With controls of different sizes and shapes and text strings of different lengths it seems impossible to achieve a cohesive design. One technique used by graphic designers to help create order is to use a grid. Grids can take many different forms - for example, they can divide the work area into equal columns, or equal columns with a spacing gap between the columns, or equal columns with wide margins for labels. If you look at different newspapers, magazines, technical books, or consistently designed collateral, you will see different types of grid that have been used to give a common style to the material presented. Then decide how many columns would be appropriate for arranging your information - you may need to sketch a few variations on paper to figure what works best.
Some fields can span two, three or more columns.
Adjust the sizes of these objects so that the column alignment is maintained. While you don't want to have masses of empty space, don't feel that you must fill every available pixel - some blank cells can help punctuate the information you are displaying. The vertical space equalization function is great for helping you achieve consistent vertical spacing within your columns. Using grids is a simple technique that can greatly improve your dialog layouts, while removing a lot of the uncertainty factor. Fujitsu Ltd. IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.