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238 Day 7
The Align Property
The Align property controls how a component is aligned with its parent. The possible values
for the Align property and a description of each are listed in Table 7.3.
Table 7.3. Possible values for the Align property.
Value Description
alBottom The component will be aligned at the bottom of the parent window.
A status bar is an example of a component aligned along the bottom
of a main form.
alClient The component will expand to fill the client area of the parent
window. If other components occupy part of the client area, the
component will fill what client area remains. Examples include Memo
components, Image components, and RichEdit components.
alLeft The component will be aligned along the left edge of the parent
window. A horizontal speedbar is an example of a left-aligned
component.
alNone The component will be placed as designed with no special
relationship to the parent. This is the default for most components.
alRight The component will be aligned along the right edge of the parent.
alTop The component will be aligned along the top of the parent’s
window. A speedbar is an example of this type of alignment.
An illustration will help explain alignment. Start with a blank form. Then perform these steps:
1. Click on the Standard tab on the Component Palette and choose a Panel component.
Place the panel anywhere on the form.
2. Locate the Align property in the Object Inspector (it’s at the top of the list). Notice
that it is set on alNone. Change the Align property to alTop. The panel is aligned at
the top of the form, and it expands to fill the width of the form.
3. Try to move the panel back to the middle of the form. The panel will snap back to
the top of the form.
4. Try to make the panel narrower. Notice that the panel retains its width.
5. Change the panel’s height. Note that the panel’s height can be changed (while the
width cannot).
6. Change the Align to alBottom. Now the panel is glued to the bottom of the form.
7. Change the Align to alRight and then alLeft. Notice how the panel keeps its
original shape. The width is now the same as the height was before. In effect, the
panel is rotated. Again, attempts to vertically move or size the panel fail.