try this Steve, hope I understood correctly...select your squares before running.
#target Illustrator
// script.name = distributeObjectsByTheirCenters.jsx;
// script.description = spaces out objects the supplied distance (by their centers);
// script.requirement = select 2 or more objects before running;
// script.parent = CarlosCanto // 10/05/14;
// script.elegant = false;
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1591527
// Note: the bottom most object will be used as the "Key" object, all others will align to it
function main () {
try {var idoc = app.activeDocument;} catch (e) {alert ('open a document and try again'); return }; var sel = idoc.selection; var selcount = sel.length; if (selcount>1) { var title = 'Distribute Objects by their centers'; var a = prompt ('Distance X in points', 5, title); if (a==null) return; else a=Number(a); var b = prompt ('Distance Y in points', 0, title); if (b==null) return; else b=Number(b); var pgItemBottom = sel[selcount-1]; var baseCenter = getCtrPoint(pgItemBottom, false); var cx = baseCenter[0]; var cy = baseCenter[1]; for (var i=selcount-2; i>=0 ; i--) { var pgItem = sel[i]; cx = cx+a; cy = cy+b; getCtrPoint(pgItem, true, cx, cy); } } else {alert ('select two or more objects and try again'); return }
} // end main
// get center point of supplied object, returns a point (x,y)
// or space out object the supplied distance from the center (if distribute is true)
function getCtrPoint(object, distribute, cx, cy) {
var bounds = object.geometricBounds; //var bounds = path.geometricBounds; // left, top, right, bottom var halfwidth = (bounds[2]-bounds[0])/2; var halfheight = (bounds[1]-bounds[3])/2; var x = bounds[0]+halfwidth; // left + width/2 var y = bounds[3]+halfheight; // bottom + height/2 if (!distribute) { return pathCtrPoint = Array(x,y); // [50, 50] for example } // if distribute is true, re position the object, otherwise return the center point object.position = [cx-halfwidth, cy+halfheight]; return
}
main ();