Is it possible to always "Insert behind selection"

[morbandit]

When I enable the toggle button it only works for 1 insert then switches off. I want it always on so my layers panel forms a logical order from top to bottom of the document.

[dutchshader]

from the helpfiles it looks like it should stick, maybe a bug 

 

To change targeting behaviour:

• From the Toolbar, choose one of the following:
  • Insert behind the selection
  • Insert at the top of the layer
  • Insert inside the selection

To revert to default targeting ensure the active button is switched off.

Alternatively, you can access the default behaviour, as well as the other targeting options, from the Layer menu's Insertion sub-menu.

[Callum]

This is by design however the help is written a little confusingly I will bring this up with James to see if he could make it more clear

[Gear maker]

morbandit, I so totally agree with you.  I usually construct my drawing mostly from the top down, meaning I tend to draw a lot of the detail first then the background and that makes the layer's order be from the bottom up.  So I keep having to drag the detail on top of what I just created to keep it visible.  It's easier to drag and reorder 20 layers then it is to hit the toolbar icon before constructing each of 20 shapes.

 

What I have gotten in the habit of doing is to work with my current layer invisible until the shape is what I want.  Then drag it below the detail and turn the visibility back on to make adjustments and work with the color.

 

It should be that if the Insert behind selection is clicked once it works for one entry, but if it's double clicked it stays selected until cancelled.

Mike

[Aammppaa]

This strikes me as an odd design choice... if it only sticks for a single operation then there is no real saving (in terms of time, number of operations, clicks etc) over pasting any-old-where and moving the object to the desired location.

[morbandit]

Yes it's got to be a bug, otherwise why does it exist? Great if we could have a moderator explain the reasoning?

[R C-R]

I am yet another user who wishes these buttons were "sticky" rather than one-shot-&-reset.

[dutchshader]

the ui is showing this:

and everyware in the ui where there is a checkmark it is a sticky setting.

so it is a bug, or the ui should be changed.

[morbandit]

11 minutes ago, dutchshader said:

the ui is showing this:

and everyware in the ui where there is a checkmark it is a sticky setting.

so it is a bug, or the ui should be changed.

 

Totally agree. Please change it.

[morbandit]

Can we have a moderator chime in on the fact that this APPEARS to be a toggle but isn't a toggle at all, it's a one-time thing which makes the feature completely pointless?

 

It also doesn't work when turning it on and then duplicating or pasting. It's very broken right now!

[Aammppaa]

Cross posted from Bug Report Thread: [By Design] Insert behind selection toggle keeps resetting

 

Quote

 

1 hour ago, Chris_K said:

this is by design as it is felt that keeping it sticky will make it generally to confusing for most as it will be left on without people realising

 

 

 

How about removing the feature all together - then it will not be confusing to anyone?

 

I am serious!

 

At present, users who want the option to change how objects are stacked on creation are being misled (by the help file, the UI and reasonable assumptions based upon similar toggles) that AD will give them this control.

 

Users who would be confused by the toggle sticking are, IMHO, just as likely to be confused by the current setup…

• They must remember that the feature exists
• Remember where it is located.
• Remember to click it before creating the new object.
• And remember to have the correct layer selected (so that the relative positioning makes sense).
• Plus, understand that this is a sequence that they must perform each time they want to deviate from the default!

I honestly thing that just creating the object anywhere and then moving it is easier for everyone than the currently implemented solution.

 

My preferred outcome would be a sticky toggle (as discussed HERE). I really hope the developers revisit this particular design choice!

[toltec]

The shortcut keys to move behind or in front are Ctrl + [  or  Ctrl + ]

 

I set the shortcut Alt + [  to Inset behind. 

 

Only takes a moment to press. Not perfect perhaps, but it may help for now ?

 

 

[R C-R]

3 hours ago, Aammppaa said:

How about removing the feature all together - then it will not be confusing to anyone?

I can only speak for myself, but for me it would not be confusing if it was considerably more obvious if any button in the Insert Target button group in the Toolbar was toggled on or not. This is just another aspect of the same problem caused by the low contrast button backgrounds in other parts of the UI, which makes it difficult to see if a 'sticky' button is on or off.

[morbandit]

Seems unbelievable to me that they are happy with the way this currently works. What the heck is the point in it?

[R C-R]

56 minutes ago, morbandit said:

Seems unbelievable to me that they are happy with the way this currently works. What the heck is the point in it?

If the currently selected layer on the canvas is several layers deep in a group hierarchy, clicking (for example) the 'insert inside' button on the toolbar can save a trip to the Layers panel. I use that button frequently, particularly when the Layers panel is not fully expanded.

[Josie]

How do I insert behind and in front of a selection or a photo when designing on the iPad?

[Alfred]

21 minutes ago, Josie said:

How do I insert behind and in front of a selection or a photo when designing on the iPad?

This is an old thread about the desktop versions of the Affinity apps. Please create a new thread in the Affinity on iPad Questions forum.