How can I fix one object when aligning

[JohnThePresenter]

Hi,
Does anyone know how I can fix the position of one object when I align its
center relative to another object, so that only the second object moves?

 

[Pdek]

DON'T use the align function under draw.
Rather, select the object you want to stay stationary, select format,
position and remember the parameter (horizontal or vertical) which you want
lined up.
Then select ALL the objects you want lined up (using the shift-click),
select format, position, and input the parameter (all at one time) for all
objects.
Bingo! all lined up.
Remembering the parameter can be made easier by having a round number
e.g. 3.50, rather than 3.53, to start with, but sometimes this isn't possible.

 

[David M. Marcovitz]

That's a great idea, but I'm not sure it will work for Align Center (or
middle, right, or bottom). Can this work for anything other than Align
Left or Align Right?
--David

--
David M. Marcovitz, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Programs in Educational Technology
Loyola College in Maryland
Author of _Powerful PowerPoint for Educators_
http://www.loyola.edu/education/PowerfulPowerPoint/

 

[TAJ Simmons]

John,

It's a shame powerpoint doesn't work on the same principles as Corel Draw. The last object selected is the one that will
NOT move.

To get around this in powerpoint, you can cheat. It's hard to explain in words.

You select all the objects to want to align. Then you align them to the right of the widest object that you DO NOT want
to move, *then* you align center.

Cheers
TAJ Simmons
microsoft powerpoint mvp

awesome - powerpoint backgrounds,
free powerpoint templates, tutorials, hints and tips etc
http://www.powerpointbackgrounds.com

 

[Echo S]

John,

It's a shame powerpoint doesn't work on the same principles as Corel Draw.

The last object selected is the one that will

NOT move.

Yeah. Most graphic programs work that way, it seems. I know it's something
that's been mentioned to the PPT development team in the past few months, so
they're at least aware that the alignment tools could be more, shall we say,
robust.

Please take a few minutes to send your wish for this feature to Microsoft,
too. http://register.microsoft.com/mswish/suggestion.asp

 

[Pdek]

OOps!
After checking, it only works for align left and align top.
Certainly not for align center or align middle.
The problem seems to be that the distance from
"Top Left hand corner" or "Center" parameter
seems to jump around whenever I select "Center."
It does this whenever I select the set of objects or whenever
I select the objects one at a time. If you know how this parameter
is supposed to work, please let me know.

 

[JohnThePresenter]

Thanks to all who replied to my question. I've send a feature wish to
Microsoft for this one. My biggest problem with the absence of this feature
is that the horizontal or vertical distribution of existing objects sometimes
gets messed up when I add a new object (e.g. text box below or to the side)
and align its center or middle relative to the existing one.
Thanks again, all that input was useful.

 

[Sonia]

Center, in this case, is center of slide, just as Left Corner refers to the left
corner of the slide.