Positioning and Resizing Objects

Draw provides a variety of tools that let you position, align, resize, and group objects with precision. Snap/grid features are illustrated in Figure 29-18.

Figure 29-18. Snap/grid object positioning features

Aligning Objects

You can align all objects to uniform lines using the grid or snap points, or align one group at a time.

1. Select the objects.

2. Do either of the following:

   • Right-click the objects and choose Alignment.

   • Click the Alignment icon on the toolbar to display the Alignment tearoff menu.

     

3. Select the type of alignment you want.

Distributing Objects Evenly

You can position objects evenly, horizontally or vertically, using the Distribute window. The selected objects will be distributed so that the object's borders (or their center) maintain the same distance from each other.

The objects that are located on the outsides (the first and fifth of five objects, for example), vertical or horizontal, will be considered as borders. That means that they won't be moved when the distribution takes place. The inner objects will be moved to evenly space the objects.

1. Select three or more objects to distribute.

2. Right-click on them and choose Distribution. (If Distribution doesn't appear as an option, you haven't selected three or more objects.)

3. Select the option you want in the Distribution window (Figure 29-19) and click OK. (If you're distributing copies of the same object, it doesn't matter which option you select as long as it's within the correct category, Horizontal or Vertical.)

   Figure 29-19. Distributing objects evenly within a drawing

   

Figure 29-20 shows how each of the four Horizontal options works when you're distributing objects with different shapes . The grid is shown so you can see the contrast in positioning more easily.

Figure 29-20. Effects of the four Horizontal distribution options

Positioning Objects

Use the arrow keys, or the Position and Size window. The following procedures include more detail on both approaches.

Moving Objects a Small Amount

To move an object a very small distance in one direction, select the object, then hold down the Shift key. Press the up, down, left, or right arrow key on your keyboard to move the object.

Protecting Objects From Being Moved With the Mouse or Arrow Keys

Use the steps in Positioning Objects Using the Position and Size Window. Select the object, then mark the Protect option.

Positioning Objects Using the Position and Size Window

1. Select an object or objects.

2. Choose Format > Position and Size, or right-click the object and choose Position and Size.

3. Choose the Position tab, shown in Figure 29-21.

   Figure 29-21. Position and Size window

   

4. Select the base point from which the change will be based.

   If you've selected two or more objects, the base point will be for the collective size, not the size of one of the objects.

5. Enter the new X and Y axes for the object.

6. Select Protect if you don't want to be able to reposition the object with the mouse.

7. Click OK to position the object.

Showing Extended Object Lines When Moving Objects

You can display objects with lines coming out of both axes when you move them, to show more clearly where the object will be (see Figure 29-22).

Figure 29-22. Displaying extended object lines

To use this feature, choose Tools > Options > Drawing > Layout, then select the Guides when moving option.

Bringing Objects to Front or Back (Arranging)

To determine what objects appear in front of others in your work, you can use Draw's arranging features. The features let you put an object on top or bottom, as well as move it up or down one layer at a time.

1. Select an object.

2. Right-click the object and choose Arrange, or use the Arrange icon in the toolbar at the left side of the work area.

   

3. Select the appropriate option.

   Bring to Front Puts the object on the top layer.

   Bring Forward Brings the object one layer forward; it will still be behind an object that you've brought to the front, unless it was only one layer behind, previously.

   Send Backward Sends the object one layer back.

   Send to Back Puts the object on the bottom layer.

   In Front of Object Puts the object immediately in front of the object you select next .

   Behind Object Puts the object immediately behind the object you select next.

Resizing Objects

You can do most resizing quickly with your mouse; for more precise resizing, use the Position and Size window.

Using the Mouse

You can resize Bezier curves as well as other shapes, using the mouse.

1. Select an object or objects.

2. Be sure that the green object handles are displayed; if blue object handles are displayed, click the Edit Points icon on the left side of the object bar.

