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Adobe InDesign

Professional layout and desktop publishing software for creating print and digital publications, books, and magazines

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Platform

Tools

ActionShortcut
Selection toolVorEsc
Direct Selection toolA
Toggle Selection and Direct Selection tool++Tab
Page tool+P
Gap toolU
Pen toolP
Add Anchor Point tool=
Delete Anchor Point tool
Convert Direction Point tool+C
Type toolT
Type On A Path tool+T
Pencil tool (Note tool)N
Line tool\
Rectangle Frame toolF
Rectangle toolM
Ellipse toolL
Rotate toolR
Scale toolS
Shear toolO
Free Transform toolE
Eyedropper toolI
Measure toolK
Gradient toolG
Scissors toolC
Hand toolH
Temporarily selects Hand toolSpacebar(Layoutmode)or(Textmode)oror+Spacebar(both)
Zoom toolZ
Temporarily selects Zoom In tool+Spacebar
Toggle Fill and StrokeX
Swap Fill and Stroke+X
Toggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects TextJ
Apply Coloror[comma]
Apply Gradient.[period]
Apply No Color/
Switch between Normal View and Preview ModeW
Frame Grid tool (horizontal)Y
Frame Grid tool (vertical)Q
Gradient Feather tool+G
Selection toolVorEsc
Direct Selection toolA
Toggle Selection and Direct Selection tool+Tab
Page tool+P
Gap toolU
Pen toolP
Add Anchor Point tool=
Delete Anchor Point tool
Convert Direction Point tool+C
Type toolT
Type On A Path tool+T
Pencil tool (Note tool)N
Line tool\
Rectangle Frame toolF
Rectangle toolM
Ellipse toolL
Rotate toolR
Scale toolS
Shear toolO
Free Transform toolE
Eyedropper toolI
Measure toolK
Gradient toolG
Scissors toolC
Hand toolH
Temporarily selects Hand toolSpacebar(Layoutmode)or(Textmode)oror+Spacebar(both)
Zoom toolZ
Temporarily selects Zoom In tool+Spacebar
Toggle Fill and StrokeX
Swap Fill and Stroke+X
Toggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects TextJ
Apply Coloror[comma]
Apply Gradient.[period]
Apply No Color/
Switch between Normal View and Preview ModeW
Frame Grid tool (horizontal)Y
Frame Grid tool (vertical)Q
Gradient Feather tool+G

Selecting and moving objects

ActionShortcut
Temporarily select Selection or Direct Selection tool (last used)Anytool(exceptselectiontools)
Temporarily select Group Selection toolDirectSelectiontool⌥;orPenorAddAnchorPointororDeleteAnchorPointtool⌥
Select container of selected contentEscordoubleclick
Select content of selected container+Escordoubleclick
Add to or subtract from a selection of multiple objectsSelectionorDirectSelectionororGroupSelectiontool⇧–click(todeselectorclickcenterpoint)
Duplicate selectionSelectionorDirectSelectionororGroupSelectiontool–drag
Duplicate and offset selection+ororororkey
Duplicate and offset selection by 10 times++orororkey
Move selectionorororDownArrowkey
Move selection by 10th++orororkey
Move selection by 10 times+orororkey
Select master page item from document pageSelectionorDirectSelectiontool+–click
Select next object behind or in frontSelectiontool⌘–clickorSelectiontool⌥–click
Select next or previous frame in story+PageDown/+PageUp
Select first or last frame in story++PageDown/++PageUp
Temporarily select Selection or Direct Selection tool (last used)Anytool(exceptselectiontools)
Temporarily select Group Selection toolDirectSelectiontoolAlt;orPenorAddAnchorPointororDeleteAnchorPointtool+
Select container of selected contentEscordoubleclick
Select content of selected container+Escordoubleclick
Add to or subtract from a selection of multiple objectsSelectionorDirectSelectionororGroupSelectiontoolShift–click(todeselectorclickcenterpoint)
Duplicate selectionSelectionorDirectSelectionororGroupSelectiontoolAlt–drag
Duplicate and offset selection+LeftArroworRightArroworUpArrowororDownArrowkey
Duplicate and offset selection by 10 times++LeftArroworRightArroworUpArroworDownArrowkey
Move selectionLeftArroworRightArroworUpArroworDownArrowkey
Move selection by 10th++LeftArroworRightArroworUpArroworDownarrowkey
Move selection by 10 times+LeftArroworRightArroworUpArroworDownArrowkey
Select master page item from document pageSelectionorDirectSelectiontoolShift–click
Select next object behind or in frontSelectiontoolCtrl–clickororSelectiontoolCtrl–click
Select next or previous frame in story+PageDown/+PageUp
Select first or last frame in story++PageDown/++PageUp

