Align or distribute features

The Move tool includes commands to align features relative to each other, or to a specified reference location, or distribute them equally. These commands are available when map topology is turned off and you right-click a selected feature.

To align or distribute features, complete the following steps:

1. Add your data and configure settings for editing.

   Confirm that the feature layer you are editing is editable, the coordinate system assigned to the active map is suitable for the type of edits you're performing, and snapping is configured to help you work efficiently and accurately.

   Tip:

   To enable editing for a layer, check the check box for the layer in the Contents pane, on the List By Editing tab .

2. On the ribbon Edit tab, click the topology arrow in the Manage Edits group, and choose No Topology .
3. On the ribbon Edit tab, click Modify in the Features group.

   The Modify Features pane appears.

4. Click the Move tool .

   To find the tool, expand Alignment, or type Move in the Search text box.

5. Click the Select one or more features tool , and select the feature you are aligning or distributing.

   Tip:

   To refine the selection, right-click a feature in the pane selection tree, and click Unselect or Only Select This .

   A selection anchor appears at the geometric center (centroid) of the selection.

6. Right-click the map and click one of the following commands:

   Set Reference	Set a location to which the feature are aligned or distributed. Right-click the map to specify the location and click Set Reference. The location is marked with a blue selection anchor. Right-click again and choose an alignment or distribution command.
   Align Left	Align the selected features to the left.
   Align Center	Align the selected features to the horizontal center.
   Align Right	Align the selected features to the right.
   Align Top	Align the selected features to the top.
   Align Middle	Align the selected features to the vertical center.
   Align Bottom	Align the selected features to the bottom.
   Distribute Horizontally	Distribute the selected features horizontally so that there is an equal amount of space between their edges.
   Distribute Vertically	Distribute the selected features vertically so that there is an equal amount of space between their edges.
   Distribute Horizontal Centers	Distribute the center points of the selected features equally in the horizontal direction between two outside features. the outside feature remain unchanged.
   Distribute Vertical Centers	Distribute the center points of the selected features equally in the vertical direction between two outside features. the outside feature remain unchanged.