Aligning Objects with a Reference Object

The Align command supports top-level pins, shapes, instances, devices, rows, cluster boundaries, and groups. The command ignores area halos, layer halos, boundaries and blockages, if selected as part of a set of objects.

To align objects with a reference object:

1. In the layout window, choose Edit – Advanced – Align.
   The Align form opens.
2. In the Reference section:
   1. Choose Align Direction as horizontal or vertical.
   2. Choose Object as the reference to align items to an object.
      You are prompted to select a reference object for the alignment.
   3. Select the type of object you want to align with. For example, Group.
3. On the canvas, click the reference object that you want to align other objects to.
   The alignment pointer appears.
   
   
4. In the Align Using section:
   1. Choose the Object radio button to specify that objects need to align with the reference object.
   2. Choose the type of objects you want to align with the reference object. For example, Any Shape.
   3. From the Use list, choose the edge of the object you want to align. For example, Left Edge.
5. To evenly space the objects in the specified align direction, select the Apply Spacing check box and enter the value in user units by which you want to separate the objects. If you do not use Apply Spacing, objects retain their original spacing. They are aligned, but not evenly spaced.
6. To space the objects perpendicular to the Align Direction as well, select the Orthogonal Spacing check box. This option is available only if Apply Spacing is selected.
7. Choose Between Objects or Pitches, depending on the spacing you want. For example, you can choose Between Objects with a spacing of two user units.
8. From Sort Objects By, choose how you want the objects to be sorted.
   You are prompted to select the objects to be aligned.
   You can select the objects on the canvas by clicking on each object one at a time while holding down the Shift key, or you can select the objects by drawing a selection box around them.
9. Click Apply.
   The following figure shows an example where the reference object is a group, the Align Direction is Vertical, and the Use field is set to Left Edge. The Align Using is Any Shape, the Use list is set to Left Edge. Apply Spacing is set to 2.0 user units between objects, and the objects are sorted by Order Selected.
   
   
   If Orthogonal Spacing is also selected and set to 2.0 user units, objects are aligned along the X-axis as well.
   
   

Related Topics

Align Form

Object Alignment by Using the Align Command

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