M8: Align is unavailable for a layer in an auto layout frame's flow, as in Figma

Measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-12: with one child of an auto layout frame selected, the Design panel's Align buttons are greyed out, Alt+A and Alt+S do nothing and the frame's alignment doesn't change. align_target now returns none for a single layer that takes part in its auto layout frame's flow, so can_align is false and the align commands leave the layout alone. An absolutely positioned child still aligns to its frame, and multi-layer selections are unchanged (neither measured).

The panel's disabled tip says why ("A layer in an auto layout frame is placed by its frame"), through the new align_blocked_by_auto_layout. Tidy up was measured to differ from Figma and is not changed here.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Model-Effort: Opus 5.5 drove; Fable 5.2 queued; Opus 5.5 briefed; Sonnet 5.5 measured and wrote at medium

crates/engine/src/al_behaviour_tests.rs

@@ -336,3 +336,36 @@ fn auto_layout_keys_beside_no_auto_layout_are_refused() {
     set(&mut s, f, json!({"layout": null, "name": "Plain"}));
     assert!(s.doc().unwrap().node(f).unwrap().layout.is_none());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn align_is_unavailable_for_a_child_in_an_auto_layout_flow() {
+    use crate::cmd::arrange::{align_blocked_by_auto_layout, can_align};
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    let f = al_frame(&mut s, json!({"gap": 10}));
+    let a = rect(&mut s, f, 20.0, 20.0, "#ff0000");
+    let b = rect(&mut s, f, 20.0, 20.0, "#00ff00");
+    let at = |s: &Session, i: NodeId| s.doc().unwrap().world_bounds(i).unwrap();
+    let (before_a, before_b) = (at(&s, a), at(&s, b));
+    assert_eq!(before_b.x0, 30.0, "the layout placed the second one after the first");
+    let doc = s.doc().unwrap();
+    assert!(!can_align(doc, &[b]), "Align is greyed out for one child of the frame");
+    assert!(align_blocked_by_auto_layout(doc, &[b]), "because its frame places it");
+    for cmd in ["align.left", "align.hcenter", "align.right", "align.top", "align.vcenter", "align.bottom"] {
+        s.execute(cmd, &json!({"ids": [b]})).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!((at(&s, a), at(&s, b)), (before_a, before_b), "{cmd} leaves the layout alone");
+    }
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn an_absolute_child_of_an_auto_layout_frame_still_aligns_to_it() {
+    use crate::cmd::arrange::{align_blocked_by_auto_layout, can_align};
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    let f = al_frame(&mut s, json!({}));
+    let kid = rect(&mut s, f, 20.0, 20.0, "#ff0000");
+    set(&mut s, kid, json!({"absolute": true}));
+    let doc = s.doc().unwrap();
+    assert!(can_align(doc, &[kid]));
+    assert!(!align_blocked_by_auto_layout(doc, &[kid]));
+    s.execute("align.right", &json!({"ids": [kid]})).unwrap();
+    assert_eq!(s.doc().unwrap().world_bounds(kid).unwrap().x1, 200.0);
+}

crates/engine/src/cmd/arrange.rs

@@ -164,12 +164,27 @@ pub fn can_align(doc: &Document, ids: &[NodeId]) -> bool {
     align_target(doc, &roots(doc, ids)).is_some()
 }
 
+/// Whether `ids` is one layer that its auto layout frame places: Figma greys out Align for it,
+/// since the frame decides where it goes (measured in Figma's web app, 2026-11-12).
+pub fn align_blocked_by_auto_layout(doc: &Document, ids: &[NodeId]) -> bool {
+    matches!(roots(doc, ids).as_slice(), [id] if in_auto_layout_flow(doc, *id))
+}
+
+/// Whether the layer sits in an auto layout frame and takes part in its flow (not absolutely positioned).
+fn in_auto_layout_flow(doc: &Document, id: NodeId) -> bool {
+    let Some(n) = doc.node(id) else { return false };
+    !n.child_layout.absolute && n.parent.and_then(|p| doc.node(p)).is_some_and(|p| p.layout.is_some())
+}
+
 /// What `roots` align to: one layer to its parent frame, several to their combined bounds.
 fn align_target(doc: &Document, roots: &[NodeId]) -> Option<Rect> {
     match roots {
         [] => None,
         [id] => {
             let parent = doc.node(*id)?.parent.filter(|pp| !doc.node(*pp).is_some_and(Node::is_page))?;
+            if in_auto_layout_flow(doc, *id) {
+                return None;
+            }
             Some(doc.world_bounds(parent).unwrap_or_default())
         }
         _ => Some(doc.bounds_of(roots).unwrap_or_default()),

