Arrange and Transform Objects
Rather than line up objects manually, you can use tools to align and distribute objects relative to other objects or relative to the page. This is more accurate than positioning shapes by eye.
You can also transform many types of object. An example of a transformation is to flip an object upside down or rotate it through 90Degrees.
| TIP: In Word, an object must be floating over text in order to apply most arrange/transform commands. Look up the topic "Change an inline picture to a floating picture" if you are not sure how to do this. |
To change the order of objects
Objects are drawn in layers. The last object to be added appears in the top layer. If you move it over another object it will appear in front of it. You can change the order of any object to move it forward or back. In Word, objects can also either be in front of or behind text on the page
- Select the object(s) that you want to move forward or back
- On the Drawing toolbar, click the Draw button then select an option from the Order menu
OR
- Right-click the selected object(s) then select Order from the shortcut menu
To align objects relative to one another
Aligning objects by eye can be quite tricky and time-consuming. It is easier to use the Align and Distribute tools.
- Select the objects to align by Shift-clicking them
- On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw then from the Draw menu, select Align or Distribute
A submenu of options is displayed.
Align and distribute options
- Select an align option from the list
The objects are aligned along the edge you selected.
| TIP: If you select more than two objects, you can choose to distribute them. This means that the space between each object will be equalised. |
To align objects relative to the page, drawing canvas, or slide
- From the Align and Distribute menu, select Relative to Page/Canvas/Slide
The Relative to Page/Canvas/Slide option is checked. Any align options you choose will now apply in relation to the page, drawing canvas, or slide until you uncheck the Relative to Page/Canvas/Slide option again by clicking it.
To rotate or flip an object
- Select the object then point to a green handle
The mouse pointer changes shape to the rotate arrow 
.
- Drag the handle to rotate the object
OR
- Select the object you want to rotate then on the Drawing toolbar, click Draw
Select Rotate or Flip and select from one of the following options
Rotate or Flip options
Set Options for the Drawing Grid
In Word and PowerPoint, the grid displays guidelines to help you size and position objects when you create or modify them. Grid options are slightly different for each program.
To set grid and guides options
- On the Drawing toolbar, click the Draw button then select Grid...
The Drawing Grid dialogue box is displayed.
|
 |
| Drawing Grid dialogue box (Word) |
Drawing Grid dialogue box (PowerPoint) |
- Set options as described in the table below then click OK
| |
Word |
|
PowerPoint |
| Select |
To |
Select |
To |
| Snap objects to grid |
Make objects align with the nearest gridline when moving or resizing. |
Snap objects to grid |
Make objects align with the nearest gridline when moving or resizing. |
| Snap objects to other objects |
Make objects align with the nearest object when moving or resizing. |
Snap objects to other objects |
Make objects align with the nearest object when moving or resizing. |
| Grid settings |
Set the distance between gridlines. |
Grid settings |
Set the distance between gridlines. |
| Use margins |
Set the starting point for the grid. Uncheck the Use margins box and enter values to position the top-left corner. |
Display grid on screen |
Show the grid as dotted lines on the slide. These lines do not print or display during a slide show. |
| Display gridlines on screen |
You can display either horizontal or vertical lines and select intervals for each (for example, if the grid is set to 1cm and the interval is set 2, a line will be shown every 2cm. Objects will still snap to the grid at 1cm however. |
Display drawing guides on screen |
Show a vertical and horizontal guide line on the slide. You can adjust the position of the guides by clicking-and-dragging. These lines do not print or display during a slide show. |
| Default... |
Save settings as the default for new documents based on the template. |
|
|
| TIP: To override the Snap to option, hold down Alt when you create, move or resize a shape. |
To toggle the grid on and off (PowerPoint only)
- On the Standard toolbar, click Show/Hide Grid
- Click the button again to hide the grid
To position an object
If you cannot position an object precisely enough using the mouse, you can set co-ordinates to position an object relative to the elements of the file it is in. In PowerPoint, you can position an object relative to the slide. In Word, you can position an object relative to the page, margin, column, paragraph, or character. You cannot set co-ordinate positions for objects in Excel.
- Right-click the object and select Format then click the Layout tab
- In PowerPoint, enter co-ordinates in the boxes
- In Word, click the Advanced... button to set co-ordinates
Create a Group of Objects
Grouping objects enables you to treat multiple objects as a single object. For example, suppose you used the drawing tools to draw a window. Without grouping the objects that comprise the window moving or resizing the window is much harder. Grouping objects combines them so you can work with them as a single object. Even while objects are grouped together, the individual components of the group can still be formatted without having to ungroup the object first.
 |
 |
| Individual objects are grouped as a whole |
A drawing comprised of many individual objects |
To group objects
- Select the objects you want to group then on the Drawing toolbar, click Draw
and select Group (or right-click the objects and select Group)
| TIP: To ungroup the objects, click Draw, then Ungroup. To regroup the most recently ungrouped objects, select one of the objects from that group and from the Draw menu, select Regroup. |
To select an object within a group to change its formatting
Formatting changes can be made to all objects within a group or to one particular object.
- Click on the shape within the group that you want to format
The selected shape appears with grey handles.
 |
 |
| Centre square selected within the group |
Centre square within a group formatted differently |
| TIP: You cannot change the layer order of grouped objects relative to one another. You must ungroup the objects, change their layer order, then regroup them. |
