code: def place_object(self, object, column=None, row=None, column_span=1, row_span=1, alignment=1):
          
  
          # pick a column
          if column==None:
              column = self._auto_column
              self._auto_column += 1
  
          # pick a row
          if row==None: row = self._auto_row
  
          # create the object
          self.objects.append(object)
  
          # add the widget to the layout
          try:
              object._widget
              widget = object._widget
  
          # allows the user to specify a standard widget
          except: widget = object
  
          self._layout.addWidget(widget, row, column,
                                 row_span, column_span,
                                 _g.Qt.QtCore.Qt.Alignment(alignment))
  
          # try to store the parent object (self) in the placed object
          try:    object.set_parent(self)
          except: None
  
          return object
docs: This adds either one of our simplified objects or a QWidget to the
          grid at the specified position, appends the object to self.objects.
  
          alignment=0     Fill the space.
          alignment=1     Left-justified.
          alignment=2     Right-justified.
  
          If column isn't specified, the new object will be placed in a new column.