Moving Controls

The Designer offers several ways to move selected controls. One factor to consider when moving controls is the Designer's Align to Grid option. When enabled, all movement is done to the grid boundary.

The Align to Grid option and default grid dimensions are defined on the Tools/Options menu function on the Grid Settings tab. Note that the grid dimension values are applied to new forms. Once a form has been created, the form's Grid Horizontal and Grid Vertical properties will change the existing grid.

Using the Mouse

Once a control is selected on a form, sizing handles are drawn around the perimeter of the control. To move an control, press and hold the mouse button with the cursor positioned on the control and drag the control to a new position. If multiple objects are selected, any selected control may be used and the movement effects all selected controls.

The Primary Selected Object's top and left position are shown on the right side in the Main Window's toolbar.

When the Align to Grid option is enabled, no movement occurs until a grid boundary is crossed.

Keyboard Arrow Keys

A more precise way of moving controls is done with the keyboard. Once a selection of controls has been made, pressing the arrow keys will move the selection in direction shown on the keys. If the Align to Grid option is enabled, the selection's position will changed based on the grid value. If the Align to Grid option is disabled, the position will change by a value of one.

Holding the control key while using the keyboard arrow keys will move the selection by a value of one regardless of the Align to Grid option state.

Property Window Values

An even more specific method of defining an object's position is to modify the top and left properties shown in the Property Window. Note that all selected objects are effected by a top or left property value change.

Alignment Lines

Alignment Lines assist the user in moving controls. Alignment Lines are enabled and disabled by a selection in the Options Window or by a button in the Main Window's toolbar. When enabled, lines are drawn when an edge or the center of one control matches an edge or the center of another control. The lines only appear while the moving operation is in progress and only when moving using the mouse. Line colors help distinguish the source control's edge in alignment. The Options Window allows configuration of the Alignment Lines colors. Alignment Lines are of most use when the Align to Grid option is disabled.

Panels

When moving Panels, any controls created on the panel will move with the panel.