Add colors to Layers Menu to help organize

[Ken]

I would like to suggest that the Layers Menu should have some way to add color to the individual layers.
I also use Trimble SketchUp. Like InkScape, I use multiple layers to organize complex projects.

Here is an example of the SketchUp Layers Menu:

<img src='https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/115997279/m%3D900/5e080ef40872fc74c8c7ba7f258d256d' alt='layers suggestion by Ken on 500px.com'>

Right now I am working on an InkScape project that involves outlines (paths) and gradients. I also have multiple background images.

If I could make my working layers one color, all the completed outline layers one color, all the completed gradient layers another and the background layers yet another, I could instantly see which are which on the Layers menu. This would be helpful because I often turn layers off and on to see how my work in progress looks. The colors on the Layers Menu would allow me to group layers.

I am not sure the SketchUp example is ideal with the different colors squares on the right side. But, I don't think a background color behind the text in the layer name would work because the text for the layer name might not be readable.
I trust your creative programming minds to come up with something good/usable for this enhancement.
I do think the way to select colors for a layer is a good one. (That is the Edit Material dialog box with the color wheel.)

Have a good day.

Thanks for a great application. I really enjoy using InkScape. (I think the pen tool is the coolest thing ever.)

[Brynn (brynn4inks-deactivatedaccount)]

Someone else will be along from the development community, to handle your request officially. But I just wanted to say -- you can change the text for the layer titles. It doesn't have to be just Layer 1, Layer 2. I could be "background" or "background layer" or "outlines" or "colors" or anything you want. The opportunity to change it comes when you click Add Layer (in Layers menu or Layers dialog).

[su_v (suv-lp)]

Thank you for taking the time to file this feature requested. There have been related requests filed earlier:
* Bug #795796 “Enhance to tag layers and display by tag”
* Bug #576252 “Allow custom decorations of the names of layers in the "Layers" dialog”
* Bug #176915 “Layer visibility sets”

Proposing to link as duplicate to bug #576252 which also requests colored labels for layers.

On 2015-07-24 17:00 (+0200), Ken wrote:
> The colors on the Layers Menu would allow me to group layers.

Note layers can be hierarchically grouped already via sub-layer feature (new layers can be created as sub-layers of the current one; existing layers can be re-arranged into sub-layers via Drag&Drop (new feature in Inkscape 0.91 - see bug #181473).

[Ken (alcovespring)]

Brynn:

Thanks for the reply.

Yes - I do know about how to change layer names. I will try to figure out how to do that to group my layers. I think I make my layer names too long. Maybe I can use a capital letter or a number at the beginning of a layer name to group things. The colors in SketchUp make that easy. So, that's why I suggested it.

Thanks, again for the reply and for the really great application.

Sincerely,
Ken

________________________________________
From: <email address hidden> <email address hidden> on behalf of Brynn <email address hidden>
Sent: Monday, July 27, 2015 7:50 AM
To: <email address hidden>
Subject: [Bug 1478036] Re: Add colors to Layers Menu to help organize

Someone else will be along from the development community, to handle
your request officially. But I just wanted to say -- you can change the
text for the layer titles. It doesn't have to be just Layer 1, Layer 2.
I could be "background" or "background layer" or "outlines" or "colors"
or anything you want. The opportunity to change it comes when you click
Add Layer (in Layers menu or Layers dialog).

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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1478036

Title:
  Add colors to Layers Menu to help organize

Status in Inkscape:
  New

Bug description:
  I would like to suggest that the Layers Menu should have some way to add color to the individual layers.
  I also use Trimble SketchUp. Like InkScape, I use multiple layers to organize complex projects.

  Here is an example of the SketchUp Layers Menu:

  <img
  src='https://drscdn.500px.org/photo/115997279/m%3D900/5e080ef40872fc74c8c7ba7f258d256d'
  alt='layers suggestion by Ken on 500px.com'>

  Right now I am working on an InkScape project that involves outlines
  (paths) and gradients. I also have multiple background images.

  If I could make my working layers one color, all the completed outline
  layers one color, all the completed gradient layers another and the
  background layers yet another, I could instantly see which are which
  on the Layers menu. This would be helpful because I often turn layers
  off and on to see how my work in progress looks. The colors on the
  Layers Menu would allow me to group layers.

  I am not sure the SketchUp example is ideal with the different colors squares on the right side. But, I don't think a background color behind the text in the layer name would work because the text for the layer name might not be readable.
  I trust your creative programming minds to come up with something good/usable for this enhancement.
  I do think the way to select colors for a layer is a good one. (That is the Edit Material dialog box with the color wheel.)

  Have a good day.

  Thanks for a great application. I really enjoy using InkScape. (I
  think the pen tool is the coolest thing ever.)

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[mray (mrayyyy)]

I'm glad I didn't file an new bugreport. This is what I would have added:
please let me assign colors to layers (background or text) to be able to organize.