Horizontal/Vertical alignment tools reversed

[FranklinCat]

The "Align Horizontal Center" and "Align Vertical Center" tools are mismatched as to their functions. In other words the former tool aligns objects vertically while the latter aligns them horizontally. This bug has existed for a long time. The fix is simple, but I resent the fact that Corel doesn't have enough pride in their product to fix it.

[LeviFiction]

I don't think this is a bug. It's just a misconception on how you think it should be working.

Think of the canvas as a graph. Each pixel being a specific (x,y) combination. So it's essentially a simple Cartesian plane with the starting point in the upper left instead of lower left corner.

The canvas center is a set X and Y value. So if we align the center X of a vector to the center X of the image then all vectors will gain the same X center (based also on their center point). The only thing that differs then between them is the Y. So graphically the horizontal center is represented in a vertical fashion as vectors with different Y values have the same horizontal center value.

Using these concepts here's how to understand the options:

Align Horizontally in Canvas Center - aligns the vector object's horizontal center at the horizontal center of the canvas.

Align Vertically in Canvas Center - aligns the vector object's vertical center at the vertical center of the canvas.

So it works and is labeled as it should.

[FranklinCat]

Thanks for your reply. It turns out we are both partially correct. Your explanation is correct in that "align vertical center" should produce a horizontal array and conversely "align horizontal center" should produce a vertical array. However if you look at the tool symbols used by Corel (versus the symbols used by Jasc) you will see that the symbols have been reversed relative to the label that pops up when one hovers the cursor on the tool symbol. Corel's symbol showing objects vertically arrayed produces a label reading "align vertical center" and produces a horizontal array of objects (i.e., objects arrayed along their vertical centers); hence the label for the tool is correct but the symbol employed is wrong.

To correct my earlier post, the symbol for each tool has been misapplied relative to the tools' labels and corresponding actions. I'm probably not too different from the typical user in that once I am acquainted with the program, I tend to navigate about the tools by their symbols rather than their labels. Fortunately, the "re-do" symbol is not assigned to the "clear" function.

[LeviFiction]

Hmmm...you must have an older version of Jasc's version than I do or a different version of Corel's. My version 9 has similar wording with the same symbols applied to the one sen in X3, not reversed.

But my commands aren't mislabled as you indicate, in version X3 the symbol that looks like it produces a vertical array (centering horizontally in the canvas) is labeled "Horizontal Center in Canvas" with a tool-tip of "Align Horizontally Center in Canvas." It all matches according to how it sounds by the label and looks by the symbol.

Horizontal.jpg (6.86 KiB) Viewed 5332 times

Horizontal Center produces a vertical array horizontally aligned.

Vertical Center produces a horizontal array vertically aligned.

And the symbols match that label and action.

So which version do you have? I'm not saying it wasn't accidentally switched at one time...but it's not now.

[Ron P.]

Levi,
I think I see what FranklinCat is getting at. Look at the screenshot you provided Levi. The Horizontal alignment icon is a circle with a Vertical line through it, where the Vertical alignment has a Horizontal line through it. However it's been this way since PSP 9. Their behavior is correct, just the icons appear to be backwards.

[LeviFiction]

EDIT: I missed the word "appears" in your response. If appearing to be wrong is the only issue then it's a non-issue because it's accurate and once you get used to the idea it makes perfect sense.

However, FranklinCat indicates that the icons were actually reversed not only appearing to be reversed. The description indicates that the behavior differs from both the icon and the label. If this isn't the case and I was wrong in how I read the reply I apologize but in that case I still argue that the icons, the labels, and the behavior are all exactly as they are supposed to be. Unless they were temporarily changed around in versions previous to Jasc's 9 and Corel's X3 as is suggested by what FranklinCat said and my own experience to the contrary on those two particular versions.

But I'll stop arguing the point. I've made my argument for the icons and labels being exactly as they should be.

[FranklinCat]

I see what is causing the confusion. I'm not referring to the menu "Position on Canvas" but to the menu "Object Alignment".

[Ron P.]

Even with that if you use the Line as reference they do appear to be reversed. I mean this ---- is a Horizontal line, where this | is a vertical line. However they behave as they should. I guess it's a matter of interpretation. Just ignore what direction the line goes through the circle in the icon.

[LeviFiction]

While what you say is true, Ron, that the line itself is a little confusing FranklinCat is correct there is a problem, but it's not with the symbol as Franklin claims.

The problem is the tool-tip is wrong. XD

FranklinCat, you said that "Corel's symbol showing objects vertically arrayed produces a label reading "align vertical center" and produces a horizontal array of objects (i.e., objects arrayed along their vertical centers); hence the label for the tool is correct but the symbol employed is wrong." but you're flipping things slightly.

The symbol shows objects arrayed vertically but it also shows them aligned horizontally by their centers. So the symbol is correct and matches all of the other symbols that deal with this sort of thing. But look at the tool-tip.

If you go to the Object Menu and under "Align" you'll see that the labels for Align Horizontal Center and Align Vertical Center match the icon and the action presented. But in the tool options palette (Either for the Pick tool or the Object Selection tool) the tool-tip is mismatched.

tooltipmenu.jpg (10.85 KiB) Viewed 5297 times

[FranklinCat]

Hi Levi,

That's right. When I'm drawing I use those commands all the time, so I have the Tool Options Pallet open all the time as part of my work space. Out of curiosity, I went to View/Customize/Objects went to the command selections under "Align" and moved the symbol for "Vertical Center" up to the top of the screen: it displays the correct label and performs the correct action as expected from the symbol. So it seems that the only place where the symbol and label/action are mismatched is on the Tool Options Pallet, which unfortunately I use out of preference.