Editing layers and layer folders

You can rename, copy, and delete layers and folders. You can also lock layers and folders to prevent them from being edited.

By default, new layers are named by the order in which they are created: Layer 1, Layer 2, and so on. You can rename layers to better reflect their contents.

To select a layer or folder, do one of the following:

Click the name of a layer or folder in the Timeline.
Click a frame in the Timeline of the layer you want to select.
Select an object on the Stage that is located on the layer you want to select.
To select two or more layers or folders, do one of the following:
To select contiguous layers or folders, Shift-click their names in the Timeline.
To select discontiguous layers or folders, Control-click (Windows) or Command-click (Macintosh) their names in the Timeline.

To rename a layer or folder, do one of the following:

Double-click the name of a layer or folder and enter a new name.
Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the name of a layer or folder and select Properties from the context menu. Enter the new name in the Name text box and click OK.
Select the layer or folder in the Timeline and select Modify > Timeline > Layer Properties. In the Layer Properties dialog box, enter the new name in the Name text box and click OK.

To lock or unlock one or more layers or folders, do one of the following:

Click in the Lock column to the right of the name of a layer or folder to lock it. Click in the Lock column again to unlock the layer or folder.
Click the padlock icon to lock all layers and folders. Click it again to unlock all layers and folders.
Drag through the Lock column to lock or unlock multiple layers or folders.
Alt-click (Windows) or Option-click (Macintosh) in the Lock column to the right of a layer or folder name to lock all other layers or folders. Alt-click or Option-click in the Lock column again to unlock all layers or folders.

To copy a layer:

Click the layer name to select the entire layer.
Select Edit > Timeline > Copy Frames.
Click the Insert Layer button to create a new layer.
Click the new layer and select Edit > Timeline > Paste Frames.

To copy the contents of a layer folder:

Click the triangle to the left of the folder name to collapse it, if necessary.
Click the folder name to select the entire folder.
Select Edit > Timeline > Copy Frames.
Select Insert > Timeline > Layer Folder to create a new folder.
Click the new folder and select Edit > Timeline > Paste Frames.

To delete a layer or folder:

Select the layer or folder.
Do one of the following:
- Click the Delete Layer button in the Timeline.
- Drag the layer or folder to the Delete Layer button.
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Macintosh) the layer or folder name and select Delete Layer from the context menu.
Note: When you delete a layer folder, all the enclosed layers and all their contents are also deleted.