# Pages, layers and themes

> Split a PlexiiDiagrams diagram into pages, group shapes on layers you can hide or lock, and set the theme, background, grid and line defaults.

Source: https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-pages-layers-and-themes
Section: Office > Diagrams
Plans: All plans
Updated: 2026-10-21

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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-visio-import-and-export).

## 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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-edit-and-arrange).

## 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:

| Option | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| **Background** | The canvas colour. |
| **Show grid** | Shows or hides the grid. |
| **Grid size** | The spacing of the grid, in pixels. |
| **Snap to grid** | Shapes snap to the grid as you move them. |
| **Smart alignment guides** | Pink guides and equal-gap snapping as you move shapes. |
| **Minimap** | The small overview map of the page. |

**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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-connections-and-routing).

## 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](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-overview)
- [Shapes, icons and images](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-shapes-and-library)
- [Edit and arrange shapes](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-edit-and-arrange)
- [Connect shapes and route lines](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-connections-and-routing)
- [Import and export diagrams](https://plexiidesk.com/help/diagrams-visio-import-and-export)