Pages, layers and themes

A PlexiiDiagrams diagram can hold several pages, such as one per process or one per version. Each page can have layers, so you can show, hide or lock groups of shapes together. The page settings set the theme and how the canvas looks.

Before you start

• Pages, layers and themes are on every plan.
• Open a diagram. See PlexiiDiagrams overview.

Pages

The page tabs are at the left of the bottom bar.

• Add a page: click + after the tabs, or choose Insert > New page.
• Switch pages: click a tab. Each page keeps its own view.
• Rename a page: double-click its tab, type the name and press Enter.
• More: click the tab of the page you are on to open its menu: Rename, Duplicate, Move left, Move right and Delete page.

Deleting a page asks you to confirm. You can bring it back with undo: ⌘ Z on a Mac or Ctrl Z on Windows. A diagram always keeps at least one page.

Exports to PNG, SVG, JPG and PDF hold the page you are on. Export to draw.io holds every page. See Import and export diagrams.

Layers

1. Click the Layers button at the right end of the bottom bar, or choose View > Layers. The Layers panel opens.
2. Click + in the panel to add a layer.

Every shape starts on the Base layer. For each layer you can:

• Show or hide it with the eye button. Shapes on a hidden layer do not show and are not exported.
• Lock or unlock it with the lock button, so its shapes cannot be changed by accident.
• Rename it by double-clicking its name.
• Move shapes onto it: select the shapes, then click Move here on the layer.
• Delete it with the bin button. Its shapes move to Base.

The number beside each layer is how many shapes it holds. Layers belong to the page you are on.

Hidden shapes

You can also hide single shapes, without a layer: right-click a shape and choose Hide shape, or choose Arrange > Hide. When a page has hidden shapes, the bottom of the Layers panel says how many, such as 2 hidden shapes on this page, with a Show all hidden button that brings them all back. Arrange > Show all hidden does the same. See Edit and arrange shapes.

Themes

1. Click an empty part of the canvas so nothing is selected. The inspector heading reads Page.
2. Under Theme, click one of the seven themes: Plexii, Classic, Pastel, Vivid, Blueprint, Dark or Monochrome.

Shapes you have not coloured yourself take on the theme. To make every shape follow it, click Apply theme to every shape. That clears the colours you set on single shapes.

Canvas options

With nothing selected, the inspector's Canvas section has:

Grid, Snap to grid, Smart guides and Minimap are also in the View menu.

Line defaults

The inspector's Lines section sets what new lines start with:

• New lines: Right-angle, Curved or Straight.
• Arrow: the arrowhead at the end of new lines. Changing it affects only lines you draw afterwards; lines already on the page keep their arrowheads.
• Line jumps where lines cross: draws a small hop where two lines cross. Also in View > Line jumps.

See Connect shapes and route lines.

Common questions

A shape disappeared. It may be hidden, or its layer may be. Open Layers: click Show all hidden if it lists hidden shapes, and check the eye buttons.

I cannot move or change a shape. Its layer may be locked, or the shape itself may be locked. Unlock the layer in Layers, or select the shape and press Shift ⌘ L on a Mac or Ctrl Shift L on Windows.

I changed the theme but some shapes kept their colour. Those shapes have their own colour. Click Apply theme to every shape.

Where are the theme settings? They show only when nothing is selected. Press Esc to deselect.

Related tasks

• PlexiiDiagrams overview
• Shapes, icons and images
• Edit and arrange shapes
• Connect shapes and route lines
• Import and export diagrams