Transforming objects

ActionShortcut
Duplicate and transform selectionTransformationtool⌥–drag
Display Transform tool dialog boxSelectobjectdoubleclickScaletoolorRotatetoolororSheartoolinToolbox
Decrease scale by 1%or
Decrease scale by 5%+or
Increase scale by 1%+.
Increase scale by 5%++.
Resize frame and contentSelectiontool⌘–drag
Resize frame and content proportionatelySelectiontool⇧–drag
Constrain proportionEllipsetoolorPolygontoolororRectangletool⇧–drag
Switch image from High Quality Display to Fast Display+++Z
Duplicate and transform selectionTransformationtoolAlt–drag
Display Transform tool dialog boxSelectobjectdoubleclickScaletoolorRotatetoolororSheartoolinToolbox
Decrease scale by 1%or
Decrease scale by 5%+or
Increase scale by 1%+.
Increase scale by 5%++.
Resize frame and contentSelectiontoolCtrl–drag
Resize frame and content proportionatelySelectiontoolCtrl–drag
Constrain proportionEllipsetoolorPolygontoolororRectangletoolShift–drag
Switch image from High Quality Display to Fast Display+++Z

Editing paths and frames

ActionShortcut
Temporarily select Convert Direction Point toolDirectSelectiontool⌥ororPentool⌥
Temporarily switch between Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point tool
Temporarily select Add Anchor Point toolScissorstool⌥
Keep Pen tool selected when pointer is over path or anchor pointPentool⇧
Move anchor point and handles while drawingPentoolspacebar
Display the Stroke panel+F10
Temporarily select Convert Direction Point toolDirectSelectiontool+ororPentool
Temporarily switch between Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point tool
Temporarily select Add Anchor Point toolScissorstool
Keep Pen tool selected when pointer is over path or anchor pointPentool
Move anchor point and handles while drawingPentoolSpacebar
Display the Stroke panelF10

Tables

ActionShortcut
Insert or delete rows or columns while draggingBegindraggingroworcolumnborderorandthenholdDown+asyoudrag
Resize rows or columns without changing the size of the table–draginteriorroworcolumnborder
Resize rows or columns proportionally–dragRightorbottomtableborder
Move to next/previous cellTab/⇧Tab
Move to first/last cell in columnPageUp/PageDown
Move to first/last cell in rowHome/+End
Move to first/last row in framePageUp/PageDown
Move up/down one cell↑/DownArrow
Move left/right one cell/→
Select cell above/below the current cell↑/+DownArrow
Select cell to the right/left of the current cell→/+
Start row on next columnEnter(numerickeypad)
Start row on next frame+Enter(numerickeypad)
Toggle between text selection and cell selectionEsc
Insert or delete rows or columns while draggingBegindraggingroworcolumnborderorandthenholdDown+asyoudrag
Resize rows or columns without changing the size of the tableShift–draginteriorroworcolumnborder
Resize rows or columns proportionallyShift–dragRightorbottomtableborder
Move to next/previous cellTab/ShiftTab
Move to first/last cell in columnPageUp/PageDown
Move to first/last cell in rowHome/+End
Move to first/last row in framePageUp/PageDown
Move up/down one cellUpArrow/DownArrow
Move left/right one cellLeftArrow/RightArrow
Select cell above/below the current cell+UpArrow/+DownArrow
Select cell to the right/left of the current cell+RightArrow/+LeftArrow
Start row on next columnEnter(numerickeypad)
Start row on next frame+Enter(numerickeypad)
Toggle between text selection and cell selectionEsc

