Sizing Controls

The Designer offers several ways to resize selected controls. One factor to consider when sizing controls the the Align to Grid option. When enabled, all sizing 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 Sizing Handles

Once a control is selected, sizing handles are drawn around the perimeter of the control. Each of these handles allow a particular direction of sizing. They direction of sizing is shown as the mouse cursor is placed over the handle. The mouse cursor will change to show the direction that the sizing handle may be drug to change the control's size. The handles on the corners of the control allow changing both the height and width of the control. Handles in the center top and bottom allow changing the height of the control. Handles in the middle left and right allow changing the width.

To resize an object using a sizing handle, press and hold the mouse button on the handle and drag the handle to a new size. If multiple objects are selected, only the Primary Selected Control sizing handles are used and changes to the Primary Selected Control effect all selected controls.

When positioning the mouse pointer over a sizing handle, a tooltip window is displayed showing the control's current width and height. The width and height of the selected control is also shown on the right side in the Main Window's toolbar.

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

Keyboard Arrow Keys

A more precise way of sizing controls is done with the keyboard. Once a selection of controls has been made, holding the shift key while pressing the arrow keys will size the selection in direction shown on the keys. The up and down arrows will change the selection's height and the right and left keys will change the width. If the Align to Grid option is enabled, the selection's size will changed based on the form's grid properties. If the Align to Grid option is disabled, the size will change by a value of one.

Property Window Values

An even more specific method of defining an objects size is to modify the height and width properties shown in the Property Window. Note that all selected objects are effected by a height or width property value change.

Alignment Lines

Alignment Lines assist the user in sizing 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 sizing operation is in progress and only when sizing using the sizing handles. 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.