Using Layers > Viewing layers

Viewing layers

As you work, you may want to show or hide layers. A red X next to a layer's name indicates that the layer is hidden. Hidden layers are preserved when a movie is published. However, you cannot edit the hidden layers in the SWF file if you open the SWF file in Flash.

To help you distinguish which layer objects belong to, you can display all objects on a layer as colored outlines. You can change the outline color used by each layer.

You can change the height of layers in the Timeline in order to display more information (such as sound waveforms) in the Timeline. You can also change the number of layers displayed in the Timeline.

The layer containing the logo has red outlines.
 

To show or hide a layer, do one of the following:

Click in the Eye column to the right of the layer's name to hide that layer. Click in it again to show the layer.
Click the eye icon to hide all the layers. Click it again to show all layers.
Drag through the Eye column to show or hide multiple layers.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) in the Eye column to the right of a layer's name to hide all other layers. Alt-click or Option-click it again to show all layers.

To view the content of a layer as outlines, do one of the following:

Click in the Outline column to the right of the layer's name to display all objects on that layer as outlines. Click in it again to turn off outline display.
Click the outline icon to display objects on all layers as outlines. Click it again to turn off outline display on all layers.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) in the Outline column to the right of a layer's name to display objects on all other layers as outlines. Alt-click or Option-click in it again to turn off outline display for all layers.

To change a layer's outline color:

1 Do one of the following:
Double-click the layer's icon (the icon to the left of the layer name) in the Timeline.
Right-click(Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer name and choose Properties from the context menu.
Select the layer in the Timeline and choose Modify > Layer.
2 In the Layer Properties dialog box, click the Outline Color color box and select a new color, enter the hexadecimal value for a color, or click the Color Picker button and choose a color.
3 Click OK.

To change layer height in the Timeline:

1 Do one of the following:
Double-click the layer's icon (the icon to the left of the layer name) in the Timeline.
Right-click(Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer name and choose Properties from the context menu.
Select the layer in the Timeline and choose Modify > Layer.
2 In the Layer Properties dialog box, choose an option for Layer Height and click OK.

To change the number of layers displayed in the Timeline:

Drag the bar that separates the Timeline from the Stage area.