Finding and changing text

ActionShortcut
Insert selected text into Find What box+F1
Insert selected text into Find What box and finds next+F1
Find next occurrence of Find What text+F2or++F
Insert selected text into Change To box+F2
Replace selection with Change To text+F3
Insert selected text into Find What box+F1
Insert selected text into Find What box and finds next+F1
Find next occurrence of Find What text+F2or++F
Insert selected text into Change To box+F2
Replace selection with Change To text+F3

Working with type

ActionShortcut
Bold (only for fonts with bold face)++B
Italic (only for fonts with italic face)++I
Normal++Y
Underline++U
Strikethrough+++/
All caps (on/off)++K
Asian language hyphenation++K
Small caps (on/off)++H
Tate-chu-yoko setting++H
Superscript+()[plussign]
Subscript++()[plussign]
Reset horizontal or vertical scale to 100%++Xor+++X
Basic letter group setting or detail setting++Xor+++X
Align left, right, or center++LorRororC
Justify all lines++F(alllines)orJ(allbutlastline)
Align both ends or equal spacing++F(alignbothends)orJ(equalspacing)
Increase or decrease leading (horizontal text)↑/+DownArrow
Increase or decrease leading (vertical text)→/+
Increase or decrease leading by five times (horizontal text)+↑/++DownArrow
Increase or decrease leading by five times (vertical text)+→/++
Auto leading+++A
Align to grid (on/off)+++G
Auto-hyphenate (on/off)+++H
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (horizontal text)++/+
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (vertical text)↑/+DownArrow
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text)+++/++
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (vertical text)+↑/++DownArrow
Increase kerning between words++\
Decrease kerning between words++Delete
Clear all manual kerning and reset tracking to 0++Q
Increase or decrease baseline shift (horizontal text)+↑/hift⌥DownArrow
Increase or decrease baseline shift (vertical text)+→/++
Increase or decrease baseline shift by five times (horizontal text)++↑/+++DownArrow
Increase or decrease baseline shift by five times (vertical text)++→/hift⌥+
Automatically flow story–clickloadedtexticon
Semi-automatically flow story–clickloadedtexticon
Recompose all stories++/
Insert current page number++N
Bold (only for fonts with bold face)++B
Italic (only for fonts with italic face)++I
Normal++Y
Underline++U
Strikethrough++/
All caps (on/off)++K
Asian language hyphenation++K
Small caps (on/off)++H
Tate-chu-yoko setting++H
Superscript++(+)[plussign]
Subscript+++(+)[plussign]
Reset horizontal or vertical scale to 100%++Xor+++X
Basic letter group setting or detail setting++Xor+++X
Align left, right, or center++LorRororC
Justify all lines++F(alllines)orJ(allbutlastline)
Align both ends or equal spacing++F(alignbothend)orJ(equalspacing)
Increase or decrease leading (horizontal text)+UpArrow/+DownArrow
Increase or decrease leading (vertical text)+RightArrow/+LeftArrow
Increase or decrease leading by five times (horizontal text)++UpArrow/++DownArrow
Increase or decrease leading by five times (vertical text)++RightArrow/++LeftArrow
Auto leading+++A
Align to grid (on/off)+++G
Auto-hyphenate (on/off)+++H
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (horizontal text)+LeftArrow/AltRightArrow
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking (vertical text)+UpArrow/+DownArrow
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text)++LeftArrow/++RightArrow
Increase or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (vertical text)++UpArrow/++DownArrow
Increase kerning between words++\
Decrease kerning between words++Backspace
Clear all manual kerning and reset tracking to 0++Q
Increase or decrease baseline shift (horizontal text)++UpArrow/++DownArrow
Increase or decrease baseline shift (vertical text)++RightArrow/++LeftArrow
Increase or decrease baseline shift by five times (horizontal text)+++UpArrow/+++DownArrow
Increase or decrease baseline shift by five times (vertical text)+++RightArrow/+++LeftArrow
Automatically flow storyShift–clickloadedtexticon
Semi-automatically flow storyAlt–clickloadedtexticon
Recompose all stories++/
Insert current page number++N

