Poster with layers

Poster with layers

[Eckhart Guthöhrlein]

Hi all,

I have to prepare a scientific poster, and of cause using anything
except TeX is below a real scientist's dignity.
The main problem is that I have to arrange content rather freely on the
page, without the regularity imposed by using tables or columns. Using
layers for this purpose is probably best. I have started with something
like:

\definelayer[ModelingLayer]
\setupbackgrounds[page][background=ModelingLayer]
\setlayer[ModelingLayer][position=no,x=1cm,y=1cm]{%
	\framed{Whatever}}

This seems to work well enough for my purposes. Or does anybody have a
better idea? Then please let me know.
My main at the moment is positioning. I would like to position one layer
relative to another. Say for example, 'top left edge of layer x 2cm
below and 3cm right of bottom center of layer y'. So, how can I access
the necessary values, i.e. x, y, width, depth, height of a layer? Or is
there an easier way to do this?

Greetings,
Eckhart

Re: Poster with layers

[Hans Hagen]

Eckhart Guthöhrlein wrote:

> Hi all,
> 
> I have to prepare a scientific poster, and of cause using anything
> except TeX is below a real scientist's dignity.
> The main problem is that I have to arrange content rather freely on the
> page, without the regularity imposed by using tables or columns. Using
> layers for this purpose is probably best. I have started with something
> like:
> 
> \definelayer[ModelingLayer]
> \setupbackgrounds[page][background=ModelingLayer]
> \setlayer[ModelingLayer][position=no,x=1cm,y=1cm]{%
> 	\framed{Whatever}}

layers are ok for that,


\starttext

\useMPlibrary[dum]

\setuppapersize
   [A1][A1]

\setupcolors
   [state=start]

\definelayer
   [page]
   [width=\paperwidth,
    height=\paperheight]

\setupbackgrounds
   [page]
   [background=page]

\startstandardmakeup

\startbuffer
\input ward
\stopbuffer

\setlayerframed
   [page]
   [preset=lefttop]
   [align=normal,
    width=.25\paperwidth,
    frame=off]
   {\getbuffer}

\setlayerframed
   [page]
   [offset=.2\paperwidth,
    preset=righttop]
   [width=.2\paperwidth,
    align=normal]
   {\getbuffer}

\setlayerframed
   [page]
   [preset=middle]
   [offset=1cm]
   {\externalfigure[whatever][width=4cm,height=5cm]}

\stopstandardmakeup

\stoptext


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Re: Poster with layers

[Eckhart Guthöhrlein]

\setlayerframed is great - no need to define a layer for each piece of
content. That was new to me.
Now, to make sure that I have understood correctly by comparing code and
output:

> \setlayerframed
>   [page]
>   [preset=lefttop]
>   [align=normal,
>    width=.25\paperwidth,
>    frame=off]
>   {\getbuffer}

This will be placed with its top left corner at the top left edge of the
page.

> \setlayerframed
>   [page]
>   [offset=.2\paperwidth,
>    preset=righttop]
>   [width=.2\paperwidth,
>    align=normal]
>   {\getbuffer}

With the top right corner at the top right edge of the page, with an
offset (both x and y) of 0.2\paperwidth.

> \setlayerframed
>   [page]
>   [preset=middle]
>   [offset=1cm]
>   {\externalfigure[whatever][width=4cm,height=5cm]}

Centered on the page.

Ok. But it doesn't solve my problem. What I want to do is:
- Place X somewhere.
- Place Y with its top left corner 2cm below bottom center point of X.
	(Or some other reference point among tl, t , tr, l, c, r, bl, b, br.)

You see, I don't know exactly what goes into the layers and how big it
is, but I want to place someting else exactly beneath it.

Can this be done?

-- 
Eckhart

Re: Poster with layers

[Eckhart Guthöhrlein]

Expressed differently:
How can I ask for the x/y coordinates of an edge of a layer?
That would help me a lot.

-- 
Eckhart