Auto layout and layout grids

Auto layout keeps a group arranged when its contents change. Group related objects, select the group, then open Auto layout in Properties. Choose a horizontal or vertical flow. Set the gap between children, padding inside the group, alignment, and whether items may wrap.

The group's width and height can be Fixed or Hug contents. Child sizing can also Fill container when a flow parent has room to distribute. Start with a small group, then add or resize a child and watch the others reflow. If the result looks crowded, adjust the gap and padding before changing each child's position.

Switching Auto layout Off leaves a free-position group. In that mode, child Constraints control how elements respond when their parent is resized. For example, pin a label to the left while a background stretches. Constraints are shown for children of a free-position container, not for children actively managed by a horizontal or vertical flow.

Add a grid to a canvas#

Select the canvas itself and open Grid in Properties. Turn on the uniform grid and set its spacing when you need regular placement. Under Layouts, add columns, rows, or a combined grid. Set the count, gutter, and margin to match the design. These guides belong to that canvas and do not print. Set as default uses its grid settings for new canvases.

Auto layout manages objects within a group; a canvas grid helps you place separate groups across a page. See grids, guides, and rulers for visibility and snapping controls. Keep a version snapshot before restructuring a complex layout.