crates/ui-egui/locales/en.toml

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ name = "English"
 "A collection of this file with these modes and variables: override their values per mode and add variables of its own" = "A collection of this file with these modes and variables: override their values per mode and add variables of its own"
 "A .figcraft file with this name already exists. Choose its full name to confirm replacement." = "A .figcraft file with this name already exists. Choose its full name to confirm replacement."
 "A later vote" = "A later vote"
+"A layer in an auto layout frame is placed by its frame" = "A layer in an auto layout frame is placed by its frame"
 "A layer on its own aligns to its frame: select more layers, or one in a frame" = "A layer on its own aligns to its frame: select more layers, or one in a frame"
 "A responsive product page: hero, features, figures, a quote and a footer" = "A responsive product page: hero, features, figures, a quote and a footer"
 "A spring plays until it settles: its mass, stiffness and damping set how long" = "A spring plays until it settles: its mass, stiffness and damping set how long"

crates/ui-egui/src/canvas/selection_cache_tests.rs

@@ -237,3 +237,18 @@ fn the_gesture_start_stands_in_only_while_the_selection_is_only_moved() {
     app.session.ds_mut().unwrap().selection.pop();
     assert!(crate::selection_cache::moved(app.session.ds().unwrap()).is_none());
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn the_align_buttons_are_off_for_a_layer_in_an_auto_layout_flow() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    let f = id(s.execute("frame.create", &json!({"x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 200, "height": 100})).unwrap());
+    let kid = id(s.execute("shape.rectangle", &json!({"parent": f, "x": 0, "y": 0, "width": 20, "height": 20})).unwrap());
+    s.execute("node.set", &json!({"id": f, "props": {"layout": "horizontal", "padding": 0, "gap": 0}})).unwrap();
+    s.execute("select.set", &json!({"ids": [kid]})).unwrap();
+    let app = FigApp::new(s, Box::new(NoServices));
+    let ctx = Context::default();
+    let ds = app.session.ds().unwrap();
+    let pv = crate::right::position_values(&ctx, &ds.doc.clone(), &ds.selection.clone());
+    assert!(!pv.can_align, "Align is greyed out");
+    assert!(pv.align_blocked, "and the tip says the frame places the layer");
+}

crates/ui-egui/src/panels/right.rs

@@ -611,6 +611,8 @@ fn position(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, doc: &Arc<Document>, shown: &Arc<Docu
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub(crate) struct PositionValues {
     pub can_align: bool,
+    /// Align is off because the one selected layer is placed by its auto layout frame.
+    pub align_blocked: bool,
     pub x: Option<f64>,
     pub y: Option<f64>,
     pub rot: Option<f64>,
@@ -641,6 +643,7 @@ pub(crate) fn position_values(ctx: &egui::Context, doc: &Arc<Document>, sel: &[N
     let parent = |n: &Node| n.parent.and_then(|p| doc.node(p));
     crate::selection_cache::cached(ctx, "position", doc, sel, &[], || PositionValues {
         can_align: figcraft_engine::cmd::arrange::can_align(doc, sel),
+        align_blocked: figcraft_engine::cmd::arrange::align_blocked_by_auto_layout(doc, sel),
         x: common(doc, sel, |n| x_of(doc, n)),
         y: common(doc, sel, |n| y_of(doc, n)),
         rot: common(doc, sel, |n| rot_of(doc, n)),
@@ -659,7 +662,7 @@ pub(crate) fn position_values(ctx: &egui::Context, doc: &Arc<Document>, sel: &[N
 fn position_fields(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, doc: &Arc<Document>, sel: &[NodeId]) {
     let pv = position_values(ui.ctx(), doc, sel);
     let col = widgets::col_width(ui.available_width());
-    align_row(app, ui, sel, pv.can_align, col);
+    align_row(app, ui, sel, pv.can_align, pv.align_blocked, col);
     position_row(app, ui, doc, sel, &pv, col);
     rotation_row(app, ui, doc, sel, pv.rot, col);
     if pv.in_frame {
@@ -668,7 +671,7 @@ fn position_fields(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, doc: &Arc<Document>, sel: &[No
 }
 
