> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.grunt.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Layout and structure rules

> Use Alignment, margin, merge, size, and clear rules in Grunt

This page covers the legacy rules that shape layout, spacing, and structure.

## Alignment rule

Use Alignment when text or graphics should line up consistently within a cell or container.

The legacy support article documents six settings:

* Left
* Center
* Right
* Top
* Middle
* Bottom

You can apply the rule to:

* Graphics
* Text
* Both

If content still does not reach the edge you expect, check whether margins are limiting the result.

## Margin rule

Use Margin when text or graphics need more or less space around them.

The legacy support article notes:

* It works for text, icons, shapes, images, and more
* Many visual rules have their own built-in margin settings
* Grunt uses a default margin around most elements

You can adjust:

* Horizontal and vertical margins together
* All four sides individually

Set margins to `0` when content should extend to the full cell boundary.

## Merge rule

Use Merge when repeated or adjacent cells should behave like one larger structural unit.

The legacy support article describes these merge modes:

* **Merge adjacent cells**
* **Merge similar values**
* **Merge empty cells**

It also documents a **Direction** setting to decide whether Grunt should prioritize merging by rows or by columns.

Important behavior:

* Grunt merges the structure, not the underlying data
* The top-left cell is the displayed value after merge
* Removing the rule restores the original structure

## Size rule

Use Size when several graphics from different rules should share the same width or height behavior.

The legacy support article documents these sizing modes for width and height:

* **Fixed**
* **Relative**
* **Fill Cell**

This is especially helpful when icons, shapes, and other rule-generated graphics should feel like one coherent system.

## Clear rule

Use Clear when earlier formatting should be intentionally removed from a specific target area.

Typical use cases:

* Reset inherited formatting for one row or column
* Strip unwanted styling before applying new rules
* Create exceptions inside an otherwise broad target

This behavior is inferred from the legacy rule catalog and the general way Grunt rule precedence works.

## When to combine these rules

These rules are often combined to control layout cleanly:

* **Alignment** for placement
* **Margin** for spacing
* **Size** for graphic scale
* **Merge** for structural grouping
* **Clear** for exceptions

For icons, chevrons, headers, and logos, continue to [Visual and logo rules](/powerpoint-add-in/user/rules-visual-and-logo).