Navigating through and selecting text

ActionShortcut
Move to right or left one character→/
Move up or down one line↑/DownArrow
Move to right or left one word→/+
Move to start or end of lineHome/End
Move to previous or next paragraph↑/+DownArrow
Move to start or end of storyHome/+End
Select one wordDoubleclickword
Select one character right or left→/+
Select one line above or below↑/+DownArrow
Select start or end of lineHome/+End
Select one paragraphTripleclickorquadrupleclickparagraphordependingonTextPreferencessetting
Select one paragraph before or after+↑/++DownArrow
Select current line++\
Select characters from insertion point–click
Select start or end of story+Home/++End
Select all in story+A
Select first/last frame++PageUp/++PageDown
Select previous/next frame+PageUp/+PageDown
Delete word in front of insertion point (Story Editor)+DeleteorDel(numerickeypad)
Update missing font list+++/
Move to right or left one characterRightArrow/LeftArrow
Move up or down one lineUpArrow/DownArrow
Move to right or left one word+RightArrow/+LeftArrow
Move to start or end of lineHome/End
Move to previous or next paragraph+UpArrow/+DownArrow
Move to start or end of storyHome/+End
Select one wordDoubleclickword
Select one character right or left+RightArrow/+LeftArrow
Select one line above or below+UpArrow/+DownArrow
Select start or end of lineHome/+End
Select one paragraphTripleclickorquadrupleclickparagraphordependingonTextPreferencessetting
Select one paragraph before or after++UpArrow/++DownArrow
Select current line++\
Select characters from insertion pointShift–click
Select start or end of story+Home/++End
Select all in story+A
Select first/last frame++PageUp/++PageDown
Select previous/next frame+PageUp/+PageDown
Delete word in front of insertion point (Story Editor)+BackspaceorDelete
Update missing font list+++/

Viewing documents and document workspaces

ActionShortcut
Temporarily select Hand toolSpacebar(withnotextinsertionpoint)or–drag(withtextinsertionpoint)oror+Spacebar(inbothtextandnontextmodes)
Temporarily select Zoom In tool+Spacebar
Temporarily select Zoom Out tool++SpacebarorZoomIntool
Zoom to 50%, 200%, or 400%+5or2oror4
Redraw screen+F5
Open new default document++N
Switch between current and previous zoom levels++2
Switch to next/previous document window+F6or+~[tilde]/++~[tilde]
Scroll up/down one screenPageUp/PageDown
Go back/forward to last-viewed pagePageUp/PageDown
Go to previous/next spreadPageUp/PageDown
Fit spread in windowDoubleclickHandtool
Activate the Go To command+J
Fit selection in window+()[plussign]
Display the entire object+()[plussign]
Go to master page while \ panel is closed+JortypeprefixofmasterorpressReturn
Cycle through units of measurement+++U
Snap guide to ruler increments–dragguide
Switch between page and spread guides (creation only)–dragguide
Temporarily turn on/off snap todragobject
Create vertical and horizontal ruler guides for the spread–dragfromzeropoint
Select all guides++G
Lock or unlock zero point–clickzeropointandchoosean
Use current magnification for view threshold of new guide–dragguide
Select buttons in alert dialog boxesPressfirstletterofbuttonname
Show information on installed plug‑ins and InDesign componentsInDesignMenu+>AboutInDesign
Temporarily select Hand toolSpacebar(withnotextinsertionpoint)ordrag(withtextinsertionpoint)oror+Spacebar(inbothtextandnontextmodes)
Temporarily select Zoom In tool+Spacebar
Temporarily select Zoom Out tool++SpacebarorZoomIntool
Zoom to 50%, 200%, or 400%+5or2oror4
Redraw screen+F5
Open new default document++N
Switch between current and previous zoom levels++2
Switch to next/previous document window+~[tilde]/++F6or++~[tilde]
Scroll up/down one screenPageUp/PageDown
Go back/forward to last-viewed pagePageUp/PageDown
Go to previous/next spreadPageUp/PageDown
Fit spread in windowDoubleclickHandtool
Activate the Go To command+J
Fit selection in window++(+)[plussign]
Display the entire object++(+)[plussign]
Go to master page while \ panel is closed+JortypeprefixofmasterorpressEnter
Cycle through units of measurement+++U
Snap guide to ruler incrementsShift–dragguide
Switch between page and spread guides (creation only)Ctrl–dragguide
Create vertical and horizontal ruler guides for the spreadCtrl–dragfromzeropoint
Select all guides++G
Lock or unlock zero pointRightclickzeropointandchoosean
Use current magnification for view threshold of new guideAlt–dragguide
Select buttons in alert dialog boxesPressfirstletterofbuttonnameorifunderlined
Show information on installed plug‑ins and InDesign components+Help+>AboutDesign