 /// Alignment, and distribution and tidy up for three or more layers.
-fn align_row(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, sel: &[NodeId], can_align: bool, col: f32) {
+fn align_row(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, sel: &[NodeId], can_align: bool, blocked: bool, col: f32) {
     let ids = sel.to_vec();
     widgets::sublabels(ui, tr("Alignment"), None);
     row(ui, 32.0, |ui| {
@@ -688,7 +691,12 @@ fn align_row(app: &mut FigApp, ui: &mut Ui, sel: &[NodeId], can_align: bool, col
             let v = widgets::segmented(ui, &items[3..], None, w).map(|i| i + 3);
             h.or(v)
         });
-        picked.response.on_disabled_hover_text(tr("A layer on its own aligns to its frame: select more layers, or one in a frame"));
+        let why = if blocked {
+            tr("A layer in an auto layout frame is placed by its frame")
+        } else {
+            tr("A layer on its own aligns to its frame: select more layers, or one in a frame")
+        };
+        picked.response.on_disabled_hover_text(why);
         if let Some(i) = picked.inner {
             app.run(cmds[i], json!({"ids": ids}));
         }

docs/ui-parity.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # UI and interaction parity
 
-> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-10 · **Change:** minor (the text caret takes the text's solid fill colour (#2156); the Rotation field shows and sets the rotation on the page, in frames and groups, through node.set absoluteRotation (#2196); the eyedropper picks a magnified image's pixel under the pointer, not a blend with its neighbours (#2189); Selection colors shows from one distinct colour when a selected layer has children, and from two otherwise, measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-09 on a frame, a group and plain rectangles; the crosshair of the shape and Text tools is drawn dark with a white edge, so it shows on a white frame whatever the system's pointer style (#2198); a boolean group takes a corner radius (and smoothing) that rounds every sharp corner of its result (#2222); the Point section's X and Y in vector edit mode show Mixed and set every selected point of the layer being edited, as in Figma; Preferences ▸ Invert zoom direction reverses wheel zoom, pinch unchanged (#2145); Shift while rotating lands on absolute multiples of 15°, measured in Figma; Flatten bakes a vector's point corner radius into its path (#2195); a click on a fill, stroke or effect row's grip or background highlights it, Cmd/Ctrl+C copies that paint or effect and Cmd/Ctrl+V pastes it onto the selected layers, as the help center's Copy and paste properties between layers says (#1494); wrap style per paragraph and in text styles (#1827); the Annotation tool (Shift+T, `tool.annotation {id?}`): with a layer selected (or an `id`) it asks the UI for that layer's note at once, and in the tool a press on a layer selects it and asks for its note, a press on empty canvas does nothing; the marquee follows Figma's measured rules: a partly covered frame or section gives the layers in it the marquee touches, a rotated shape is touched by its outline, a drag from inside a frame selects that frame only when the marquee also takes another top-level frame (then whole) (`marquee_behaviour_tests`); copy, cut and paste in vector edit mode act on the selected points and segments (#1875); M8, #2146: K focuses the Scale tool's factor field with its text selected, so K, 2, Enter scales the selection by two about the panel's origin (FigCraft's starts at the top left; Figma's grid starts at the centre, left for a follow-up because the origin also sets where a handle drag pivots, which is not measured) in one undo step, after which the tool returns to Move with the selection kept; Escape in the field closes it with the tool back on Move and nothing changed (measured in Figma's web app, 2026-11-09; `pressing_k_focuses_the_scale_field_with_its_text_selected`, `k_two_enter_scales_the_selection_by_two`, `escape_in_the_scale_field_closes_it_and_changes_nothing`); the main menu and its submenus stay inside the window, moving up to fit and scrolling when taller (#2217); locked layers ignore the arrow keys and a locked parent's children can't be locked on their own (#1560); the left rail's and tab strip's icons are larger, 20 pt (#553); pick select: Tab while the keyboard selection box shows (or the chord again) puts a pink outline on a layer and the keys walk the layer tree from it, as Accessibility at Figma says (#1836); scrubbing a field faster or slower by the pointer's height, with a notice of the speed, as the help center's Scrub fields says (#1837); component rows in the Layers panel at AA contrast in the theme's component tint, with the rows inside a selected component in a tone of its row (#1903); Cmd/Ctrl-click on a padding field sets all four sides with the value typed, a documented auto layout shortcut; a fill per region of a vector: with regions selected in edit mode, the Fill section and the fill commands edit those regions' own fills, as Edit vector layers says (#1875); the Fill section of a text whose characters were coloured differently while editing shows mixed content, characters that all share fills the layer doesn't have show those, and a layer-level fill edit reaches every character (#1856); a number field scrubs when dragged with Alt held, as the help center's scrub section says, not only by its label; reuse visible layer selection roots (M8); ; with a shape or frame tool chosen and nothing selected, the arrows show a placement crosshair in the middle of the view and move it, and Enter places there, as Accessibility at Figma says (#1839); text direction per paragraph: Text ▸ Text direction forces a paragraph left to right or right to left, as Add right-to-left text says (#1830), with `text.direction`, `node.set textDirection`, the Type settings control once a right-to-left script is in the text, inspect, the CSS `direction` and the `.fig` lines' `sourceDirectionality`; the boolean operation menu in the Design panel leads each entry with an original icon drawn in code, a filled preview of the result (#2003); a press on the open gradient's handles or stops on the canvas keeps the colour picker open thLine truncated
