# InDesign question: Can I make objects stay a certain distance apart even if they change size? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618 "2014-04-08T04:01:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/1 "2014-04-08T04:01:53Z")
Let’s say I have a paragraph: aaaaaaaa bbbbbbbb ccccccccc dddddddd And an image 0.5" below it: :):):):)🙂 If I want to add a row of eeeeees at the bottom of the paragraph, can I make the image automatically move down the appropriate distance? Can I do this across a whole page, with four columns, so that each object will always stay 0.5" below the one immediately above it when either is resized? ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/2 "2014-04-08T04:08:38Z")
Yes. You want to embed an "Anchored Object. [Here’s a video tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-QA0i_MaY). ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/3 "2014-04-08T04:21:35Z")
Thank you! That works as long as on the anchored-to object is a text box, but what about the reverse situation (anchoring a text box to a graphic?) Basically, here is [a picture](https://www.dropbox.com/s/529r258l8waweqf/anchors.jpg) of what I’m trying to do. Each chunk needs to be the same distance below the one above it, regardless of whether it’s a graphic or textbox. Is that possible? ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/4 "2014-04-08T06:02:15Z")
I don’t think you’re approaching it correctly, or I don’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish. [Here](https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hoktj98kdbyjnc/07lg7ujQaX) is a sample of embedding images and additional text frames within a larger, multi-column text frame, which (unless I’m missing your intentions), accomplishes what I think you’re trying to do. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/5 "2014-04-08T07:12:29Z")
> [@B.Serum](#): > > I don’t think you’re approaching it correctly, or I don’t understand what you’re trying to accomplish. > > [Here](https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4hoktj98kdbyjnc/07lg7ujQaX) is a sample of embedding images and additional text frames within a larger, multi-column text frame, which (unless I’m missing your intentions), accomplishes what I think you’re trying to do. That’s terrific. Thank you! I will redo the layout on our project to use that system. Embedded text frames anchored to each other within a bigger one is not how I would’ve thought to do it, but it works and is much neater than a bunch of floating objects. Thank you very much for the help 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![B.Serum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/b.serum/32/14266_2.png) [@B.Serum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/B.Serum)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2014, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/indesign-question-can-i-make-objects-stay-a-certain-distance-apart-even-if-they-change-size/685618/6 "2014-04-08T07:41:56Z")
No problem! 🙂 One thing to remember though: the anchored objects aren’t anchored to each other, but each one is anchored to it’s own specific character position within the text frame.