Direction (horizontal, vertical) in Figma - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Sample Data

This data shows sales figures for two quarters arranged vertically in columns A and B.

Cell	Value
A1	Sales Q1
A2	100
A3	150
A4	200
B1	Sales Q2
B2	120
B3	180
B4	210

Formula Trace

SUM(A2:A4)

Step 1: A2 + A3 + A4

Step 2: 450

Cell Reference Map

    A      B
1 |Sales Q1|Sales Q2
2 | 100   | 120   
3 | 150   | 180   
4 | 200   | 210   

Formula references cells A2, A3, A4 vertically.

The formula SUM(A2:A4) uses the vertical range from A2 to A4.

Result

    A      B
1 |Sales Q1|Sales Q2
2 | 100   | 120   
3 | 150   | 180   
4 | 200   | 210   
5 | 450   |       

Cell A5 shows the sum of vertical cells A2 to A4.

The sum of sales for Q1 is displayed in cell A5, showing the total 450.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

What cells does the formula SUM(A2:A4) add together?

A Cells A1, B1, and C1 horizontally

B Cells B2, B3, and B4 vertically

C Cells A2, A3, and A4 vertically

D Cells A2, B2, and C2 horizontally

Key Result

SUM(range) adds all numbers in the specified horizontal or vertical range.

Practice

1.

In Figma, what does setting the direction to horizontal do to the layout of items?

easy

A. Arranges items side by side from left to right

B. Stacks items from top to bottom

C. Overlaps items on top of each other

D. Randomly places items on the canvas

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand horizontal direction meaning

   Horizontal direction means arranging items side by side, moving left to right.

2. Step 2: Apply to Figma layout

   Setting direction to horizontal in Figma aligns items next to each other horizontally.

3. Final Answer:

   Arranges items side by side from left to right -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Horizontal = side by side [OK]

Hint: Horizontal means left to right arrangement [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing horizontal with vertical stacking
• Thinking horizontal overlaps items
• Assuming random placement

2.

Which of the following is the correct way to set a vertical direction for a frame in Figma?

frame.layoutMode = ?

easy

A. "horizontal"

B. "stack"

C. "vertical"

D. "inline"

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Figma layoutMode property

   Figma uses layoutMode to set direction, accepting "horizontal" or "vertical".

2. Step 2: Choose vertical direction value

   To stack items top to bottom, set layoutMode = "vertical".

3. Final Answer:

   "vertical" -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical direction = "vertical" string [OK]

Hint: Use exact string "vertical" for vertical layoutMode [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using "horizontal" instead of "vertical"
• Using invalid strings like "stack" or "inline"
• Omitting quotes around the string

3.

Given this Figma code snippet, what will be the visual arrangement of the child items?

frame.layoutMode = "horizontal";
frame.children = [item1, item2, item3];

medium

A. Items arranged side by side horizontally

B. Items arranged randomly inside the frame

C. Items overlapped in the same position

D. Items stacked vertically, one below another

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify layoutMode setting

   The code sets layoutMode to "horizontal", meaning items align left to right.

2. Step 2: Understand children arrangement

   Children in a horizontal layout appear side by side in the order listed.

3. Final Answer:

   Items arranged side by side horizontally -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   layoutMode "horizontal" = side by side [OK]

Hint: layoutMode "horizontal" means side by side [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming vertical stacking despite horizontal setting
• Thinking items overlap
• Ignoring the order of children

4.

What is wrong with this Figma code if the intention is to stack items vertically?

frame.layoutMode = "horizontal";
frame.children = [itemA, itemB];

medium

A. The children must be wrapped in a group to stack vertically

B. Children array must be empty to stack vertically

C. The frame must have a fixed width to stack vertically

D. The layoutMode should be set to "vertical" instead of "horizontal"

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze layoutMode setting

   The code sets layoutMode to "horizontal", which arranges items side by side.

2. Step 2: Correct direction for vertical stacking

   To stack items vertically, layoutMode must be "vertical".

3. Final Answer:

   The layoutMode should be set to "vertical" instead of "horizontal" -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Vertical stacking requires layoutMode = "vertical" [OK]

Hint: Use "vertical" layoutMode to stack items top to bottom [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Leaving layoutMode as "horizontal"
• Thinking children array affects stacking
• Assuming grouping is required

5.

You want to create a dashboard in Figma where KPI cards are arranged in two rows, each row showing cards side by side. Which direction settings should you use?

hard

A. Set both main frame and row frames to horizontal

B. Set the main frame to vertical and each row frame to horizontal

C. Set the main frame to horizontal and each row frame to vertical

D. Set both main frame and row frames to vertical

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand dashboard layout requirement

   The dashboard has two rows stacked vertically, so the main frame stacks rows top to bottom.

2. Step 2: Arrange cards side by side in each row

   Each row should arrange cards horizontally side by side.

3. Step 3: Apply direction settings

   Set main frame layoutMode to "vertical" to stack rows, and each row frame layoutMode to "horizontal" for side-by-side cards.

4. Final Answer:

   Set the main frame to vertical and each row frame to horizontal -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   Main vertical + rows horizontal = 2 rows with side-by-side cards [OK]

Hint: Main vertical stacks rows; rows horizontal arrange cards side by side [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Setting main frame horizontal causing one row only
• Setting rows vertical stacking cards instead of side by side
• Using same direction for both frames