+> **Last reviewed:** 2026-10-10 · **Last updated:** 2026-11-12 · **Change:** minor (Align is disabled for a layer in an auto layout frame's flow, as measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-12, with a tip saying the frame places it; single and multi-layer Align and Distribute measured to match; Tidy up not yet (M8); the text caret takes the text's solid fill colour (#2156); the Rotation field shows and sets the rotation on the page, in frames and groups, through node.set absoluteRotation (#2196); the eyedropper picks a magnified image's pixel under the pointer, not a blend with its neighbours (#2189); Selection colors shows from one distinct colour when a selected layer has children, and from two otherwise, measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-09 on a frame, a group and plain rectangles; the crosshair of the shape and Text tools is drawn dark with a white edge, so it shows on a white frame whatever the system's pointer style (#2198); a boolean group takes a corner radius (and smoothing) that rounds every sharp corner of its result (#2222); the Point section's X and Y in vector edit mode show Mixed and set every selected point of the layer being edited, as in Figma; Preferences ▸ Invert zoom direction reverses wheel zoom, pinch unchanged (#2145); Shift while rotating lands on absolute multiples of 15°, measured in Figma; Flatten bakes a vector's point corner radius into its path (#2195); a click on a fill, stroke or effect row's grip or background highlights it, Cmd/Ctrl+C copies that paint or effect and Cmd/Ctrl+V pastes it onto the selected layers, as the help center's Copy and paste properties between layers says (#1494); wrap style per paragraph and in text styles (#1827); the Annotation tool (Shift+T, `tool.annotation {id?}`): with a layer selected (or an `id`) it asks the UI for that layer's note at once, and in the tool a press on a layer selects it and asks for its note, a press on empty canvas does nothing; the marquee follows Figma's measured rules: a partly covered frame or section gives the layers in it the marquee touches, a rotated shape is touched by its outline, a drag from inside a frame selects that frame only when the marquee also takes another top-level frame (then whole) (`marquee_behaviour_tests`); copy, cut and paste in vector edit mode act on the selected points and segments (#1875); M8, #2146: K focuses the Scale tool's factor field with its text selected, so K, 2, Enter scales the selection by two about the panel's origin (FigCraft's starts at the top left; Figma's grid starts at the centre, left for a follow-up because the origin also sets where a handle drag pivots, which is not measured) in one undo step, after which the tool returns to Move with the selection kept; Escape in the field closes it with the tool back on Move and nothing changed (measured in Figma's web app, 2026-11-09; `pressing_k_focuses_the_scale_field_with_its_text_selected`, `k_two_enter_scales_the_selection_by_two`, `escape_in_the_scale_field_closes_it_and_changes_nothing`); the main menu and its submenus stay inside the window, moving up to fit and scrolling when taller (#2217); locked layers ignore the arrow keys and a locked parent's children can't be locked on their own (#1560); the left rail's and tab strip's icons are larger, 20 pt (#553); pick select: Tab while the keyboard selection box shows (or the chord again) puts a pink outline on a layer and the keys walk the layer tree from it, as Accessibility at Figma says (#1836); scrubbing a field faster or slower by the pointer's height, with a notice of the speed, as the help center's Scrub fields says (#1837); component rows in the Layers panel at AA contrast in the theme's component tint, with the rows inside a selected component in a tone of its row (#1903); Cmd/Ctrl-click on a padding field sets all four sides with the value typed, a documented auto layout shortcut; a fill per region of a vector: with regions selected in edit mode, the Fill section and the fill commands edit those regions' own fills, as Edit vector layers says (#1875); the Fill section of a text whose characters were coloured differently while editing shows mixed content, characters that all share fills the layer doesn't have show those, and a layer-level fill edit reaches every character (#1856); a number field scrubs when dragged with Alt held, as the help center's scrub section says, not only by its label; reuse visible layer selection roots (M8); ; with a shape or frame tool chosen and nothing selected, the arrows show a placement crosshair in the middle of the view and move it, and Enter places there, as Accessibility at Figma says (#1839); text direction per paragraph: Text ▸ Text direction forces a paragraph left to right or right to left, as Add right-to-left text says (#1830), with `text.direction`, `node.set textDirection`, the Type settings control once a right-to-left script is in the text, inspect, the CSS `direction` and the `.fig` lines' `sourceDirectionality`; thLine truncated
 
