LibreOffice-Suite-Draw-6.3/C3/Layers-and-Editing-a-PDF/English

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Visual Cue Narration
Slide: Introduction Welcome to the spoken tutorial on Layers and Editing a PDF in LibreOffice Draw.
Slide: Learning Objectives In this tutorial, you will learn to:
  • Insert and modify layers
  • Show dimension lines on a drawn object
  • Edit a PDF document using LibreOffice Draw
Slide: System Requirements This tutorial is recorded using,
  • Ubuntu Linux OS version 18.04 and
  • LibreOffice Suite version 6.3.5
Open the file RouteMap. I have opened the file RouteMap.
Slide: Code files
  • The files used in this tutorial have been provided to you in the Code files link on this tutorial page
  • Please download and extract the files
  • Make a copy and then use them for practising
Slide: What are Layers? Now let see what are Layers in Draw.
  • Layers are like transparent sheets, placed one on the top of another
Point to the three layers on the Draw file.

Point to the tabs.

There are three layer tabs in every Draw file, by default.

These tabs are visible at the bottom of the interface.

Point to the Layout Layer tab at the bottom The Layout layer is displayed, by default.

This is where we create our graphics.

Click on the Controls Layer. The Controls layer is used to store control elements such as buttons and forms.
Click on the Dimensions Layer. Dimension Lines layer is used to depict dimension lines for complex drawings.
Slide: Drawing of House For example: here is the drawing of a house.

It must have exact measurements of walls, electrical wiring positions and so on.

Point to the Home and then the School Now let's print three maps that show the routes from Home to School.
Only narration We will name them Map 1, Map 2 and Map 3.
Slide: Map 1 Map 1 will show all the landmarks in the area.
Slide: Map 2 In Map 2 we’ll remove the lake, stadium and commercial complex.
Slide: Map 3 In Map 3, let’s show all the objects except the Park.
Only narration Do we need to create three separate maps to show these?

No, Draw provides a solution to this with the help of Layers.

Point to Routemap. This way, there will be only one map file with many layers of information.
Point to the routemap. We can print or view a combination of layers using one Draw page.
Point to the routemap. Let us begin by adding layers to our RouteMap.
Click on Layout Layer. Click on the Layout layer tab.
Right-click >> select Insert Layer Right-click and select Insert Layer.
Insert Layer dialog box appears. The Insert Layer dialog box appears.
In the “Name” field type “Layer four”. In the “Name” field, type “Layer four”.
Point to the “Title” and “Description” fields. You can add any Title and Description that is relevant to your drawing.
Type the Title as Map2.

Type the Description as “This is the first new layer”

I will type “Map2” as the Title.

And then add a short text in the Description field, as shown here.

Check the boxes “Visible” and “Printable”. Check the boxes “Visible” and “Printable”, if not already checked.
Click OK Then click the OK button to exit the dialog box.
Point to the “ Layer four” tab at the bottom. Look at the bottom now.

The new layer tab named Layer four is visible here.

Click on the Layout layer. Click on the Layout layer tab once again.
Point to the objects Lake, Stadium and Commercial complex.

Holding down the shift key, click on Commercial complex, Lake and Stadium.

Now let us simultaneously select some of the objects.

Hold down the Shift key and click on Commercial complex, Lake and Stadium.

Press Ctrl + X keys. Press Ctrl + X keys to cut the objects.
Click Layer four >> press Ctrl + V keys Then click on the Layer four tab and press Ctrl + V keys to paste them.
Point to them to show they are pasted in the same places. The objects are pasted in the same positions as in the Layout layer.
Click anywhere on the Draw page. Click anywhere on the Draw page to deselect the objects.
Right-click to view the context menu >> Select Modify Layer. Right-click on the Layer four tab to view the context menu.

Select Modify Layer.

Modify Layer dialog box appears The Modify Layer dialog box appears.
Uncheck the box “Visible” >> Click on the OK button. Uncheck the Visible checkbox and click on the OK button.
Point that the objects are not visible. The objects in Layer four are no longer visible.

The objects are present physically but are not visible on the Draw page.

Point to the map. We have our Map2!
Click on the Pages pane >> point to the objects. Notice that on the Pages pane on the left, all the objects are seen on the page.
Right-click to view the context menu >> Select Modify Layer. On the Draw page, right-click on Layer four tab.

From the context menu, select Modify Layer.

Click on the Visible check box >> click on the OK button.

Point to the Draw page.

Click the Visible checkbox and click on the OK button.

This will make all the objects visible on the Draw page again.

Right-click on Layout Layer to view the context menu >> Select Insert Layer. Similarly, let’s create another new layer and name it as Layer five.
Type the Title as Map3.


Type the Description as “This is the second new layer.”

Click on the OK button to exit the the dialog box.

I will type “Map3” as the Title.

And then add a short text in the Description field, as shown here.

Click on the OK button to exit the dialog box.

Point to Layer five. Notice that this layer appears before Layer four.
In the Layout layer >> select Park.

>> Press Ctrl + X keys.

In the Layout layer tab, select Park.


Press Ctrl + X keys to cut it.

Press Ctrl + V to paste it Click on Layer five tab and press Ctrl + V keys to paste it.
Right-click to view the context menu >> Select Modify Layer. Right-click on Layer five tab to view the context menu and select Modify Layer.

Uncheck the Visible checkbox and click on the OK button.

Point to Map 3. We have successfully created Map3!
Right-click to view the context menu >> Select Modify Layer. Let us make all the objects visible again.

Right-click on Layer five tab.

From the context menu, select Modify Layer.

Click on the Visible check box >> click on the OK button.

