How to use layers to organize information

Applies to:

  • Revu 21
  • Revu 20

Use layers to organize markups

You can create layers in a PDF to help differentiate team members, disciplines (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.), revisions, or any other method that helps you organize information via separate layers. The two most common uses for layers are:

  • To separate and organize information for different disciplines.
  • To use layers like a slip sheet, in which revisions are saved as layers on the same page instead of creating new files for each revision.

Create a layer

  1. Open the Layers panel.
  2. Select Add New Layer and choose Add Before, Add After, or Add Child from the dropdown to determine where the new layer will be placed in relation to the existing layer(s).
    Add Child creates a new layer under a selected layer. This allows you to group layers together, which is helpful both for organizing and editing in bulk (e.g. turning the visibility of a group of layers on or off).
  3. Enter a name for the new layer and select OK.

A layer can be set as the current Markup Layer, so all markups are automatically assigned to that layer as they're created.

Set the Markup Layer

  1. Open the Layers panel.
  2. Right-click an existing layer and select Markup Layer.
  3. If the Markup Layer dialog appears, select OK.

Create a version history with layers

You can also create a version history with layers by using only the revised region of a PDF instead of the entire sheet. Revu allows you to select an area of the document as a new layer and to apply a background color when a new layer is created from an existing PDF page. Using only a region and adding a background color makes it easy to see revisions.

Add a layer from an existing page and add a background color:

  1. Open a PDF in Revu and go to the Layers panel.
  2. Select Add Layer from Page and choose Add Before, Add After, or Add Child from the dropdown to determine where the new layer will be placed in relation to the existing layer(s).
  3. In the Open dialog, select the revised PDF and click Open.
  4. In the Add Layer dialog, select Create New and enter a name for the revised layer.
  5. Select Background and choose a color.
  6. Click Select Region.
  7. Click and drag a rectangle around the area you'd like in the revised layer.
  8. Select OK. Then click OK again.

How-To

Revu 21

Revu 20

PDF Management

Learn how to use layers in Revu to organize information according to discipline(s) or create a revision history for your drawings.