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Stack Horizontally Node (Shapes > Grouping)

Janne Brönner
  • Updated

What it does

This node groups items that are vertically aligned (based on the Measurement Point) and located close to each other horizontally. It’s especially useful for combining text shapes that visually belong to the same line.

Use it for

  • Grouping text shapes that form a single line of text.
  • Structuring horizontally aligned items for further processing.

How to use it

  1. Drag and drop the node from the Node Library into your template:
    Node Library > Folder Shapes > Folder Grouping
  2. Connect the node with other nodes in the Data Flow of your template.
  3. Specify the settings in the Node Properties task pane.

Tip

Before stacking, use the Sort Horizontally node to ensure your items are ordered from left to right. This helps maintain the correct sequence when shapes are combined into stacks.

Node Input

Connect a node from the Data Flow that contains the items (shapes or shape trees) you want to stack to the Items input port. These items will be evaluated for horizontal proximity and grouped accordingly.

Node Output

This node provides two outputs, visible in the Node Result task pane:

  • Stacks: Outputs the newly created stacks as a list of shape trees, each representing a group of horizontally aligned items.
  • Remainder: Outputs a list of items that did not get stacked, either because they didn’t meet the stacking criteria or were isolated.

You can connect both output ports individually to other nodes for further processing.

Node Properties

Node Name

You can assign a custom name to the node to help identify its purpose within your template.

Stack Name

You can assign a custom name to the newly created stacks to help identify them in further shape trees.

Measurement Point

Defines the reference point used to measure vertical alignment between items. Options include:

  • Top: Uses the top edge of the item.
  • Center: Uses the vertical center of the item.
  • Bottom: Uses the bottom edge of the item.

This setting helps determine whether items are aligned closely enough to be considered part of the same horizontal line.

Min. Stack Size

Specifies the minimum number of items required to form a stack. If fewer items are found, they won’t be grouped.

Default: 1

Vertical Tolerance

Defines the maximum vertical difference (in points) allowed between items to still be considered aligned.
Useful when font sizes vary or when superscript/subscript characters are present.

Default: 0,100

Max. Distance

Sets the maximum horizontal distance (in points) between items for them to be stacked.

Default: 1,000

Max. Overlap

Sets the maximum horizontal overlap (in points) between items for them to be stacked.

Default: 1,000