MX

Aligning
To align objects, for example, so their left edges are aligned to the left.
1.
Select the objects and right click the selection.
2.
Choose "Align" > "Left Edges" from the drop-down list.
The selected objects move to align the left edges.
Alternatively:
1.
Choose "Align" > "Alignment" or press "Ctrl + Shift + L" or choose Alignment from the
Arrange menu to open the Object Alignment dialog.
2.
Select the required Within option, e.g. Selection bounds.
3.
Select Align Left for horizontal positions.
4.
Leave vertical positions to No Change.
5.
Click Apply.
The selected objects move to align the left edges.
All the align options act in a similar way. For brevity, only the left align option, shown in the illustration of
the dialog box is described. Experiment to learn about the other options.
To quick-select any combinations of vertical and horizontal alignment click with the mouse in the
diagram:

A simple mouse click aligns horizontal and vertical positions to the clicked position to any of the
nine combinations of top-centrally-bottom/left-centrally-right.

"Ctrl + mouse click" leaves the horizontal position unchanged and arranges the objects in a to a
top, centrally, or bottom aligned row.

"ñ+ mouse click" leaves the vertical position unchanged and arranges the objects in a left,
centrally, or right-aligned column.
Distribute
The distribute options will position all the selected objects evenly across the "Within" area (usually within
the selection bounds, but it could be the page or spread).
Again all the distribute options work in a similar way. The following examples show how the different
vertical position options align objects:
Top edges distribution: the tops of the objects
are evenly spaced. Bottom edges
distribution is the inverse?the bottom of the
objects are evenly spaced.
Centers distribution
: the centers of the objects are evenly spaced.
Equi-spaced distribution:
the objects are evenly spaced from each other.
The horizontal position options are similar but operate in the horizontal direction.
So, for example, to distribute this collection of randomly positioned ellipses, so they are all equally
spaced and aligned to the top edge:

Select the shapes

Display the Alignment dialog ("Ctrl + + L")

Ensure Within shows Selection bounds
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