Moving and Positioning Objects
Numbers provides several tools to help you arrange items on a sheet with great
precision, including customizable alignment guides. Objects can be grouped
together, making it easier to manipulate sets of objects, and locked into position to
prevent them from being moved while you work. In addition, objects can be layered
(overlapped) to create the effect of depth.
Here are ways to manipulate objects directly:
To move a table to a new location on a sheet, use the techniques described in “
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Moving
Tables” on page 52.
To move other objects, drag them. Avoid dragging objects by their selection handles
because you may inadvertently resize them.
To precisely align objects as you drag them around, you can use alignment guides. See
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“Using Alignment Guides” on page 216 for details.
To constrain the object’s motion to horizontal, vertical, or a 45-degree angle, start
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dragging the object while holding down the Shift key.
To move a selected object in small increments, press one of the arrow keys, causing
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the object to move a point at a time. To move the object ten points at a time, hold
down the Shift key while pressing an arrow key.
To show the position of the object when you move it, choose Numbers > Preferences,
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and then select “Show size and position when moving objects” in the General pane.
To move text or an object inside another object, select the object and choose Edit >
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Cut. Place the insertion point where you want the object to appear, and then choose
Edit > Paste.
To learn how to
Go to
Change the order of overlapping objects
“Moving an Object Forward or Backward
(Layering Objects)” on page 215
Align objects
“Quickly Aligning Objects Relative to One
Another” on page 215
Use alignment guides to align objects
“Using Alignment Guides” on page 216
214
Chapter 9
Working with Shapes, Graphics, and Other Objects
Chapter 9
Working with Shapes, Graphics, and Other Objects
215
To learn how to
Go to
Create your own alignment guides that
remain visible as you work
“Creating Your Own Alignment Guides” on
page 217
Place objects precisely by using x and y
coordinates
“Positioning Objects by x and y Coordinates” on
page 217
Set objects to remain together when you
move, copy, or paste them
“Grouping and Ungrouping Objects” on page 218
Join two objects with a line
“Connecting Objects with an Adjustable Line” on
page 219
Lock objects in place so you don’t
inadvertently move them
“Locking and Unlocking Objects” on page 219