Create layer with multiple objects?

[JHMG]

Every time I create a text object it gets put on a separate layer.  Is there a way to add multiple text objects to one layer?

I have a greeting card template for 7x10 cards that fold to 5x7.  I want to have a layer for text that is printed on the back, so I need one set for cards where the front image is portrait mode, and one for cards where the image is landscape mode.  Then I select the correct mode by toggling layer visibility.

Yes, I can group the layers but that's inconvenient and counter-intuitive.

Is it at all possible to put multiple objects on a single layer?

[R C-R]

2 hours ago, JHMG said:

Is there a way to add multiple text objects to one layer?

You can use Layer > Geometry > Add (Compound) to put multiple text objects on one layer.

[NotMyFault]

5 hours ago, JHMG said:

Every time I create a text object it gets put on a separate layer.

We have 2 types of text: artistic text which is single line, and frame text which allows multiple lines in one layer.

If you need to combine multiple text, it depends on other factors which method works best, compound or grouping or using „Layer“ (vector) layer.

• all text use identical attributes like size, color, 
• text use layer fx and characters overlap or not

[thomaso]

5 hours ago, JHMG said:

Is there a way to add multiple text objects to one layer?

If you create  layer of type "Layer" (capital 'L') you can add multiple text objects in one layer without a need to use the "Group" command.

[JHMG]

16 hours ago, thomaso said:

If you create  layer of type "Layer" (capital 'L') you can add multiple text objects in one layer without a need to use the "Group" command

It's interesting that it looks and behaves exactly like a group of layers, with each object in its own sublayer. 

I guess that works well enough for my needs, thanks.

[Bound by Beans]

5 minutes ago, JHMG said:

It's interesting that it looks and behaves exactly like a group of layers, with each object in its own sublayer. 

It is very unclear what the UI design and UX copywriting are actually aiming to achieve in Affinity's Layers panel, and whether you use one option or another often makes no real difference. However, it also doesn’t work directly against you, which is something of a small mercy.

The real tragedy of the Layers panel, however, is that you cannot search for named layers, objects, or groups. 🤪

[R C-R]

8 minutes ago, JHMG said:

It's interesting that it looks and behaves exactly like a group of layers, with each object in its own sublayer. 

Unlike group containers capital L layer containers can have Tag Colors (created by right-clicking on one in the Layers studio & choosing one of the available tag colors from the popup menu). This may be useful in complex documents for 2 reasons:

1. The Move Tool will highlight objects in a tagged Layer with the tag color so it may be easier to see which one a child of that Layer is part of.
2. The popup menu also has a Select Same Tag Color option, so it is possible to select all Layers with a particular tag color without having to select them one at a time.