's contents (so that it cannot be clicked or selected); a positive Z-Index (>=0) is placed in front of the parent element's contents (and prevents overlapped parent element content from being clicked or selected).