Home > Designing and creating databases > Editing objects, layout parts, and the layout background > Arranging objects > Aligning or distributing objects

Aligning or distributing objects

You can align objects or distribute space between them on the layout.

When you align objects along their tops, bottoms, or sides, the objects align with the object farthest out of alignment. When you align center points, the objects align along an invisible vertical or horizontal line in the center of the objects.

When you distribute the space between objects, FileMaker Pro takes the space separating the two objects farthest apart and divides it evenly among all the selected objects.

To align objects:

1.	In Layout mode, select the objects to align.

For more information, see Selecting objects.

2.	Click Inspector in the layout bar, then click Position.

3.	In the Arrange & Align area, click one of the following buttons:

•	Align left edges

•	Align on vertical centers

•	Align right edges

•	Align top edges

•	Align on horizontal centers

•	Align bottom edges

To distribute objects:

•	In the Space area, click one of the following buttons:

•	Distribute horizontally

•	Distribute vertically

Notes

•	You can resize objects to the smallest (or largest) width, height, or both in one step. For more information, see Resizing and reshaping objects.

•	To align or distribute objects, you may also use commands in the Arrange menu or the shortcut menu.

•	You can precisely align objects using the guides. For more information, see Using guides and dynamic guides.

•	To force the alignment to a specific object, lock that object before you set the alignment. For more information, see Protecting objects from change.