 Fine canvas control is what Figma users feel first: handles, snapping, nudging, modifier keys,
 drag behaviour, numeric precision. This checklist covers the tools, gestures and panels. Status:
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ interaction feel not yet compared.
 | Rotate just outside a corner; Shift in 15° steps | done | rotated handle box when layers share a rotation; Shift lands the rotation on multiples of 15° (measured in Figma: a layer at 7° or -4.27° ends at 15°), not 15° steps from where the drag began; layers with different rotations step the turn from 0 |
 | Flip, rotate 90° | done | |
 | Rotation origin (Alt+R) | done | a handle at the selection's centre to drag (snaps to the box's corners, edge middles and centre), double-click puts it back, Escape or Alt+R hides it; the corner handles, the rotation field, Rotate 90°/180° and `transform.rotate` turn about it; it follows the layers and lasts as long as the selection, not saved (the documentation doesn't say; pinned) |
+| Align and Distribute (Design panel and shortcuts) | done | single and multi-layer Align and Distribute were measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-12 and match: one layer aligns to its frame, several to their combined bounds, Distribute spaces three or more. Align is disabled for a child in an auto layout frame's flow (Alt+A and Alt+S do nothing, the frame is untouched), as measured; the panel's tip says the frame places the layer, and an absolutely positioned child still aligns to its frame (not measured, so today's behaviour is kept). Tidy up was measured to differ (Figma keeps the order and sizes and evens one gap per axis): not yet. Tests: `align_is_unavailable_for_a_child_in_an_auto_layout_flow`, `an_absolute_child_of_an_auto_layout_frame_still_aligns_to_it`, `the_align_buttons_are_off_for_a_layer_in_an_auto_layout_flow` |
 | Enter with a shape or frame tool chosen | done | places what a click makes (100×100, lines 100 long, sections 400×300) in the middle of the view, selected (`tool.place`); from the toolbar, Enter on the chosen tool. With nothing selected, the arrows first show a crosshair in the middle of the view and then move it by the nudge amounts (`tool.crosshair`; Shift the large one), and Enter places there; Escape or a tool change takes it away ("Use the arrow keys to activate the crosshair cursor. It will appear in the middle of the viewport indicating where the new object will be placed", Accessibility at Figma; #1839) |
 | Alt-drag duplicate | done | the copy snaps to the layer it came from too (edges, centres, equal spacing); Duplicate (Cmd+D) then repeats the copy's offset, also after a Duplicate whose copy was moved, as long as the copies stay selected (the documentation doesn't say; pinned from community answers) |
 | Drag threshold; double-click into groups and text | done | a press moves or resizes only once the pointer has travelled 3 px on screen, so a click or double-click made with an unsteady hand drags nothing; a double-click goes one level into a group and the next one edits the text under it, wherever on the text it lands, with all of it selected (a double-click in the text being edited selects the word) (`double_click_tests`); Enter on a selected text does the same (all of it selected, typing replaces it) and Escape leaves editing with the layer still selected (`text_enter_tests`) |
@@ -217,6 +218,7 @@ This audit records candidates for subsequent fixes; their behaviour is unchanged
 
