The Layer Madness

I hoped Service Pack 1 would address the issue, but it didn't. Apparently, Corel doesn't regard this as a problem, but this IS A PROBLEM!

I don't understand, why do I have tons of "Layer 1" accumulated in my SINGLE-PAGE document? Why do I have to sort them and delete many EMPTY layers left from something God only knows what. Excuse my lack of serenity here, but I've just done another of such frustrating cleanups and I'm really annoyed.

Shortly, return the old layer system. Whatever good reason was behind this new system, it's something WE DON'T NEED!

  • Hi Goodcoin,

    I dont have this problem in CorelDRAW X4.
    In the Object Manager every layer gets it´s own number. Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3 and so on.
    I even tried to see if there was any difference on a complete new document or an "old" document. And no there was not.

    So to understand why this is so in your computer, you have to tell us all your work flow. How you go about.

    Secondly.
    I like the new Layer system.
    Can´t see anything wrong in having the possibility, to have one layer which is continuing on EVERY page, when working with several pages in a document. I have personally always wanted this. If you dont like to have one layer continuing on every page, then dont. See to that you click NEW LAYER and not the New MASTER Layer. Simple as that.

    • I have to constantly hop between versions 12 and X4 at the moment. I just have to. I always give names to my layers: fills, lines, special lines etc. It´s easier that way to . Why is it that when I save from X4 to 12 all the names of my layers disappear and are replaced with Layer1, Layer2, Layer3... I have to rename those layers again. It´s not a problem from 12 to X4. Usually there is only 3-4 layers but with 10 layers it becomes frustrating. Is there any solution to keep the names?

      • chrome3d said:

        I have to constantly hop between versions 12 and X4 at the moment. I just have to. I always give names to my layers: fills, lines, special lines etc. It´s easier that way to . Why is it that when I save from X4 to 12 all the names of my layers disappear and are replaced with Layer1, Layer2, Layer3... I have to rename those layers again. It´s not a problem from 12 to X4. Usually there is only 3-4 layers but with 10 layers it becomes frustrating. Is there any solution to keep the names?

        I cant get into the tech behind, more than to say that Corel made new .cdr files. The file format is written different from the old way. But a programmer can tell you more in detail.

         

        • chrome3d said:

          I have to constantly hop between versions 12 and X4 at the moment. I just have to. I always give names to my layers: fills, lines, special lines etc. It´s easier that way to . Why is it that when I save from X4 to 12 all the names of my layers disappear and are replaced with Layer1, Layer2, Layer3... I have to rename those layers again. It´s not a problem from 12 to X4. Usually there is only 3-4 layers but with 10 layers it becomes frustrating. Is there any solution to keep the names?

          Hi,

          The names will be maintained in the following situations:

          1) single page document: if you have a single page document, the layer names should be maintained 100% of the time when saving back to v12.

          2) multi page document: if you have multiple pages in your document, saving back to v12 will maintain the names if you have them in the same order on every page.  So in your example, if you have fills, lines, and special lines as the layer names on page one, and fills, lines, and special lines as the layer names on page two, the names will be maintained when saving to v12.

          However, if page one has fills, lines, and special lines and page two has lines, special lines, and fills (notice the order change), the layer names will change when saving back to v12, as v12 didn't support having different layers on each page.

          SP1 introduced some fixes with regards to the above.  If you're not seeing the above behaviour with a pre-SP1 build installed, then apply SP1.  If you don't see the above with SP1 installed, please let me know.

          Scott

        • Stefan,

          Start with a new document and then import some clip art. Watch the Layer 1s
          pile up.
          • Anonymous
            Anonymous over 16 years ago in reply to FosterCoburn

            I imported a jpeg image into a black document and it appears on the one and only one Layer 1.

            • Foster, and others,

              I just saw the Layer 1 mess.

              Here is the thing.

              1. If you start a new document and make your own images from scratch, layers are number accordingly. Just click new layer.
              2. If you start a new document and IMPORT a Jpeg all jpegs are imported into the same Layer 1, until you make a new layer
              3. If you start a new document and IMPORT a CLIPART it makes an extra Layer 1, disregarding the first empty Layer 1, and then continue making an extra Layer 1, for each and every imported Clipart

              Yes this really have to be adressed.

              I had not notice this because I so rarely use Cliparts. I kind of always make my own original images, and always click NEW Layer, or NEW Master layer.


              • A tip,

                There is a difference in the IMPORT to the new document.
                When importing a jpeg the "Maintain Layers and Pages"  you dont need to make any adjustments in the dialog when you choose Import. But when you import a clipart, (.cdr file format), you DO need to make an adjustment to avoid the Layer 1 to multiply.

                When you start a new document, and choose Import, and you like to have imported elements on the same layer, right away, you un-check, choose to disable "Maintain Layers And Pages". Then select a file, after that disable "Maintain Layers and Pages", its now reachable (Not greyed out). Un-check, and click ok.

                I still think this shouldnt have to be this way.
                Feels like a unessecary move, and especially easy to miss when the "Maintain Layers and Pages" is greyed-out until you select a file. Very easy to miss, and a bit time consuming. And easy to forget if not importing Clipart (.cdr) files that often.

                • Stefan, importing is not always related to using cliparts or other "external" stuff. Most of the time it's just exchanging the elements between the documents. I constantly have to import the contents of other documents in order to create new, modifed documents based on them.

                  For instance, I have to import multiple labels and premade snippets to a single color separation layout all the time. It's part of my job. And it's really annoying to see the stockpile of Layer 1's accumulated in the object manager. Not that I use layers much -- in fact, I use them very rarely -- but this is simply ridiculous.

                  And the case is not only in the empty layers, but also in a chaotic (to my perception) way they are auto-organized. Often I try to bring an object forward or back but fail to do so, because it's on a different layer and God only knows how it got there. I have to interchange objects between the layers because of this, combine the layers and so on, loosing my precious time. Why do I have to do this? In the previous versions the user could work without layers, not even knowing they ever existed. Now they INTERFERE!

                  • Michael,

                    Import CDR clip art files. Since the file you are importing already has a
                    Layer 1, you'll now have two. Import another one and you'll have three.
                • Goodcoin,

                  I'm not one who uses layers much. So you would think the new layer
                  functional (disfunctionality) wouldn't affect me much. Yet my biggest beef
                  with it is that you get a new Layer 1 every time you import a file. Believe
                  me, I've complained very loudly about this to the "right people" at Corel.
                  Will it get changed in a service pack? Probably not. We can't even say for
                  sure it will be fixed in the next version. But I think Corel would be nuts
                  if they didn't address this in the next version as I've heard of very few
                  users who appreciate the new layer functionality while many existing users
                  hate it.