Hotkeys for Layer Selection

[TroutNemesis]

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
It is distracting when I have to look away from what I'm currently working on to click on a button to swap my layer.

Describe the solution you'd like
I would like hotkeys for each of the layers including the VBL. This way I can focus on the map and not on clicking buttons.

Describe alternatives you've considered
A workable alternative would be a single hotkey which cycled through the layers. This is less desirable as I would have to repeat the same hotkey to get to a desired layer. And if I miss the layer I have to cycle around again.

[taustinoc]

Another option would be a macro command to change the selected layer, since macros can have user assigned hotkeys.

[adventuremagic123]

I have to say that one thing I like and mostly hate are hotkeys. This is a problem in Windows and other programs. If you make a typo using hotkeys, you have NO idea what you've done. Should you save your file or dump it and start over?

Rather Windows and applications should allow ALL of the hotkey sequences they support to be individually enabled or disabled. I don't use about 90% of the hotkey combinations available.

[icarean]

Arrived here while searching for the feature requested by TroutNemesis. I agree this would be useful. Something like 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (or CTRL-1 etc) to select between Token, Hidden, ... and VBL layers would be handy and save the frustration of moving the mouse over to the top right and top bar to switch layers. Those hotkeys should only switch layers when the user is on the map with no dialogue boxes open (i.e., it should switch layers when mapping, but not when entering token names or hitpoints etc).

I've been searching the list of macro functions and experimenting, but there doesn't seem to be a way to do this by macro. You can move a token to another layer, but it doesn't seem you can switch the user interaction to a new layer. So there's no workaround I can identify.

[thelsing]

Ok what should the hotkey be? My vote is still on CTRL-1 - 5.

[TroutNemesis]

CTRL-1 - 5 would be great! I'm open to any solutions. hotkeys for various tools would be awesome. Layers would be particularly helpful.

[kwvanderlinde]

In GIMP we can use Page Up / Page Down keys to go up / down through layers. I like that idea in terms of the direction being intuitive. Downside of course would be not being able to jump to a specific layer.

[Phergus]

Or we could do both. Hotkeys to specific layers and page up/down for shifting up/down by one.

[thelsing]

page up/page down is still available. CTRL-1-5 too. So we can do both.

[icarean]

Where there's some sensible overlap, it could be useful to have similar hotkeys to other apps to make learning the hotkeys as simple as possible. However...

• Roll 20 uses CTRL-O , CTRL-K, and CTRL-M to switch between Objects/Token, GM Info Overlay, and Map/Background layers respectively. See: https://help.roll20.net/hc/en-us/articles/360039675053-Layers#Layers-DynamicLightingLayer
• FoundryVTT uses SHIFT- 1 through 8 to switch between its layers. See: https://foundryvtt.com/packages/layer-hotkeys and https://foundryvtt.com/article/canvas-layers/
• Most of the existing hotkeys in MapTool seem to be CTRL-something, and CTRL-O and CTRL-K are already taken.
  So much for overlaps.

The number keys don't do anything when you're just on the mapping window, and not having to press CTRL is one less hand-twist-key-combo. So personally I'm in favour of:

• Pressing 1 switches the interface to the Token layer (and unless you were already on the Token layer, deselects any previously selected things).
• Pressing CTRL-1 moves any selected things to the Token layer and switches the interface to the Token layer.
  Just numbers has potential to be confusing if someone thinks they're typing something e.g. in the chat but weren't clicked on the chat, but I think that wouldn't end up too confusing for anyone and would make it really quick and easy to jump between layers.

I agree with also having PG UP and PG DN as an additional method to cycle between layers, as others have suggested.

If the devs have any intentions of adding other editable layers (e.g., FoundryVTT has additional layers such as overhead tiles, weather, and effects), or rearranging any existing features (e.g. if the VBL were to be included in the set of layers selectable with these hotkeys), then now would be a useful time to ensure the layer numbers match the hotkeys so we don't have to relearn what number matches to what layer down the track. This might just mean for now leaving some gaps in the numbering in planning for layers not yet implemented.