===== Original Message From Hans Hagen ===== \starttext

\definelayer[test][width=12\bodyfontsize,height=12\bodyfontsize]

\setlayerframed[test][preset=middle][width=12\bodyfontsize,height=12\bodyfont size]{one} \setlayerframed[test][preset=middle][width= 9\bodyfontsize,height= 9\bodyfontsize]{two} \setlayerframed[test][preset=middle][width= 6\bodyfontsize,height= 6\bodyfontsize]{three} \setlayerframed[test][preset=middle][width= 3\bodyfontsize,height= 3\bodyfontsize]{four}

\tightlayer[test]

\stoptext

Hi Hans, I tried your code (so beautiful and simple!): it properly stacks the frames but places the text for each level, not midway between frames as desired, but in the middle frame (on top of one another). Anyway, the following file illustrates the exact effect I'm trying to acheive (note the final overlay of some text across all four levels). I certainly would prefer to do this the ConTeXt way (e.g. is there a better way to stretch the word `testing'?)! Thanks as always for your guidance and help. Best Idris ============================================ \setupoutput[pdftex]% \setuppagenumbering[state=stop] \starttext\showstruts \startbuffer[Test] \setupfloats[location=middle] \placefigure [here][fig:Test]{4 levels.} {\startbuffer[test]\vbox{ \midaligned{\it \framed [width=12\baselineskip,height=12\baselineskip,strut=yes] {\midaligned{\raise.25ex\hbox{level 1}} $\vcenter% {\framed[width=9\baselineskip,height=9\baselineskip,strut=yes] {\midaligned{\raise.25ex\hbox{level 2}} $\vcenter% {\framed[width=6\baselineskip,height=6\baselineskip,strut=yes] {\midaligned{\raise.25ex\hbox{level 3}} $\vcenter% {\framed[width=3\baselineskip,height=3\baselineskip,strut=yes] {\midaligned{\raise3.6ex\hbox{level 4}}} }$ \midaligned{\null}}% }$ \midaligned{\null}}% }$ \midaligned{\null}} } } \stopbuffer \startbuffer[testing]\vbox{\midaligned{\kern-6\baselineskip\itb \lower1.4ex\hbox{t\,e\,s\,t\,i\,n\,g}}} \stopbuffer \hbox{$\vcenter{\getbuffer[test]}\llap{$\vcenter{\getbuffer[testing]}$}$} } \stopbuffer \getbuffer[Test] \stoptext =============================================== ============================ Professor Idris Samawi Hamid Department of Philosophy Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO 80523