---
title: "Working with Layers"
source_url: https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xbrl-tagger/xbrl-document/using-layer
language: en
last_updated: 2026-05-01
---
# Working with Layers

## Overview

In **XBRL Tagger**, **layers** allow you to apply different tags to the same text block more than once. Because tags within one layer must not overlap, you can add another layer for overlapping tagging ranges. This is useful when, for example, a paragraph has to be tagged with two different taxonomy elements.

Each document in XBRL Tagger has two predefined layers by default: a default layer for text and a default layer for tables.

In the editor, only the tags of the active layer are displayed. You can create and manage additional layers in the **Layer Manager**.

## Default Layers in XBRL Tagger

In the **XBRL Document** workspace, two **tabs** at the top of the document area allow you switch between layers for text tagging and table tagging:

- **Text tagging**: Activates the layer for text tagging. Table tags are hidden and only text tags are displayed.
- **Table tagging**: Activates the layer for table tagging. Text tags are hidden and only table tags are displayed.

'Text tagging' and 'Table tagging' tabs in XBRL Tagger

## Creating and Editing Layers

In the **Layers** drop-down list, you can add, edit, or delete layers. To add a layer:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Open the drop-down list **Layers** and click **Add new text layer**.

Saving a new layer
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Enter a name for the new layer, then click **Save layer**.

Add new layer
{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}

## Switching Layers

To switch to a different level, follow these steps:

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Open the **Layers** drop-down list.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Click on the desired layer.

Switching to layer 1
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
The selected layer is displayed in the editor.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}

## Additional Options in the 'Layers' Dialog

Additionally, the following options are available in the **Layers** dialog:

| Option | Description |
|---------|---------|
| | Deletes the layer.<br><br>**Note:**<br>- If the layer already contains tags, a warning appears that all associated tags will also be deleted.<br>- The default layers cannot be removed. |
| | Opens editing mode for the selected layer. Change the name and click **Save** to change the layer name.<br><br>**Note:** The default layers **Text import** and **Table import** cannot be renamed; the edit and delete icons are disabled for these two layers.<br><br> |

## Moving a Tagged Element to Another Layer

Both tagged text sections and tagged tables can be moved to a different layer afterwards, without having to re-create the tag.

{% info-box %}
**Move to another layer** is only available for Word documents. For PDF documents, the context menu does not contain this command (see [Context Menu Commands in the Document View](#context-menu-commands-in-the-document-view)).
{% /info-box %}

### Moving a Text Element

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Right-click the tagged text section.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Select **Move to another layer** from the context menu.

A submenu shows the available target layers.

Context menu of a tagged text section with the option 'Move to another layer'
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Select the desired target layer.
The tag is moved to the selected layer. A placeholder appears at its original position on the source layer, indicating which layer the element is now on.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}

### Moving a Table

{% stepper %}
{% stepper-step %}
Right-click the table tag above the tagged table.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Select **Move to another layer** from the context menu.

Context menu of a tagged table with the options 'Move to another layer' and 'Copy to layer'
{% /stepper-step %}
{% stepper-step %}
Select the desired target layer.
The entire table structure with all tags is moved to the selected layer.
{% /stepper-step %}
{% /stepper %}

{% info-box %}
To copy a tagged table to another layer instead of moving it — leaving the source layer unchanged — use the **Copy to layer** option (see [Tagging a Document Manually](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xbrl-tagger/xbrl-document/xbrl-tag-document.md)).
{% /info-box %}

## Context Menu Commands in the Document View

Right-clicking in the document view opens a context menu. Which commands are available depends on whether you click a text element or a table element, whether it is already tagged, and whether the document is a **Word** or a **PDF document**.

{% warning-box %}
For PDF documents, right-clicking the table tag above a tagged table does **not** open a context menu. The corresponding table actions are instead available via the table toolbar that appears when the table is selected.
{% /warning-box %}

### Context Menu for Text Elements ('Text tagging' Tab)

| Command | Description | Word Document | PDF Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Set status** | Opens a submenu to set the tag's review status (**In progress**, **Pending review**, **Final**). | Available | Not available |
| **Continuation administration** | Opens the **Continuation administration** dialog if the tag is part of a continuation chain (see [Managing Continuation Chains](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xbrl-tagger/xbrl-document/continuation-administration.md)). | Available if the tag has continuation elements | Not available |
| **Move to another layer** | Opens a submenu with the available target layers and moves the element there. | Available | Not available |
| **Cut** | Cuts the element to the clipboard. | Available | Available |
| **Copy** | Copies the element to the clipboard. | Available | Available |
| **Paste** | Pastes the clipboard content. Only active if something was previously cut or copied. | Available | Available |
| **Edit** | Opens the tag for editing. Only appears if the element consists of several linked text anchors. | Available | Available |
| **Tag with AI** | Appears for a selected, not-yet-tagged text area and tags it automatically with AI. | Available | Not available |
| **Suggest tags for selection** | Retrieves AI recommendations for the selected, not-yet-tagged text area without tagging it immediately. | Available | Not available |
| **Re-tag with AI** | Re-tags the element with AI. | Available | Not available |
| **Delete** | Removes the tag from the element. | Available | Available |

For a selected, not-yet-tagged text area, the AI-specific commands are shown in their own **AI options** context menu:

Context menu 'AI options' for a selected, not-yet-tagged text area

For more details on AI-assisted tagging, see [Tagging a Document with AI](https://support.lucanet.com/en/documentation/xbrl-tagger/xbrl-document/ai-tagging.md).

### Context Menu for Table Elements ('Table tagging' Tab)

For tables, a distinction is made between the context menu of the **table tag** (right-click the tag label above the table) and the context menu of an **individual cell** (right-click a cell inside the table).

**Table tag (entire table):**

| Command | Description | Word Document | PDF Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Move to another layer** | Moves the entire table structure with all tags to another layer. | Available | No context menu available (see note above) |
| **Copy to layer** | Copies the table structure with all tags to another layer; the source layer remains unchanged. Only available if the table is already tagged. | Available | No context menu available |
| **View table properties** | Opens the properties of the table. | Available | No context menu available |
| **Delete** | Removes all tags of the table. | Available | No context menu available |

**Individual cell:**

For a not-yet-tagged value cell, the context menu shows only a few commands:

| Command | Description | Word Document | PDF Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Copy** | Copies the cell content to the clipboard. | Available | Available |
| **Paste** | Pastes the clipboard content. Only active if something was previously copied. | Available | Available |
| **Tag this cell with AI** | Suggests a tag for the cell automatically using AI. Requires an AI license. | Available | Not available |
| **Delete** | Removes the cell's content. | Available | Available |

Context menu of a not-yet-tagged table cell

The same commands as for text elements apply to an already tagged cell (see table above: Set status, Continuation administration, Move to another layer, Cut, Copy, Paste, Edit, Re-tag with AI, Delete). In addition, the following table-specific AI command is available:

| Command | Description | Word Document | PDF Document |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Validate this cell's tag** | Appears for an already tagged cell and lets AI check the existing tag. | Available | Not available |

{% info-box %}
If several elements are selected at the same time, **Move to another layer** acts on the entire selection.
{% /info-box %}