How to keep layers in order?

[Jennifer]

I need to create some illustrations showing how time is allocated on a calendar. I have three layers:

• BG: The background (or fill) color.
• FG: The foreground (or exception) color.
• Grid: The calendar grid.

I would like the layers to overlay each other in that order. All of the shapes in the FG layer are to overlay (be on top of) the all of the shapes  in the BG layer and all of the shapes in the Grid layer are to overlap (be on top of) all other shapes.

I have attached an illustration. The background is yellow, the foreground in blue, and the grid is black.

If I replicate one of the blue shapes (A), it goes into the FG layer, but goes on top of everything. Is there a way that I can get it to stay in the middle?

[AndyW]

In Visio, layers do not have an order as shapes can be on multiple layers. It is the shapes themselves that have an order. If your shapes are each only on one layer, you could write some VBA that could order the shapes to simulate the effect you are after.

[Jennifer]

Rats. 

This seems like a design error to me -- or at least a naming error. The term "layer" implies an order to me. I believe that's how it works in Photoshop and Gimp. If the purpose of this mechanism is simply to group entities, they should have called it something else. (sigh)

Anyway, thanks for the information.