Aligning and distributing objects

Command

Path

Shortcut

Align/Distribute

Modify > Align

Context menu

Ctrl+= (Windows)

Cmd+= (Mac)

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

To align/distribute objects:

Select the objects to be aligned/distributed.

Select the command.

Alternatively, right-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. 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.

The Align/Distribute Objects dialog box opens.

Align_Dist_dlg.png 

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

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter

Description

Align

Aligns objects along the horizontal or vertical axis

Distribute

Distributes objects 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

The program aligns/distributes the selected objects.

Objects_edit101790.png 

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.

Aligning and distributing objects in 3D

Aligning objects to grid

Aligning and distributing leader lines

 

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