# Rearranging components within a flex container **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** ignition83\ **Created:** [April 1, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834 "2026-04-01T16:15:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aaronrai24](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/aaronrai24/32/87248_2.png) [@aaronrai24](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/aaronrai24)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/1 "2026-04-01T16:15:39Z")
Using 8.3.4, I don't remember re-arranging components/containers within a flex container being so difficult, I basically can't just drag the elements into the order I want them. My example below doesn't show it but playing with the Z-index of the components also doesn't have any effect when rearranging. The only way I've been able to rearrange is by cutting and then re-pasting in the order I need the elements. Are there any open tickets for this, or has anybody else ran into this? ---
**Author:** ![Ryan\_Deardorff](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/ryan_deardorff/32/63815_2.png) [@Ryan\_Deardorff](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Ryan_Deardorff)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/2 "2026-04-01T16:22:56Z")
I would suggest using the Move backward/Forward context menu item in the tree on the left, but even that is buggy: > **[Fix Perspective Designer element "Move Backward/Forward" | Ignition Features...](https://inductiveautomation.canny.io/ignition-features-and-ideas/p/fix-perspective-designer-element-move-backward-forward)** > > Most of the time when I use this feature, it has the effect of moving the element to the front/back instead of moving it a single index. It’s still what I use, but I have to usually move several items in the new order I want them to appear given that it moves them all the way to the back/front. ---
**Author:** ![aaronrai24](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/aaronrai24/32/87248_2.png) [@aaronrai24](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/aaronrai24)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 4:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/3 "2026-04-01T16:28:55Z")
Yeah thats what I meant by > [@aaronrai24](#): > > playing with the Z-index of the components I was using these buttons in the toolbar(I think they're the same), it had no effect as well unfortunately but I will upvote that bug report. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/e/4/e43cf0d610ec3a9d6f28aa8e4b473a6e00310221.png) ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Laubach](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/steve_laubach/32/60900_2.png) [@Steve\_Laubach](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Steve_Laubach)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 5:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/4 "2026-04-01T17:28:53Z")
It’s a little awkward but the way I’ve found works consistently is to always send elements to front or back and systematically move them until they’re sorted. It’s hard to explain. Say you want to order elements numerically and they are currently ordered like this: 1 3 4 5 2 You would select 2 and send to front. Then select 1 and send to front. If you’re moving a bunch to earlier in the stack you want to send them to front in reverse order so you’re systematically stacking them. So move the last element first and work your way forward to the first element. ---
**Author:** ![dillon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/dillon/32/81537_2.png) [@dillon](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/dillon)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 7:49pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/5 "2026-04-01T19:49:52Z")
I don't bother with dragging components in the UI. I do this instead and it works all the time. > [@\[IGN-10401\] Re-ording items in Flex container is fun](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/ign-10401-re-ording-items-in-flex-container-is-fun/112084/8): > > I manage this with multi-selecting components in the project tree, then cut & paste (it retains the clicking order). [flex-control] ---
**Author:** ![Nol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Nol](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Nol)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2026, 8:37pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/6 "2026-04-01T20:37:00Z")
Yeah as Dillon said. Ctrl+ Click them in the order you want then cut and paste ---
**Author:** ![cvanremoortel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ba8739/32.png) [@cvanremoortel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/cvanremoortel)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:15pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/rearranging-components-within-a-flex-container/114834/7 "2026-04-06T16:15:52Z")
To answer your original question I feel it is harder as well. I can be very difficult when some of the items have their display property set to false. I often revert to the methods above.