Shape Alignment and Spacing in Visio 2010 – Part 2

Aside from the alignment tools, we also have the Spacing tools. The spacing tools help us to create equally spaced diagrams. These will even up the spaces in between the shapes or objects. To do this:

1. Select several objects that are scattered around the page.
2. On the Home tab, go to the Position button. Click on the drop down and go to Space Shapes.
3. You will find the following options under Space Shapes:

a. Distribute Horizontally will take the selected objects and distribute them horizontally across the page. The spacing between the objects becomes evenly spaced across.
b. Distribute Vertically will evenly align the objects vertically. The spacing between the objects will be vertically even.
c. More Distribution Options will bring up a gallery of options that is useful when you have a complicated diagram with a large number of objects that you want to even up. For example, the Vertical Distribution will take the set of objects, even out the spacing, and align the tops, middles, or bottoms depending on the buttons that you choose. Horizontal Distribution is also an available option.

The key with the spacing tools is to experiment with the options to achieve a high level of uniformity and make the diagram look tidier.

Visio 2010 has a new powerful spacing and alignment feature that’s made to align a whole diagram or drawing according to its own internal set of rules. Supposing you have a messy flowchart that you would like to tidy up, there is the Auto-align and Space button that you can use. This will do the arranging for you. To do this:

1. On the Home tab, go to the Arrange group. There you will find the Auto-align and Space button.

2. Clicking on the Auto-align and Space button will automatically change the position of the shapes on your diagram and it will try to arrange the alignment and spacing of your diagram.
3. If you are not satisfied with the solution it came up with, you can adjust one or two things on your diagram and click Auto-Align and Space again.

You can keep doing the same procedure if the solution it comes up doesn’t work for you. You can mess up or change a couple of objects here and there, try again, until you get a result that you want. Again, the key here is to experiment.

Once you have created a diagram, more often it does not just end there. You will need to do some minor or major adjustments to improve the general look of your work, and most importantly, to create a clear picture for your audience to get the real message you are trying to convey. Using the alignment and spacing options provided by Visio 2010 is quicker than manually arranging the diagram yourself. From simple to complicated diagrams and flowcharts, these tools provide you with better assistance in achieving a well spaced and well aligned diagram.

Simon Calder

Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA. He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!