Is there a way to make a specific object 'primary' when aligning objects. I am creating a list. We want the user to click a button to reveal each item. The buttons are distributed vertically, so they are equal distant from each other.
The text of the list was single line, however during a revision several list items became 2 lines. We were going to simply align them to middle with the button, but it's leaving the text box and moving the button. We want to leave the button and make the text box move.
I've selected the button first then the text box, I've selected the text box then the button, I've moved the text box a distance above and below the button, I've visually moved the text box to near middle, all to no avail.
I understand you need help with aligning objects in your Articulate project and you need one of them to serve as the primary guide.
Here's a quick fix for the alignment issues for your text boxes and buttons:
1. Select all objects that you need to be aligned, including the guidepoint (for Align Top and Align Bottom only).
2. From the Format ribbon, look for Arrange and Align, you should find alignment properties like the ones highlighted: Align Top or Align Bottom.
For Align Bottom and Align Top
Whichever object is positioned at the bottommost and topmost, they will be the guidepoints for Align Bottom and Align Top, respectively.
For Align Middle
If you will be aligning objects to the middle, assuming they are not positioned very far from each other vertically, whichever object is positioned somewhere in the median (more noticeable if you have odd-numbered object count) will serve as the guidepoint. In example above, Object3 will somehow* serve as the guidepoint.
In cases where the number of objects you have is even-numbered, whichever two objects that are closest to the middle must be positioned via align middle first before you use them as guidepoints. Then, you will have to click Align middle for the second time.
*Note that I used somehow because middle alignment is determined by the positions of all objects you selected for auto-alignment. If there is a greater distance between your objects vertically, let's say object 2 is at the bottom of this screen, then Object 3 can no longer serve as a guidepoint. Articulate will then just assume a median between all 3 objects instead.
I hope this answered your question. Should you need further assistance, reply to this thread or send me an email. A screenshot of the text boxes and buttons you were describing will be helpful if you can add it.
I use text boxes exclusively, and don't bother with buttons. I know that buttons come with a lot of embellishments, but few of them are really what I want. That way, I avoid this sort of problem. Create the text boxes, and add to them anything thebutton has that you want.
Alternatively, you can not use the text boxes, and put the text directly on the button.
General rule of thumb: Objects in SL are like troublemakers; the fewer you have, the easier your life is.
I wrote this thinking you are talking about textboxes as the containers for the button text. If you are referring to the text boxes as what is revealed, try this:
Align the top of the top button and top textbox. Align the bottom of the bottom button and bottom textbox. Distribute all the buttons vertically. Distribute all the textboxes vertically. But the bottom line is that whether you align or distribute objects of differing sizes, there will always be some manual tweaking. The math algorithm is only so accurate.
Thanks Louise! I use the align tools the same way, I hoping there was a way to 'anchor' one of the objects. I ended up using grid lines in several places to make sure everything was equal. Works, just adds additional labor.
I did notice that in some cases it moved both the textbox and the button, so the text box would nudge up, the button would nudge down. It was subtle, but when viewed as the whole slide, some of us could see the difference.
I've put a quick slide we were working with just as a reference. I think it's the having to nudge several objects individually I was hoping to work around.
Thanks Walt! I agree with less is more and usually less trouble. The button is simply our own radio button, the text is hidden then will be revealed in a text box on the right.
4 Replies
Hi Trey,
I understand you need help with aligning objects in your Articulate project and you need one of them to serve as the primary guide.
Here's a quick fix for the alignment issues for your text boxes and buttons:
1. Select all objects that you need to be aligned, including the guidepoint (for Align Top and Align Bottom only).
2. From the Format ribbon, look for Arrange and Align, you should find alignment properties like the ones highlighted: Align Top or Align Bottom.
For Align Bottom and Align Top
Whichever object is positioned at the bottommost and topmost, they will be the guidepoints for Align Bottom and Align Top, respectively.
For Align Middle
If you will be aligning objects to the middle, assuming they are not positioned very far from each other vertically, whichever object is positioned somewhere in the median (more noticeable if you have odd-numbered object count) will serve as the guidepoint. In example above, Object3 will somehow* serve as the guidepoint.
In cases where the number of objects you have is even-numbered, whichever two objects that are closest to the middle must be positioned via align middle first before you use them as guidepoints. Then, you will have to click Align middle for the second time.
*Note that I used somehow because middle alignment is determined by the positions of all objects you selected for auto-alignment. If there is a greater distance between your objects vertically, let's say object 2 is at the bottom of this screen, then Object 3 can no longer serve as a guidepoint. Articulate will then just assume a median between all 3 objects instead.
I hope this answered your question. Should you need further assistance, reply to this thread or send me an email. A screenshot of the text boxes and buttons you were describing will be helpful if you can add it.
Thanks,
Louise
I use text boxes exclusively, and don't bother with buttons. I know that buttons come with a lot of embellishments, but few of them are really what I want. That way, I avoid this sort of problem. Create the text boxes, and add to them anything thebutton has that you want.
Alternatively, you can not use the text boxes, and put the text directly on the button.
General rule of thumb: Objects in SL are like troublemakers; the fewer you have, the easier your life is.
I wrote this thinking you are talking about textboxes as the containers for the button text. If you are referring to the text boxes as what is revealed, try this:
Align the top of the top button and top textbox. Align the bottom of the bottom button and bottom textbox. Distribute all the buttons vertically. Distribute all the textboxes vertically. But the bottom line is that whether you align or distribute objects of differing sizes, there will always be some manual tweaking. The math algorithm is only so accurate.
Thanks Louise! I use the align tools the same way, I hoping there was a way to 'anchor' one of the objects. I ended up using grid lines in several places to make sure everything was equal. Works, just adds additional labor.
I did notice that in some cases it moved both the textbox and the button, so the text box would nudge up, the button would nudge down. It was subtle, but when viewed as the whole slide, some of us could see the difference.
I've put a quick slide we were working with just as a reference. I think it's the having to nudge several objects individually I was hoping to work around.
Thanks Walt! I agree with less is more and usually less trouble. The button is simply our own radio button, the text is hidden then will be revealed in a text box on the right.
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