(1.1.0) Canvas UI - Layers and Sessions

In this section we explore more of the Canvas UI features, in particular relating to layers and sessions.

We are continuing from the previous section, which has one WebView layer already created.

Tutorial Video

Layers and Sessions

Pinned Layers

On the Canvas Toolbar, select the first layer in the Layers dropdown and then select Pin Layer.

The layer is now a pinned layer and this stops it from being removed when the Home button is pressed or a new session is started.

A button is dynamically added to the Canvas Toolbar for each pinned layer. The button acts as toggle to either Show the layer and Bring to Front or Hide the layer and Send to Back. Try pressing the toggle button to show and hide the layer.

Canvas Toolbar with pinned layer button highlighted (red square)

Removing Layers

On the Canvas Toolbar, select the layer from the Layers dropdown and then select Unpin layer. Note how the toggle button disappears from the Canvas Toolbar.

Next, select the Delete layer item from the layer actions menu. This removes the layer from the canvas and also from the layers dropdown menu.

Adding Layers

Press the Add Content button and select Web > New.

This will create a new WebView layer on the canvas and in the layer list. Modify the URL by clicking in the WebView toolbar and typing in a new URL e.g. http://www.youtube.com.

New WebView Layer set to YouTube URL

Settings

Press the Settings button to access controls for the master volume, cursor size, cursor sensitivity. There are also controls for sharing the canvas and these are described in a later section: (1.1.0) Canvas UI - Canvas Sharing (Video Conferencing)

Play a YouTube movie and adjust the volume using the slider. Press the mute button to silence the audio.

Click on the '+' button for Cursor size and see how the mouse cursor size increases with each click.

The Cursor sensitivity setting determines how quickly the cursor moves across the canvas. The larger the sensitivity value - the further the cursor moves.

Saving Sessions

Press the '…' button on the Canvas Toolbar and then select Save session as.

Enter the name YouTube for the session name. You will be able to reload the layer at a later date by selecting this session. (If a session with same name already exists, a dialog box will be displayed with suitable options.)

Next select New session from the same menu. This will remove all unpinned layers and the Canvas Toolbar will still be accessible on the canvas.

Loading Sessions

Press the Add Content button and select Content Library.

The Content Library dialog will be displayed. The list of sessions are shown in a table. Click on the table headings to reorder the table.

Finding a session using the search field in the Content Library

Find the YouTube session and select it. This will load the session into the workspace.

Next Section: (1.1.0) Canvas UI - Launching Sessions from the Homescreen