Aligning and Distributing Objects

Aligning and Distributing Objects in the Screen Plane

The Align/Distribute command aligns and distributes multiple objects in the screen plane. Alignment and distribution is based upon the vertical and horizontal axes, relative to the screen.

To align/distribute objects:

1. Select the objects to be aligned/distributed.

2. Select Modify > Align > Align/Distribute. The Align/Distribute Objects dialog box opens.

Alternatively, Right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) on one of the selected objects and select Align/Distribute from the context menu. The most common align and distribute commands display on a flyout context menu. Select the desired command, or select Align/Distribute to open the Align/Distribute Objects dialog box.

When using a context menu command (other than the one that opens the dialog box), right-click/Ctrl-click on the object to serve as the alignment reference. The alignment reference is locked into place, and the other selected objects are aligned relative to it.

 

3. Select the object alignment/distribution criteria. Objects are only moved along the horizontal and vertical axes.

Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Align	Select to align items along the horizontal or vertical axis
Distribute	Select to distribute items along the horizontal or vertical axis
Horizontal
Left	Align/distribute by the left side of the selected objects
Center	Align/distribute by the centers of the selected objects.
Insertion Point	Align/distribute by the insertion points of the selected plug-in objects and/or symbols If the selection contains objects without insertion points, they are aligned by their geometric centers.
Right	Align/distribute by the right side of the selected objects
Spacing	Distribute the spacing equally between the left and right sides of adjacent objects
Vertical
Top	Align/distribute by the top of the selected objects
Center	Align/distribute by the centers of the selected objects
Insertion Point	Align/distribute by the insertion points of the selected plug-in objects and/or symbols If the selection contains objects without insertion points, they are aligned by their geometric centers.
Bottom	Align/distribute by the bottom of the selected objects
Spacing	Distribute the spacing equally between tops and bottoms of adjacent objects

 

4. Click OK.

The program aligns/distributes the selected objects.

Loci and locked objects are special objects and behave differently when present during an alignment/distribution operation.

If a locus point is one of the selected objects, all objects are aligned relative to that locus. If there are multiple loci in the selection, then the loci are aligned/distributed like any other object.

Locked objects in a selection do not move. Other objects are aligned/distributed relative to the locked objects.

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Aligning and Distributing Objects in 3D

Aligning Objects to Grid

Aligning and Distributing Leader Lines

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