Arranging Objects in the Stacking Order

Arranging Objects in the Stacking Order

Arranging Objects in the Stacking Order

Each object is part of a stack of objects on the same layer. Each object has a position in the stack. Unless you rearrange objects, the newest object, created or pasted, is in front of the stack and the oldest object in the back; it is called “Stacking Order” or “Z-Order”.

To Arrange the Stacking Order

  1. Select an object or objects which are parts of the overlapping objects.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Click the Arrange drop-down list from the Arrange panel in the Home tab of the Ribbon.

    • Click the Arrange drop-down list from the Arrange panel in the Draw tab of the Ribbon.

    • Right-click.

  1. Select one of the Arrange commands.

Arrange Commands

Command

Description

Example

Result

Bring to Front

Moves selected objects to the front of the stack.

Send to Back

Moves selected objects to the back of the stack.

Bring Forward

Moves selected objects one step toward the front.

Send Backward

Moves selected objects one step toward the back.

 

The above example of the 3 overlapping objects may look as if there are no objects between in the stacking order. However, in reality, there might be some objects between them, but not overlapping with them.

Bring Forward and Send Backward move one step forward or backward respectively at one time in the overall stacking order. Thus, you may have to click many times to achieve what you expect.

In such cases, you can use Smart Forward or Backward instead.

To Use Smart Forward or Smart Backward

  1. Select an object or objects which are parts of the overlapping objects.

  2. Do one of the following:

    • Click one of the 2 commands from the Arrange panel in the Home tab of the Ribbon.

    • Click one of the 2 commands from the Arrange drop-down list from the Arrange panel in the Draw tab of the Ribbon.

    • Right-click.

    • Press Ctrl+Shift+J (Smart Forward) or Ctrl+J (Smart Backward)

 

Command

Description

Smart Forward

Moves the selected object above the nearest object with an overlapping bounding box, regardless of the overall stacking order.

Smart Backward

Moves the selected object below the nearest object with an overlapping bounding box, regardless of the stacking order.

 

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