Arrange fields and label by sizes

[MikeData]

According to the manuals when you select a group of fields (by pressing and holding SHIT key), then you may select options to resize and it is based on the first field you click.

I did read few topics about, but I have 5 questions

1 How does Alpha select the master field when you lasso a group?
2 Does the lasso lines must be started in a specific way?
3 I have not notice any Difference whether you lasso the whole object or just part of it.
Could it make a difference somehow?
4 Does the rule applies to fields and labels at the same time, like sizes?
5 Is there a way to select the master field after the lasso is done to indicate the master object in Ver. 9 Plat.?

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

To use any of the Alignment tools you must select the objects one at a time by clicking on them while the SHIFT key is down. The first object selected is "master". So far as I know you cannot use the Alignment tools with a group of lasso objects.

[CALocklin]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

You can align after lassoing (sp?) a group of objects. What happens after that depends on what's included in the group.

If the group includes only objects that are in the tab sequence, alignment will be based on the object with the lowest tab number.

If there are any objects in the group which are not included in the tab sequence, alignment will be based on the first object that was placed on the layout or the lowest tab number - which ever "comes first".

By the way, I wasn't absolutely certain about the details of the above until I spent 5 minutes testing it myself.

HINT: Sometimes you may have a group of objects that you feel will require multiple "alignments" or "spacings" (spacings is more common in this case) before you get it right AND those objects aren't currently in the proper sequence. You could select them one at a time each time you want to re-align/re-space them OR you could select them in the proper sequence once, delete them, then paste them back in. The next time you select that group they will automatically be in the correct sequence.

The other questions:

3 I have not notice any Difference whether you lasso the whole object or just part of it.
There is no difference. BUT, did you know that you can use the minus key on the numeric keypad to only select those objects that are inside your lasso lines? And, on tabbed forms this means that it only selects those objects on the current tab as well.

4 Does the rule applies to fields and labels at the same time, like sizes?
Yes.

5 Is there a way to select the master field after the lasso is done to indicate the master object in Ver. 9 Plat.?
Not that I've ever found.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

If the group includes only objects that are in the tab sequence, alignment will be based on the object with the lowest tab number.

If there are any objects in the group which are not included in the tab sequence, alignment will be based on the first object that was placed on the layout or the lowest tab number - which ever "comes first".

Wow! That's some super-sleuthing! I always thought the results were random. Thanks for sharing.

[MikeData]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

I am glad you mentioned tab order, I did not think of it. It does work in that order.
Thanks for that tip.
By the way I do not know if it is my keyboard, but the minus key does not deselect or select object in a lasso.
I can select and deselect with the shift key, even after lasso a set of objects
I guess the key option is irrelevant as long we can do it.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

By the way I do not know if it is my keyboard, but the minus key does not deselect or select object in a lasso.

Hold the numeric keypad minus key down - at the same time as you lasso the objects. Only objects completely within the lasso are selected.

[CALocklin]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

Thanks Peter. After re-reading it, my explanation was less than clear - far less!

[G Gabriel]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

Well.. if you are the impatient type (like me, sometimes) or one who is short on seconds and wish to save a little few seconds of your precious life so you could waste them later on something totally meaningless, you don't have to click on each item one at a time while holding down the shift key.

Here is a little trick for you:
If these objects are all inline either vertically or horizontally:
1-Click the index object, then
2-Use the shift horizontal or shift vertical (whatever the case might be)
3-Now you have all these object highlighted and you could adjust them to the index object.

I probably wasted more seconds of my incredibly valuable life writing this than it is worth it, but you will find this trick much more valuable when designing a new form when you drop a bunch of new objects and you have all of them alligned verticcally. I adjust the top 2 objects then using this trick, I could adjust the spaces on all remaining objects, sizes etc without haveing to click one a time.

[MikeData]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

I see, said the blind man.
Thanks to all you, Now I can understand how alpha handles arranging objects.

[CALocklin]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

2-Use the shift horizontal or shift vertical (whatever the case might be)

OK, I'll bite. Maybe I'm missing a neat shortcut here. Can you clarify what you mean by this - especially "shift horizontal"? I can't find a "horizontal" or "vertical" key on my keyboard and lassoing several objects then clicking an object to make it the "index" then selecting the icon for "Align Right/Left/Center" still uses the first object created just like it always did.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

Neat! Always glad to learn new ways of doing things. Thanks. -- tom

[G Gabriel]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

Not sure what lasso is? My neigbor once had a dog named Lasso. Only other lasso I know is when you encircle an image, but not sure what is the reference here.

As far as highlighting "in bulk" instead of holding down the shift key and clicking one object at a time, here is an illustration of the trick I described earlier:


P.S.:
Lazziness is the mother of all inventions. And I stand firmly behind this statment. People were getting lazy, didn't want to walk: they inveted the car. Didn't want to type: they invented the mouse. Didn't want to highlight one key at a time: they invented a horizontal shift on the keyboard.

[trackmanpete]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

Great Demo!!

[CALocklin]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

OK. I'd forgotten all about that being on the toolbar. I've used it occasionally on simple forms but find it often doesn't help much on complex forms - click here to see the result on my Program Options form.

Click here to see A5 lassoing while holding down the minus key on the numeric keypad. If you do not hold the minus key down, every object touched by the "lasso" will be selected rather than only those completely inside. (Yes, Alpha knows how to create square lassos. Let's see a cowboy do that!)

[trackmanpete]

Re: Arrange fields and label by sizes

I find this an interesting topic. My solution in the past has been to simply "lasso" those items that I want in a small rectangle as possible (you don't have to include the entire item you want to select) so as not to include other items. If I happen to include another item it is then very easy to just hold down the "Shift" key while deselecting the item I don't want to include. I can then use Arrange to complete what I want to accomplish in terms of sizing, alignment, etc.