Distance Tool

Introduction

The Distance Arrow Tool is used to keep distances between frames absolutely or relatively within the document, when the document is resized.

By clicking the left or right mouse button the user is able to choose if the tool should be used absolutely or relatively.

The Distance Arrow can be used on the sides (not the angles) of a document by clicking on the small boxes in the center of the side. Then drag the arrow to the frame to which you want to connect the first frame.

Understanding InDesign’s default behaviour

As a reminder: With a facing page (default setting when creating a new document), the inner edge is always fixed. In the case of a horizontal change, the border on the right-hand side is shifted accordingly, and in the case of a left-hand side, the left-hand side. Vertically, the side grows or shrinks equally upwards and downwards.

In the case of a single page, the change in size is always calculated both horizontally and vertically from the middle of the page.

Facing page, right side

Open	Open
Original	Scaling (width +20%, height +20%)

The individual elements are moved, but do not change their position relative to each other.

Single Page

The individual elements are moved in a different way, but they do not change their position relative to each other.

Using the Distance Arrow absolutely

If a Distance Arrow is used absolutely between two frames, it keeps the absolute distance between the frames independent from the scaling.

Example:
If a Distance Arrow is used absolutely between two frames with a distance of 2 centimetres, the distance of 2 centimetres will always be kept independently of scaling between the two frames.

Before adaption

After adaption

Using the Distance Arrow relatively

If a Distance Arrow is used relatively, it will keep the relative distance between two frame sides relative to the degree of scaling.

Example:
If the relative distance is set to 2 centimetres between frame side and frame side in the original document, the 2 centimetres will be multiplied by the scaling factor used in the adaption of the document.

If the document is scaled to a width of 125%, the distance between frame side and frame side would be increased by the factor 1.25.

2 centimetres x 1.25 = 2.5 centimetres

If the Distance Arrow is used relatively between four or more sides, all distances between all frame sides will increase/decrease by the same factor.

Before adaption

After adaption