Layer Support to Show/Hide Set of Shape with Single Click

Diagram Layer is a feature to help categorizing shapes into different distinct layers. We can use a separate layer for annotation, we also can place alternative paths of a flow in a separate layer. Since layers can be shown or hide, it provides an ideal solution for controlling the portion of diagram to appear on diagram.

In this article, we will demonstrate the use of Layer by adding a layer for annotating a Business Process Diagram.

Sample Usage: Adding Separate Layer for Annotating Shapes

Here is a Business Process Diagram. Let's annotate the elements by adding a new layer and placing the annotation on it.
1.	Right click on the diagram background and select Layers... from the popup menu.
2.	This popup a floating Diagram Layers dialog box. Click the Create new layer button at the top left of the dialog box.
3.	Enter the name of layer. In this example, Annotation is used.
4.	Click Close to confirm and go back to the diagram.
5.	The newly added layer is automatically set as the active layer. Shapes that will be created will be put in this layer. Now, start creating annotation shapes. (Annotation can be found from the diagram toolbar)
	This is the final result:

By separating shapes into layers, we can show or hide particular kinds of shapes by showing or hiding the layer that own the shapes, which helps in delivering works to different types of users. With this example, we can export diagrams without annotations, and send user the result, while the internal copy can have the annotation existing.

To hide a layer, open the Diagram Layers dialog box again, and uncheck Visible for the layer we want to hide.

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