Layers in React Diagram component

30 Jan 202324 minutes to read

Layer is used to organize related shapes on a diagram control. A layer is a named category of shapes. By assigning shapes to different layers, you can selectively view, remove, and lock different categories of shapes.

In diagram, Layers provide a way to change the properties of all shapes that have been assigned to that layer. The following properties can be set.

  • Visible
  • Lock
  • Objects
  • AddInfo

Visible

The layer’s visible property is used to control the visibility of the elements assigned to the layer.

// A node is created and stored in nodes array.
let nodes: NodeModel[] = [{
        id: 'node1',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 100,
        offsetY: 100,
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Default Shape'
        }]
    },
    {
        id: 'node2',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 300,
        offsetY: 100,
        shape: {
            type: 'Path',
            data: 'M540.3643,137.9336L546.7973,159.7016L570.3633,159.7296L550.7723,171.9366L558.9053,194.9966L540.3643,' +
                '179.4996L521.8223,194.9966L529.9553,171.9366L510.3633,159.7296L533.9313,159.7016L540.3643,137.9336z'
        },
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Path Element'
        }]
    }
];
let connectors: ConnectorModel[] = [{
    id: 'connector1',
    type: 'Straight',
    sourcePoint: {
        x: 100,
        y: 300
    },
    targetPoint: {
        x: 200,
        y: 400
    },
}];
// initialize diagram component
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      layers={[
        {
          id: 'layer1',
          visible: true,
          objects: ['node1'],
        },
      ]}
      // render initialized Diagram
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

Lock

The layer’s lock property is used to prevent or allow changes to the elements dimension and position.

// A node is created and stored in nodes array.
let nodes: NodeModel[] = [{
        id: 'node1',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 100,
        offsetY: 100,
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Default Shape'
        }]
    },
    {
        id: 'node2',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 300,
        offsetY: 100,
        shape: {
            type: 'Path',
            data: 'M540.3643,137.9336L546.7973,159.7016L570.3633,159.7296L550.7723,171.9366L558.9053,194.9966L540.3643,' +
                '179.4996L521.8223,194.9966L529.9553,171.9366L510.3633,159.7296L533.9313,159.7016L540.3643,137.9336z'
        },
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Path Element'
        }]
    }
];
let connectors: ConnectorModel[] = [{
    id: 'connector1',
    type: 'Straight',
    sourcePoint: {
        x: 100,
        y: 300
    },
    targetPoint: {
        x: 200,
        y: 400
    },
}];

// initialize diagram component

function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      // Add layer
        layers = {
            [
                {
                    id: 'layer1',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node1'],
                    lock: true
                },
                {
                    id: 'layer2',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node2'],
                    lock: false
                }
            ]
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

Objects

The layer’s objects property defines the diagram elements to the layer.

// A node is created and stored in nodes array.
let nodes: NodeModel[] = [{
        id: 'node1',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 100,
        offsetY: 100,
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Default Shape'
        }]
    },
    {
        id: 'node2',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 300,
        offsetY: 100,
        shape: {
            type: 'Path',
            data: 'M540.3643,137.9336L546.7973,159.7016L570.3633,159.7296L550.7723,171.9366L558.9053,194.9966L540.3643,' +
                '179.4996L521.8223,194.9966L529.9553,171.9366L510.3633,159.7296L533.9313,159.7016L540.3643,137.9336z'
        },
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Path Element'
        }]
    }
];
let connectors: ConnectorModel[] = [{
    id: 'connector1',
    type: 'Straight',
    sourcePoint: {
        x: 100,
        y: 300
    },
    targetPoint: {
        x: 200,
        y: 400
    },
}];
// initialize diagram component
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      layers = {
            [
                {
                    id: 'layer1',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node1', 'node2']
                },
                {
                    id: 'layer2',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node2'],
                }
            ]
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

AddInfo

The addInfo property of layers allow you to maintain additional information to the layers.

