I saw another post where someone had trouble with layers and dialogue box, but problem wasn't solved.

I just finished one little project using layers with no problem. I started another file and set up my layers right away and thought I was drawing on the right layers, but when working in my third layer, I realized I could select and move anything from the other 2 layers even tho they were locked. I double-checked all layers to see if I mistakenly drew on a wrong layer, but no. I turned all layers off (or hid them) and my picture was totally unaffected. I double-checked that dialogue was for the file I was working on, and seems to be. I closed file and reopened -- drawing there and dialogue has the layers named, but objects don't seem to be on any layer.

I'm using an iMac and X11.

Please help.

Welcome to InkscapeForum!

We may need to look at your SVG file, to figure out what's happening. But first you could try this. Select something in the image, and look at the layer indicator at the bottom of the window. Does it show that the selected object is in any particular layer? Or does it say "root"?

That root layer certainly can be confounding, and I honestly don't know it's purpose. From my experience, if I'm trying to run an extension, and I stop (cancel) it while it's working, sometimes the layer indicator says "root". If I deselect, then reselect, it's back in the right place. However, if I didn't notice that, and continue to draw new objects, they're all drawn on the root layer, and I do have move them to the layer I intended. There are other circumstances where I've seen the root layer, and that's if I paste something into a new blank doc. It gets pasted into the root layer (for some reason). Then sometimes I see it, and I have no idea what happened, lol.

But having said all that, your problem may have nothing to do with the root layer. If you don't see the root layer, could you please provide the SVG file? You could either attach the file to your reply (use full editor, not Quick Reply) or upload wherever you choose, and give us the link.

What version of Inkscape are you using?

BTW, the root layer means it's outside of all layers. This happens if you import a non-Inkscape SVG.

wow, thank you for responding.

first, I'm using version 48.2.

and yes, with every selection, I see (root) at the bottom. and all objects have been freshly drawn, ie, no imports.

I can't fiddle with it now because I'm late for something else, but from the responses, I ought to be able to move the objects to the correct layers, yes?

and then I'd like to know a little more about this "root" layer and what I might have done to get there. again, freshly drawn objects -- about 5, the first being for the sky layer which for now is simply a blue rectangle the size if the picture.

i'll check back again later, maybe not till Thurs night, but will check back.

again, thanks

You're welcome
I suspect there are probably several ways to get into the root layer. Maybe someone else can explain what those are.

Yes, you should be able to move them into the regular layers (Shift + PgUp or PgDn). In my recent experience, the root layer is on top of all the rest (somehow) so that objects need to be moved down (Shift + PgDn). But when I first got Inkscape (it was version 0.44) I seem to recall having to move objects up. I understand so very little about it though....and even less that long ago, lol.

I hope you get everything into place. But if you still have trouble, you can provide the SVG, and we can have a look

SVG does not have layers. Layers are emulated with the group element. It is possible to have objects outside of all layers and these objects can appear between the layers. This is the magical root layer.

I'm not sure why your Inkscape is doing this. I thought all problems like this were dealt with in version 0.45 and later. Sorry but I'm at the end of my knowledge.

Ah yes, I'm always forgetting that layers are special groups

But it does bring up another question -- Is the root layer also a group?

brynn wrote:Ah yes, I'm always forgetting that layers are special groups

But it does bring up another question -- Is the root layer also a group?

No, everything that's not in a group is in the root layer. This gives objects in it the special ability to appear between layers. You could have:

• top layer
• object A
• another layer
• etc.

Object A would appear under the top layer even though it's in the root layer.

If dragging a picture into the desktop icon of Inkscape then a new canvas will have the picture placed on the root layer.

thanks again for answers. i had no trouble moving objects from root to the layers i had already set up for them.

new problem however. while moving objects to layers, i found a red circle object that i thought had been transformed. (at one point while in root layer, i made a circle with red fill. i changed the fill and altered the shape of the circle to look more like a hot air balloon shape.) anyway, when i tried to get at the object to delete it, but couldn't get it selected. i had no trouble selecting the other objects to move them, but can't do the same with this one.

any ideas?

oh, yeah, it is hidden behind my active layers so i it doesn't interfere with my image. still, i don't like leaving odds and ends in a file.

and 2 more questions have come up. 1--is there a way to move layers horizontally on the canvas and can they be moved together in one slick move. or in the alternative, if i resize the canvas, and i get the changed canvas to increase in increments from the previous canvas without moving center?

2--is there a way to unstroke individual segments of a path, eg, when I don't want the stroke showing where 2 stroked objects overlap?

thanks.

Did you perhaps lock the layer, in addition to hiding it? You'll need to unlock it, to be able to select objects it contains. Or....if it's part of a much larger group, you might not see the bounding box, so that it might seem that you can't select it. The status bar will tell you if anything is selected Oorrr, if the object you want to delete is the only object in the layer, and you don't need the layer anymore, you could just delete the layer!

1 - No, you can't move layers, but you can move all the objects in a layer. First make sure that all the other layers are either hidden or locked. Then do Ctrl + A, which is the key shortcut for Select All. Then you can move the entire selection.

I'm not sure how the canvas is resized -- if it's resized from the center, or from bottom left corner (like objects). But it would be interesting to test! After I submit this, I'll try and learn how it works. Although....now that I think about it, it might not be easy to test.... Well, I'll let you know what I learn

Oh, or maybe the Resize Page to Content feature is what you're looking for. I'm not entirely clear about your situation. To use that, you make sure all the layers are unlocked and visible. Then Ctrl + A to Select All, then Document Properties > Page tab > Page Size > Custom Size > Resize page to content. You can even put margins if you want. Actually, I've noticed that the button says "Resize page to drawing or selection", which implies to me that selecting everything may not be necessary (like it used to be). That wording had recently changed, and I haven't had a chance to try resizing without selecting yet.

2 - No, you can only remove the entire stroke. If you want to remove a certain section, you'll have to break the path at those points, then remove the stroke from the segment. Then you'll probably want to group the segment with the object.....or maybe you could just delete the segment. Although that might affect the fill, if there is a fill. This sounds like it might be a somewhat complex situation though, and there might be other ways to do what you want. Because if you see a stroke where objects overlap, that could mean that there is some transparency in at least the top object. Depending on the situation, clipping might work instead. Or possibly a gradient could be used on the stroke, making it transparent in certain sections. If you could show us a screenshot, we could offer suggestions for the unique situation.