Positioning and Sizing Objects

The Size and Position groups on the Layout tab contain options to position and size objects. Objects can also be positioned and resized using the mouse and keyboard. Objects can also be repositioned by dragging them to a new location with the mouse or with the keyboard.

At least two objects must be selected to use the Layout | Size | Width , Layout | Size | Height, or Layout | Size | Both commands. The reference object's size does not change. All other objects are sized equally to the reference object. The reference object is the highest selected object in the Contents window, i.e. the front object in the plot window.

Change the size or position of any object in the Size
or Position group on the Layout tab.

Horizontal and Vertical Position

Use the horizontal position (X) and the vertical position (Y) to set the X, Y position on the page for most objects. To change the location, highlight the existing value and type the desired value. Or, click the buttons to increase or decrease the position. Press ENTER on the keyboard to make the change.

The X, Y location of the cursor is displayed in the status bar. This can be a good source of reference.

Width

Click Layout | Size | Width or the button to set the width off all selected objects equal to the width of the reference object.

Height

Click Layout | Size | Height or the button to set the height of all selected objects equal to the height of the reference object

Both

Click Layout | Size | Both to set both the width and height of all selected objects equal to the width and height of the reference object.

Changing the Reference Object

The quickest way to make sure you have the correct reference object is to select the object you wish to use as the reference object and click the Layout | Move | To Front command. The object is moved to the top of the Contents window and front of the plot window. It will be the reference object when the Size commands are used with any other objects. However, you may not wish to have your reference object at the front of the plot window. When this is the case, click and drag the desired reference object in the Contents window above the objects you wish to re-size. You can also use the Layout | Move | Forward command to move an object forward one place at a time.

Width and Height Sizing

Use the W and H controls to set the width and height of the selected object. To change the size, highlight the existing value and type the desired value. Or, click the buttons to increase or decrease the size. Press ENTER on the keyboard to make the change.

Stretching a map with the Layout | Size | W and Layout | Size | H fields does NOT maintain the internal scale of the map. Use the Scale page in the Properties window to change the map size. Fix the internal scale of a stretched map by selecting the map and using the Identity (Clear transforms) option in the Transform command.