 | Date | Change | Summary |
 |---|---|---|
+| 2026-11-12 | minor | M8: Align is unavailable for the one selected layer of an auto layout frame that takes part in its flow, as in Figma (measured in Figma's web app on 2026-11-12: the Design panel's Align buttons are greyed out, Alt+A and Alt+S do nothing and the frame's alignment doesn't change). `align_target` returns none for it, so `can_align` is false and the `align.*` commands leave the layout alone; the disabled tip reads "A layer in an auto layout frame is placed by its frame" (`align_blocked_by_auto_layout`). An absolutely positioned child still aligns to its frame and multi-layer selections are unchanged (neither measured). Single and multi-layer Align and Distribute otherwise matched Figma; Tidy up differs (Figma keeps the order and sizes and evens one gap per axis) and is not yet changed. Tests: `align_is_unavailable_for_a_child_in_an_auto_layout_flow`, `an_absolute_child_of_an_auto_layout_frame_still_aligns_to_it`, `the_align_buttons_are_off_for_a_layer_in_an_auto_layout_flow` |
 | 2026-11-09 | patch | M3, #2156: the text caret takes the text's solid fill colour (red text, red caret; light grey on a dark frame, light grey, one colour and no inversion), measured in Figma's web app: the fill of the character before the caret (the first one's at the start); FigCraft draws it opaque (how Figma treats a translucent fill was not measured); gradient, image and hidden fills (not measured) give a black caret on a light surface and a white one on a dark one (the nearest layer around the text whose top visible fill is a solid at least half opaque as drawn, counting layer opacity, else the page; a layer whose top fill is a gradient or an image is passed over), not the interface's text colour (white in the dark theme, invisible on the default light page, #2190). Width and height unchanged; collaborators' carets unchanged. Tests: `caret_tests` |
 | 2026-11-10 | minor | The Rotation field shows and sets the layer's rotation on the page (its own angle plus its parents' when no ancestor is flipped; with a flipped ancestor FigCraft reads the composed angle, which flips the sign of the layer's own angle, and Figma's behaviour there was not measured), in frames and groups alike, as measured in Figma's web app for rotated, unflipped parents (#2196) |
 | 2026-11-09 | patch | M3, #2189: the eyedropper picks the colour the canvas shows. It sampled a 1x1 render without the canvas's magnified-image pixels, so on an image magnified past 2x it blended a 1 px line with its neighbours (#3D444D picked as #343B44 beside #151B23), and the pixel it sampled began at the pointer instead of being centred on it. It now matches the canvas when zoomed in; zoomed out it still samples the full-resolution image, not the smaller copy the canvas may show. Test: `eyedropper_image_tests` |