Creating, Modifying, and Troubleshooting Layers

Layers are a new tool introduced in Domino 6, enabling you to position blocks of content over each other on a form, subform, or page. There are two basic types of layers: transparent and opaque. As you might guess from the names, transparent layers allow content behind them to show through, whereas opaque layers do not.

Creating a Layer

To create a layer, follow these steps:

1.	Open the form, subform, or page in which you'd like to add a layer.
2.	Position the cursor where the layer should appear.
3.	Choose Create, Layer.
4.	Right-click the layer to open the Layer properties box, shown in Figure 4.15, and modify the layer's attributes as necessary. Figure 4.15. The Layers properties box.
5.	Add content to the layer as appropriate. Layers in a form can contain the same elements as the form. For example, you can add text and graphics, as well as controlled-access sections, fields, and subforms. Layers in a page can contain the same elements as the page. For example, you can add text and graphics but not fields.
6.	Save and test the form, subform, or page that contains the layer.

Modifying a Layer

To modify a layer, follow these steps:

1.	Open the form, subform, or page that contains the layer to modify.
2.	Right-click the layer to open the Layer properties box and modify the layer's attributes as necessary.
3.	Add or modify content in the layer as appropriate.
4.	Save and test the form, subform, or page that contains the layer.

Troubleshooting Layers

The following is a list of common layer problems and their resolution:

• Layer appears/disappears when it should not— Check and verify the hide-when formula of the layer.

• Layer does not appear in the correct level of the layer hierarchy— Check the z-Index of the layer. The z-Index dictates the position of the layer relative to its parent. A z-Index of 0 is the top layer. You can alter the z-Index to control the stacking order of the layers.