< Layer Name >

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

Dumb question: What doe the < > angle brackets mean surrounding the layer name in the layers panel and why can I not edit those layers? I am usually on a Mac, but just started new on a PC and upgraded InDesign (2021).

[Manan Joshi · Accepted solution]

That is not layer but the object inside the layer, the layer is the one that expands to reveal these items(name with the inverted arrow head). Now the <> means that the object does not have a name set, single click on it and you can give it a name that you want.

-Manan

[Derek Cross]

I don't think the angle brackets have any significance, they just encompass the Layer name (you can rename the layer and move it up and down the list). You can also Lock the layer. The side menu gives you additional options

[Manan Joshi]

Derek the significance is that it identifies the pagetiems that have not been given a name explicitly by the user. So it serves as a quick differentitor for pageitems with default names. I use the brackets for this purpose and it is quite handy

-Manan

[Manan Joshi]

My observation may not hold fully. What @Laubender described in his post summarises it perfectly on all the use cases.

-Manan

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

I want to move around the colored boxes, (it is a calendar), but it is like they are all one object (according to the layers panel). 

[Derek Cross]

If you click on the eye icon space you can see (view) the contents of that layer.

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

Okay, the "eye" is on, but it doesn't list the layers of boxes as I am used to seeing. It is just one object.

[jmlevy]

It seems to be a table with different cell colors.

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

So google how to edit that, then? I have never worked with a table like that in ID. Thanks!

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

There are not many available options in the "Table" drop-down menu...

[defaulttdthgd7rfzly]

If I turn off the "eye" or view of the layer named < text frame >, the entire calendar graphic goes away. I am just looking to move the colored boxed around in this graphic to update for a new calendar/year. I don't know if that makes sense. I am just used to, if you are in PS and create multiple boxes, you can expand the layer, and see all the sub-layers underneath it, so you could essentially select one colored box individually.

[jmlevy]

A table is always in a single frame and you cannot move a cell to another location. You can change the color of the cell, edit its content, merge cells, split them, move a row, move a column.

Have a look here: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/creating-tables.html

[rob day]

Just in case it isn’t clear Page Items (which are not layers) are listed in the Layers panel under the Layers that contain them, and by default their names are enclosed in < >, but the names can be edited.

A table is always contained by a text frame, so here I have a table and if I select its containing Text Frame the Layers panel indicates it is selected:

The table and textflow selected:

Layer 1 also contains a rectangle:

[Laubender]

Hi defaulttdthgd7rfzly,

as Rob already layed out: The brackets around the name of an item showing in the Layers panel could be the default name of an item. Default names are localized. My German InDesign is showing <Textrahmen> for an empty text frame:

If you add text to that frame the first characters of the contents of the frame show up inside the default brackets.

NOTE: Still the frame has no custom name:

But from looking at the name in the Layers panel I cannot know this because you can also use the opening and closing bracket for a custom name you just type in to rename the item.

But a script could tell if you see a custom name or the default name.

The following ExtendScript (JavaScript) script alerts if the default name is used for the selected item or if a custom name is used and the item was renamed:

if( app.selection[0].name == "" )
{
	alert
	( 
		"Selected Item:" +"\r"+ 
		"The name you see in the Layers panel is the default name." 
	)
}else
{
	alert
	( 
		"Custom Name of Selected Item:" +"\r"+ 
		app.selection[0].name 
	)
};

If I edit the name of the selected text frame to is contents the script alert is showing that the default changed:

IMPORTANT:
To make sure an item has the default name just delete its name in the Layers panel and press Return.

The default will be visible.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )