Moving, Rotating, Resizing and Flipping Shapes

Aligning and Distributing Shapes

Snapping and Guides

Rulers and Grids

Articles

About shape coordinates

Specify a shape's coordinates

Snap shapes into position

Change a shape's position in display order

About shape coordinates

You can position shapes by visually aligning them with the grid, by measuring the distance between them on the drawing rulers, or by using x and y coordinates.

The location of a shape or group on a drawing page is described in page coordinates, which have their origin at the lower-left corner of the page. Horizontal positions are specified on the x-axis; vertical positions are specified on the y-axis. Page coordinates are displayed in ruler measurements.

A square whose center is located 1 unit up on the y axis and 1 unit to the right on the x axis.

The x and y coordinates for a shape specify the location of the shape's pin. For most shapes, such as flowchart shapes, the pin is in the center of the shape. You can change the pin for many shapes.

Specify a shape's coordinates

1. Select a shape.

2. On the Shape menu, click Geometry.

3. To change the location of the shape's pin (pin: The point around which a shape or text block rotates, marked by a circle with a plus sign inside it.) (center of rotation), type the value in X Position and Y Position.

Snap shapes into position

1. On the Tools menu, click Snap & Glue.

2. In the Snap & Glue dialog box, select the options that you want, and then click OK.

3. The Ruler subdivisions, Grid, and Guide lines options are useful for positioning and aligning shapes.

4. Drag shapes into position.

5. The snap settings you choose apply to all shapes in the drawing.

Change a shape's position in display order

Select a shape, and then do one of the following:

• To bring the shape to the front, on the Shape menu, point to Order, and then click Bring to Front. Or click the button on Align toolbar.

• To send the shape to the back, on the Shape menu, point to Order, and then click Send to Back. Or click the button on Align toolbar.

• To bring the shape forward one level, on the Shape menu, point to Order, and then click Bring Forward. Or click the button on Align toolbar.

• To send the shape backward one level, on the Shape menu, point to Order, and then click Send Backward. Or click the button on Align toolbar.

If the shape is part of a group, do the following:

1. Click to select the group, and then click to select the shape in the group.

2. Change the shape's position in display order as described above.