The following code illustrates how to add additional information to the layers.

// A node is created and stored in nodes array.
let nodes: NodeModel[] = [{
        id: 'node1',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 100,
        offsetY: 100,
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Default Shape'
        }]
    },
    {
        id: 'node2',
        width: 100,
        height: 100,
        offsetX: 300,
        offsetY: 100,
        shape: {
            type: 'Path',
            data: 'M540.3643,137.9336L546.7973,159.7016L570.3633,159.7296L550.7723,171.9366L558.9053,194.9966L540.3643,' +
                '179.4996L521.8223,194.9966L529.9553,171.9366L510.3633,159.7296L533.9313,159.7016L540.3643,137.9336z'
        },
        annotations: [{
            content: 'Path Element'
        }]
    }
];
let connectors: ConnectorModel[] = [{
    id: 'connector1',
    type: 'Straight',
    sourcePoint: {
        x: 100,
        y: 300
    },
    targetPoint: {
        x: 200,
        y: 400
    },
}];
let addInfo: Object = { Description: 'Layer1' };
// initialize Diagram component
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      layers = {
            [
                {
                    id: 'layer1',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node1', 'node2'],
                    addInfo: addInfo
                },
                {
                    id: 'layer2',
                    visible: true,
                    objects: ['node2'],
                }
            ]
        }
      // render initialized Diagram
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

Add layer at runtime

Layers can be added at runtime by using the addLayer public method.

The layer’s ID property defines the ID of the layer, and its further used to find the layer at runtime and do any customization.

The following code illustrates how to add a layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created={() => {
        // add the layers to the existing diagram layer collection
        diagramInstance.addLayer(
          {
            id: 'newlayer',
            objects: [],
            visible: true,
            lock: false,
            zIndex: -1,
          },
          [
            {
              type: 'Straight',
              sourcePoint: {
                x: 100,
                y: 300,
              },
              targetPoint: {
                x: 200,
                y: 400,
              },
            },
          ]
        );
      }}
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

Remove layer at runtime

Layers can be removed at runtime by using the removeLayer public method.

The following code illustrates how to remove a layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
// initialize Diagram component
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // remove the diagram layers
                diagram.removeLayer([diagram.model.layers[i]]);
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

moveObjects

Objects of the layers can be moved by using the moveObjects public method.

The following code illustrates how to move objects from one layer to another layer from the diagram.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // move the objects of diagram layers
                diagram.moveObjects(['connector1'], 'layer2');
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

bringLayerForward

Layers can be moved forward at runtime by using the bringLayerForward public method.

The following code illustrates how to bring forward to layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // move the layer forward
                diagram.bringLayerForward('layer1');
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

sendLayerBackward

Layers can be moved backward at runtime by using the sendLayerBackward public method.

The following code illustrates how to send backward to layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // Send the layer backward
                diagram.sendLayerBackward('layer1');
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

cloneLayer

Layers can be cloned with its object by using the cloneLayer public method.

The following code illustrates how to bring forward to layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // clone a layer with its object
                diagram.cloneLayer('layer2');
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

getActiveLayer

To get the active layers back in diagram, use the getActiveLayer public method.

The following code illustrates how to bring forward to layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;

function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // gets the active layer back
                diagram.getActiveLayer();
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);

setActiveLayer

Set the active layer by using the setActiveLayer public method.

The following code illustrates how to bring forward to layer.

let diagramInstance: DiagramComponent;
function App() {
  return (
    <DiagramComponent
      id="container"
      ref={(diagram) => (diagramInstance = diagram)}
      width={'100%'}
      height={'600px'}
      nodes={nodes}
      connectors={connectors}
      // Add layer
      created = {
            () => {
                // set the active layer
                //@param layerName defines the name of the layer which is to be active layer
                diagram.setActiveLayer('layer2');
            }
        }
    />
  );
}
const root = ReactDOM.createRoot(document.getElementById('diagram'));
root.render(<App />);