Altium Designer Documentation

AlignObjects

Created: September 27, 2017 | Updated: January 29, 2019
Now reading version 20.0. For the latest, read: AlignObjects for version 21
Applies to Altium Designer versions: 18.0, 18.1, 19.0, 19.1, 20.0, 20.1 and 20.2

Parent page: Schematic Commands

The following pre-packaged resources, derived from this base command, are available:


Applied Parameters: Action=Dialog

Summary

This command is used to access the Align Objects dialog, which provides controls for quickly aligning the set of currently selected design objects as required.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align command on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the Align Objects dialog will appear. Use the dialog to set options for both the vertical and/or horizontal alignment of the selected objects, as required, then click OK to effect alignment.

Tips

  1. Enabling both Horizontal and Vertical options at the same time may result in a conflict, with the selected objects becoming stacked on top of one another.
  2. Using the Distribute equally options can result in the moving objects being off-grid. Enable the Move primitives to grid option to restrict alignment such that all primitives in the selection will lie on a valid grid point after the alignment is complete.
  3. Locked objects will be moved.
  4. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=Left

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their left edges.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Left command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Left command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+L keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the left edge of the left-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved left, so that their left edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved left, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=Right

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their right edges.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Right command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Right command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+R keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the right edge of the right-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved right, so that their right edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved right, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=Top

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their top edges.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Top command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Top command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+T keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the top edge of the top-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved up, so that their top edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved up, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=Bottom

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their bottom edges.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Bottom command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Bottom command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the bottom edge of the bottom-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved down, so that their bottom edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved down, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=CenterHorizontal

Summary

This command enables you to place selected objects in a single column, aligned by their horizontal centers.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Horizontal Centers command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Horizontal Centers command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the objects in the selection will be moved horizontally to form a single column, aligned by their horizontal centers. The vertical center line for the column is the mid-point between the left-most and right-most objects in the selection.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved horizontally, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=CenterVertical

Summary

This command enables you to place selected objects in a single row, aligned by their vertical centers.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align Vertical Centers command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align Vertical Centers command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the objects in the selection will be moved vertically to form a single row, aligned by their vertical centers. The horizontal center line for the row is the mid-point between the top-most and bottom-most objects in the selection.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved vertically, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=SpaceEquallyHorizontal

Summary

This command allows you to make the horizontal spacing of a selection of objects equal.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Distribute Horizontally command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Distribute Horizontally command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the spacing command are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the left-most and right-most objects in the selection will remain fixed in their positions, with all other objects spaced equally between them. The vertical position of the objects is not changed.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=SpaceEquallyVertical

Summary

This command allows you to make the vertical spacing of a selection of objects equal.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Distribute Vertically command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Distribute Vertically command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the spacing command are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the top-most and bottom-most objects in the selection will remain fixed in their positions, with all other objects spaced equally between them. The horizontal position of the objects is not changed.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: Action=Grid

Summary

This command is used to move selected objects to the nearest point on the current snap grid.

Access

This command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor, and Schematic Library Editor, by:

  • Choosing the Edit » Align » Align To Grid command, from the main menus.
  • Locating and using the Align To Grid command () on the Active Bar.
If the command has been recently used from the Active Bar, it will become the active/visible button. Where other commands are available, this is indicated by a triangle at the bottom-right corner of the button. Click and hold on the active button to access a menu of all associated commands for that grouping.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+D keyboard shortcut.
In the Schematic Editor, the command can also be accessed by clicking the  button on the Alignment Tools drop-down () of the Utilities toolbar.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to move to the current snap grid are selected. Also, make sure the snap grid has been set up as required.

After launching the command, the objects will be moved to the nearest point on the snap grid.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Dialog

Summary

This command is used to access the Align Objects dialog, which provides controls for quickly aligning the set of currently selected design objects as required.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the Align Objects dialog will appear. Use the dialog to set options for both the vertical and/or horizontal alignment of the selected objects, as required, then click OK to effect alignment.

Tips

  1. Enabling both Horizontal and Vertical options at the same time may result in a conflict, with the selected objects becoming stacked on top of one another.
  2. Using the Distribute equally options can result in the moving objects being off-grid. Enable the Move primitives to grid option to restrict alignment such that all primitives in the selection will lie on a valid grid point after the alignment is complete.
  3. Locked objects will be moved.
  4. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Left

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their left edges.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Left command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+L keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the left edge of the left-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved left, so that their left edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved left, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Right

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their right edges.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Right command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+R keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the right edge of the right-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved right, so that their right edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved right, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Top

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their top edges.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Top command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+T keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the top edge of the top-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved up, so that their top edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved up, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Bottom

Summary

This command enables you to align selected design objects by their bottom edges.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Bottom command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+B keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the bottom edge of the bottom-most object is used as a reference, and all other objects in the selection will be moved down, so that their bottom edges are aligned with this reference.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved down, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=CenterHorizontal

Summary

This command enables you to place selected objects in a single column, aligned by their horizontal centers.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Horizontal Centers command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the objects in the selection will be moved horizontally to form a single column, aligned by their horizontal centers. The vertical center line for the column is the mid-point between the left-most and right-most objects in the selection.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved horizontally, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=CenterVertical

Summary

This command enables you to place selected objects in a single row, aligned by their vertical centers.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command is accessed from the Schematic Editor by right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align Vertical Centers command, from the context menu.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the alignment are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the objects in the selection will be moved vertically to form a single row, aligned by their vertical centers. The horizontal center line for the row is the mid-point between the top-most and bottom-most objects in the selection.

Tips

  1. Objects will be moved vertically, regardless of their position with respect to the reference. It is possible to end up with partial or total overlap of objects.
  2. Locked objects will be moved.
  3. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=SpaceEquallyHorizontal

Summary

This command allows you to make the horizontal spacing of a selection of objects equal.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Distribute Horizontally command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the spacing command are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the left-most and right-most objects in the selection will remain fixed in their positions, with all other objects spaced equally between them. The vertical position of the objects is not changed.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=SpaceEquallyVertical

Summary

This command allows you to make the vertical spacing of a selection of objects equal.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Distribute Vertically command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+V keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to involve in the spacing command are selected in the main design workspace.

After launching the command, the top-most and bottom-most objects in the selection will remain fixed in their positions, with all other objects spaced equally between them. The horizontal position of the objects is not changed.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.


Applied Parameters: ContextSensitive=True|Action=Grid

Summary

This command is used to move selected objects to the nearest point on the current snap grid.

Access

With two or more objects selected in the workspace, this command can be accessed from the Schematic Editor by:

  • Right-clicking (over an object or in free space) and choosing the Align » Align To Grid command, from the context menu.
  • Using the Shift+Ctrl+D keyboard shortcut.

Use

First, ensure that all objects you wish to move to the current snap grid are selected. Also, make sure the snap grid has been set up as required.

After launching the command, the objects will be moved to the nearest point on the snap grid.

Tips

  1. Locked objects will be moved.
  2. Connectivity is not preserved during alignment.

 

Found an issue with this document? Highlight the area, then use Ctrl+Enter to report it.

Contact Us

Contact our corporate or local offices directly.

We're sorry to hear the article wasn't helpful to you.
Could you take a moment to tell us why?
200 characters remaining
You are reporting an issue with the following selected text
and/or image within the active document: