Arranging, Aligning and Distributing Objects

Arranging Objects

Each object that you place in your document is successively stacked on the preceding object. To re-arrange the stacking order of a selected object, proceed as follows.

1. Click the object whose position you want to change.

2. Choose Shape - Arrange to bring up the context menu and choose one of the arrange options:

   Bring to Front places the object on top of all other objects

   Bring Forward places the object one place forward in the stack of objects

   Send Backward places the object one place back in the stack of objects

   Send to Back places the object behind all other objects

   Behind Object places the object behind another object that you select

Arranging an Object Behind Another Object

1. Click the object whose position you want to change.

2. Choose Shape - Arrange to open the context menu and choose Behind Object. The mouse pointer changes to a hand.

3. Click the object behind which you want to place the selected object.

Reversing The Stacking Order of Two Objects

1. Shift-click both objects to select them.

2. Choose Shape - Arrange to open the context menu and choose Reverse.

Aligning Objects

The Alignment function enables you to align objects relative to each other or relative to the page.

1. Select an object to align it to the page or select multiple objects to align them relative to each other.

2. Choose Shape - Align and select one of the alignment options.

Distributing Objects

If you select three or more objects in Draw, you can also use the Distribution command to distribute the vertical and horizontal spacing evenly between the objects.

1. Select three or more objects to be distributed.

2. Choose Shape - Distribution.

3. Select the horizontal and vertical distribution option and click OK.

Selected objects are distributed evenly along the horizontal or vertical axis. The two outermost objects are used as reference points and do not move when the Distribution command is applied.