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Moving Nodes and AutoGrid

To move a node, click down on it, drag it to its new position, and then release the mouse button.  If you wish to move a set of nodes and the links between them, select the nodes you wish to move, then click down on one of them and drag the set to the new desired location.

There is an underlying “grid” of positions, and when you add or move a node, the node will be shifted slightly so that its center is directly over one of these grid positions, providing the AutoGrid is turned on.  This allows you to quickly draw a net whose nodes are perfectly aligned, and with links running perfectly horizontal or perfectly vertical.  To turn AutoGrid off or on, toggle Layout AutoGrid.  If you want to change the spacing of the grid, to make it finer or coarser, choose Layout Grid Spacing, and a dialog box will appear allowing you to make the setting.

To return to the original spacing when a net is developed with AutoGrid turned off, or if changes are made to grid spacing, choose Layout Snap To Grid.

Nudging:  Sometimes it is useful to be able to move a node, or set of nodes, a small predictable amount.  You can use the arrow keys to do this nudging.  Simply select the nodes you wish to move, and then press the key with the arrow in the direction you want them to move.  The distance they will be moved with each press of the key is the grid spacing (providing the AutoGrid is turned on), so you can adjust this amount using the Layout Grid Spacing menu entry.  If the AutoGrid is turned off then they will be moved the smallest perceptible amount with each press of the key.

It is also possible to move or reshape a link by a small predictable amount (More Info).

Alignment & Spacing:  To aid with visual comprehension of your net, or when editing a net, use the Space Evenly and Align features in the Layout menu.  If you are working with a large net, or are in multiple-adding mode, you can quickly and evenly space out a row or column of nodes.  First, decide whether you’d like the nodes to be spaced By Gaps, By Centers, By Left/Top Edges, or by Using the Grid and select that option by choosing Layout Space Evenly.  Next, select the desired nodes and again choose Layout Space Evenly, this time choosing spacing of either Vertically or Horizontally.

Similarly, you can quickly line up rows and columns of nodes.  You can align nodes By Centers, By Left/Top Edges, or By Right/Bottom Edges when you choose Layout Align.  Then select the nodes to be aligned, choose Layout Align again and click on Row or Column.

For more info on improving a net’s visual appearance, see display style.

Resizing the Net:  If you would like to change the spacing of the entire net you can choose Layout Spread Out/Compact.  Entering any number greater than 100, in the dialog box that comes up, will spread out the entire net, while numbers less than 100 will compact it.  This operation only changes the spacing between things, without altering their size.  By selecting some nodes prior to the operation, only those nodes will be moved.
 

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