Point to the Draw page

Click the Visible checkbox and then click on the OK button.
Slide: Assignment Pause this tutorial and do this assignment.
  • Create two new routes from Home to the School Campus in the RouteMap drawing.
  • Display each route on a separate layer.
  • Print the two maps each displaying only one route.
Cursor on the Draw page. Next, let’s display the dimension lines for the drawn objects.
Click the Layout layer tab Click the Layout layer tab in the Draw page.

If any other layer is selected, the tools will appear disabled.

Select Playground. Let us show the dimension lines to measure the sides of the Playground.
Click the Lines and Arrows drop-down


Select Dimension Line icon.

Click on the Lines and Arrows drop-down.

Select the Dimension Line tool.

Move to the Draw page onto the Playground >> Place the cursor below the Playground at the left edge

Drag it to the other end of the Playground.

Move the cursor to the Draw page onto the Playground.

The cursor changes to a plus sign.

Place the cursor below or on the left edge and drag it to the other side.

Click the Lines and Arrows drop-down

Select Dimension Line icon.

Move to the Draw page onto the Playground >> Place the cursor below the Playground at the top edge

Drag it to the bottom edge of the Playground.

Likewise, draw a dimension line to measure its breadth also.
Click on the Save icon >> Click on the ‘X’ icon on the top right Let’s save our RouteMap file and close it.
Slide: Edit a PDF Document Now we will learn to edit a PDF document in Draw.


For this, let us use the Resume.pdf file.


This file is provided in the Code files link.

Open a new Draw file I have open a new Draw file.
Click on the File menu and select Open.

Open dialog box opens.


Select the Resume.pdf file >> click on the Open button in the dialog box.

Click on the File menu and select Open.

The Open dialog box appears.


Select the Resume.pdf file and click on the Open button in the dialog box.

Point to the filename on the menu bar. Resume.pdf file is loaded on the Draw page.
Zoom in sufficiently to enlarge the text Let me zoom in for a better view.
Cursor on the page. Let us add some more information to this resume.
From the standard tool click on the Insert Text Box icon. From the Standard toolbar, click on the Insert Text Box icon.


Draw a text box below MOTHER’s OCCUPATION.

In the box type LANGUAGES KNOWN: ENGLISH, HINDI and MARATHI. Inside the box, type LANGUAGES KNOWN: ENGLISH, HINDI and MARATHI.
Click on the double arrow icon.

Select Font size and change it 14.

Select Font Name >> Change to UnDotum.

Now select all the text within the box and change the font size to 14.

Then change font name to UnDotum.

Select text RESUME by double-clicking on it. Now select the text RESUME by double-clicking on it.
Click on the double arrow icon.

Select the Font size and change it to 20.

Select the Font color and change it red.

Click on underline icon.

Change the font size to 20 and the font colour to red.


Then underline the text using the underline icon.

Cursor on the Draw file. Now we will add some work experience details, also.
Click on the Insert Text Box icon and draw a text box below HOBBIES. Again, click on the Insert Text Box icon and draw another text box below HOBBIES.
Work Experience: Working as Lecturer In ABC College Mumbai. Inside this box, type the work experience details, as shown.
Select the text.

Click on the double arrow icon. Select the font size and change it to 14.

Select Font Name >> Change to UnDotum.

Similarly, change the font size of the text to 14.

Then the font name to UnDotum.

Point to SELF EMPLOYED.

Select the text box and press the Delete Key on the keyboard.

Next, we will delete the text SELF EMPLOYED given in FATHER’S OCCUPATION.
Delete HOUSEWIFE and add PRIVATE TUTOR. Then edit the MOTHER’S OCCUPATION as PRIVATE TUTOR.
Drag and adjust the text boxes. You can drag and adjust the size of the text boxes to align them properly.
Point below work experience. Likewise, we can add other details as per our requirement to this PDF document.
File > Export >> Export as PDF.

Name Resume-modified.pdf.

Click on the Export button in the dialog box.

We will export the file as Resume-modified and save it on the Desktop.

Then click on the Export button in the dialog box that opens.

Click on the Save icon >> Click on the ‘X’ icon on the top right Then save the file and close it.
Point to the file on the Desktop.

Right-click on the file and select Open With Document Viewer.

Now we will open the PDF file saved on the Desktop.

Right-click on the file and select Open With Document Viewer.

You can open the file using any document viewer available on your system.

Point to all the new changes made. Notice all the newly added information in the PDF document.

This is how a PDF document can be edited very easily using LibreOffice Draw.

Narration only This brings us to the end of this tutorial.

Let us summarize.

Slide: Summary In this tutorial you have learnt to:
  • Insert and modify layers
  • Show dimension lines on a drawn object
  • Edit a PDF document using LibreOffice Draw.
Slide: Assignment Here is an assignment for you.
  • Open the RouteMap file and export it as a PDF file.
  • Open the PDF file in Draw.
  • Insert a text box to show the title as “Route Map from Home to School”.
  • Make the text bold and change the font size to 24.
  • Align the text to the centre of the text box.
Slide: About Spoken Tutorial Project
  • The video at the following link summarises the Spoken Tutorial project.
  • Please download and watch it
Slide: Spoken tutorial workshops
  • We conduct workshops using Spoken Tutorials and give certificates.
  • For more details, please contact us.
Slide: Forums Please post your timed queries in this forum.
Slide: Acknowledgement The Spoken Tutorial project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of India.
Slide: Thank you This tutorial was originally contributed by DesiCrew Solutions Pvt. Ltd in 2011.

This tutorial is contributed by Nikita Misal and Madhuri Ganapathi from IIT Bombay.

Thank you for watching.

Contributors and Content Editors

Madhurig, Nancyvarkey, Pravin1389