3. To resize proportionately, hold down the Shift key and drag a handle on the object.

   To resize disproportionately, don't hold down the Shift key.

Using the Position and Size Window

1. Select an object or objects.

2. Choose Format > Position and Size, or right-click the object and choose Position and Size.

3. Choose the Size tab.

4. Enter the new height and width of the object. To be sure the object is redrawn proportionately, select the Match option.

   If you've selected two or more objects, the new size will be for the collective size.

5. Select the base point from which the change will be based.

   If you've selected two or more objects, the base point will be for the collective size.

6. Select Protect if you don't want to be able to resize the object with the mouse.

7. Click OK to resize.

Grouping Objects

To more easily move objects that belong together, you can group them. Once grouped, you can manipulate the objects as one so that they are easier to move and apply attributes to. If you group three objects of different colors, for instance, you can simply select the group and apply one color to all of them in one step.

1. Select two or more objects.

2. Choose Format > Group, or right-click the objects and choose Group.

3. To ungroup them, make the same selections but choose Ungroup.

Editing Object Groups

1. Right-click the group and choose Edit Group.

2. Make your changes. When you're done, choose Exit Group.

Setting Up the Grid

You can use the grid to help you visually position objects, or "snap" objects to the grid to automatically position objects.

Setting up the Grid

1. Choose Tools > Options > Drawing > Grid.

2. Enter the grid dimensions and whether the standard and snap grids should be synchronized (Figure 29-23 on page 779). Note that Snap to grid and Visible grid are also controllable using the icons on the option bar in the work area.

   Figure 29-23. Setting grid dimensions

   

Using the Grid

Once you've specified the dimensions and other options for the grid, you can show it and snap to it.

Use the icons on the option bar, to control the grid functions shown in Figure 29-24. To display it, choose View > Toolbars > Option Bar.

Figure 29-24. Grid option icons

Displaying the Standard Grid

Click the Show Grid icon in the option bar (see Figure 29-24).

Note

If you click Show Grid and nothing seems to appear, have a closer look. The grid points are probably so far apart that the dots marking the lines and points are too light and intermittent to notice at first.

Snapping Objects to a Grid

You can make sure all objects you move or create are automatically aligned on the grid. This also helps you draw straight lines more easily. Just click the Use Grid icon in the option bar of the work area to activate that option.

Note

If you're set up to snap to the grid or other items but don't want to snap a particular object, hold down the Ctrl key while you create or move the object.

Creating and Using Snap Points and Lines

In addition to the snap capabilities of the grid, you can set up specific snap points and lines in the work area to use as guidelines for creating and moving objects. How close you need to move an object to the point or line before it snaps is determined in the snap grid setup window (Figure 29-23).

1. Choose Insert > Insert Snap Point/Line.

2. Select an X and Y axis position, if it's a point; otherwise select only an X axis or a Y axis, as shown in Figure 29-25.

   Figure 29-25. Entering information for a new snap point or line.

   

3. Select the type: the point of intersection of two lines, a horizontal line, or a vertical line.

   

4. Click OK to close the window and save changes; the point will appear in the drawing area as shown at right.

If the point doesn't appear, click the Show Snap Lines icon in the option bar at the bottom of the work area.

Use the Snap to Snap Lines icon in the same option bar to activate snapping objects to the points.

Note

If you're also snapping items to the snap grid, the snap grid takes precedence.

To remove a snap point or line, just right-click on it and choose Delete.

Snapping to the Page Margin and Objects

You can align objects to the page margin and to object borders or points . Page margins and object borders are relatively straight-forward; objects you draw or move are snapped to the nearest object's borders, or to the page margin, if you move the object close enough. When you snap to object points, you won't be able to draw or select anything that isn't an object point; your mouse will be drawn to the nearest point of the nearest object. This might be useful in some circumstances; however, we primarily found it annoying.

To snap to any of the three options, just click the appropriate icon (see Figure 29-24 on page 780).