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Alignment Panel
The 'Alignment' panel provides a series of tools that can be used to refine the positions of the diagram's elements relative to each other. Groups of elements can be selected and their edges or centers aligned vertically or horizontally. An element's position in the visual stack can be altered by moving them forward or backwards, and you can display a convenient grid that can be configured so that elements and connectors 'snap' into position on the grid.
Available Facilities
Most of the options on this panel become available when you select two or more elements together (press or as you click on the elements). Usually, the last-selected element is the reference element against which the others align; this element is indicated by a hatched border.
Facility |
Description |
See also |
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Make Same Height |
Click on this icon |
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Make Same Width |
Click on this icon |
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Make Same Size |
Click on this icon |
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Align Vertically |
Click on this icon |
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Align Horizontally |
Click on this icon |
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Bring to Top |
Click on this icon |
Z Order Elements |
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Send to Back |
Click on this icon |
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Align Left |
Click on this icon Shortcut: |
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Align Right |
Click on this icon Shortcut: |
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Align Tops |
Click on this icon Shortcut: |
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Align Bottoms |
Click on this icon Shortcut: |
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Space Horizontally |
Click on this icon |
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Space Vertically |
Click on this icon |
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Grid and Placement Options |
Click on this icon Standard Grid: Standard Grid ensures that elements 'snap' to the nearest grid point when they are moved or resized. Smart Placement: When moving or resizing elements: automatically aligns element edges and centerlines with edges and centerlines of nearby elements, automatically spaces elements at equal distances from each other and spaces them evenly. For Sequence diagrams, this feature helps in aligning Notes on Messages. Please refer to Move Elements Within Diagrams for a full description of the options. |
Move Elements Within Diagrams |
to make all selected elements the same height as the reference element.
to make all selected elements the same width as the reference element.
to make all selected elements the same height and width as the reference element.
to align the centers of all selected elements vertically with the center of the reference element.
to align the centers of all selected elements horizontally with the center of the reference element.
to move the selected elements to the top of the diagram relative to other elements (the top of the Z-Order).
to move the selected elements to the back of the diagram relative to other elements (the bottom of the Z-Order).
to align the left edges of all selected elements vertically with the left edge of the reference element.
to align the right edges of all selected elements vertically with the right edge of the reference element.
to align the top edges of all selected elements horizontally with the top edge of the reference element.
to align the bottom edges of all selected elements horizontally with the bottom edge of the reference element.
to evenly separate the selected elements by the same amount horizontally.
to evenly separate the selected elements by the same amount vertically.
to display a menu of options for the Standard Grid and Smart Placement features.