I am following the DipTrace tutorial using the 4.1.2.0 Freeware version. When following section 4.1.3.1 of the tutorial (designing a resistor pattern manually), I used the Align Objects tool to distribute two through-hole pads 0.4 inches apart. Instead, they end up being 0.4591 inches apart. Similarly, when I distribute them 0.3 inches apart, they end up 0.3591 inches apart.
It's pretty obvious that this is somehow related to the pad width, which is 0.0591 inches. I'm not sure why the pad width is being added to the distance specified in the align objects tool.
Is there a setting somewhere that causes this? I just want to make sure that distributing pads 0.4 inches apart actually results in them being 0.4 inches apart.
Here are some screenshots showing exactly what I am doing. In the last image you can clearly see pad 2 is not quite aligned with the grid.
Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing
Re: Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing
The "Spacing" value will align objects by them edges, not by center.
Re: Distributing aligned objects does not give proper spacing
Oh, that explains it. I think the tutorial needs to be updated. It contains a screenshot showing the pads 0.4 inches apart after setting spacing to 0.4 inches, which I see now is incorrect.
Thank you for the explanation Serg!