Word: Snap objects to other objects outside drawing canvas

Question

Hi everyone,

I have been using Office 365 University for the last 2 weeks and just realize this.

I would like to make my object to be able to snap to other objects. (like connecting line to rectangular and flow diagram)

It works perfectly fine when I first draw a drawing canvas and put all my objects in it.

But when I want to just put them WITHOUT drawing canvas, it would not snap to each other.

This is not a problem with my previous MS Word (2003, 2007, 2010).

Do I have to enable any options or we just can't do it.

P.S. I already checked the 'snap objects to other objects' option in the 'Grid Setting'

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

Not knowing terminology is not a problem,except to that it makes it harder to get ideas across.

I now understand what you are talking about. I think of them as "connections".  This is a handy feature, it just requires a couple of specific conditions to work. Conditions which are easy to miss.

First Condition:

The only way I know of for connections to work is inside of the "Drawing Canvas". That applies in 2013 and back to 2003 (actually 2002) also.  If I create shapes outside of the drawing canvas, the connection lines won't "stick".

In 2003 you turn on automatic creation of the canvas in Tools menu > Options command > General tab > "Automatically Create drawing Canvas when inserting autoshapes"

In 2013 you do File menu > Options command > Advanced option > Editing options section > "Automatically Create drawing Canvas when inserting autoshapes"

Second Condition:

You have to use specific "connection lines", not just any lines. In 2003 it was easier to identify them because you when you clicked on the "autoshpes" command (in the drawing toolbar) there was a "connections" category". I don't see that category any more in the ribbon versions.  Instead, in ghe shapes gallery when you hover over a line you have to wait to see the title and pick a line that includes "Connection" in the name.  You can visually tell the difference between the 2 types of lines by looking , very carefully, at the little "handles" at the ends of the lines.  Regular lines have clear circle handles.  "Connection" lines have green filled circle handles.  When you drag a connection handle over a shape, the connection points are highlighted as tiny circles that are easy to miss.

Answer 2

Hi Rohn007

Sorry, I may not use appropriate wording since I don't know what it's called.

I didn't mean grouping. By "snap to each other", I mean;

When an object is selected, there will be "node" on the circumference of the object (for example line has 2 node on each end)

By click and drag the line node, we will be able to re-size it and when I drag it close enough to other objects, that object would show its "node" (for example rectangular has 8 nodes) and allow the line to attach to it.

If attached or snapped, when I move the rectangular, one end of the line will move with the rectangular but not all of them.

Hope this help explain my situation.

Thanks!!

Answer 3

by "snap to each other" do you mean "group" them so they act like a single object, ie drag them together.

I just tested and am able to create groups of shapes in 2003, 2010 AND 2013.

<CTL><Click> on each of the objects, then right click and select group from the drop down.

If this is not what you mean, provide step by step instructions so we can recreate what you are doing in the earlier versions to see if we can recreate it in 2013.