Control panel

ActionShortcut
Toggle focus to/from Control panel+6
Toggle Character/Paragraph text attributes mode++7
Change reference point when proxy has focusAnykeyonthenumerickeypadorkeyboardnumbers
Open Units & Increments PreferencesclickKerningicon
Open the Text Frame options dialog boxclickNumberofColumnsicon
Open the Move dialog boxclickXorYicon
Open the Rotate dialog boxclickAngleicon
Open the Scale dialog boxclickXorYScaleicon
Open the Shear dialog boxclickShearicon
Open Text PreferencesclickSuperscriptorSubscriptororSmallCapsbutton
Open the Underline options dialog boxclickUnderlinebutton
Open the Strikethrough options dialog boxclickStrikethroughbutton
Open the Grids PreferencesclickAlignToBaselineGridororDoNotAlignToBaselineGridbutton
Open the Drop Caps & Nested Styles dialog boxclickDropCapNumberOfLinesororDropCapOneOrMoreCharactersicon
Open the Justification dialog boxclickLeadingicon
Open Named Grid dialog boxDoubleclickNamedGridicon
Open New Named Grid options dialog boxclickNamedGridicon
Open Frame Grid options dialog boxclickNumberofcharactersHorizontalorNumberofCharactersVerticalorCharacterAkiorLineAkiorVerticalScaleorHorizontalScaleorGridVieworFontSizeorNumberofColumnsororColumnGuttericon
Toggle focus to/from Control panel+6
Toggle Character/Paragraph text attributes mode++7
Change reference point when proxy has focusAnykeyonthenumerickeypadorkeyboardnumbers
Display the pop-up menu that has focus+DownArrow
Open Units & Increments PreferencesclickKerningicon
Open the Text Frame Options dialog boxclickNumberOfColumnsicon
Open the Move dialog boxclickXorYicon
Open the Rotate dialog boxclickAngleicon
Open the Scale dialog boxclickXorYScaleicon
Open the Shear dialog boxclickShearicon
Open Text PreferencesclickSuperscriptorSubscriptororSmallCapsbutton
Open the Underline Options dialog boxclickUnderlinebutton
Open the Strikethrough Options dialog boxclickStrikethroughbutton
Open the Grids PreferencesclickAlignToBaselineGridororDoNotAlignToBaselineGridbutton
Open the Drop Caps & Nested Styles dialog boxclickDropCapNumberOfLinesororDropCapOneOrMoreCharactersicon
Open the Justification dialog boxclickLeadingicon
Open Named Grid dialog boxDoubleclickNamedGridicon
Open New Named Grid Options dialog boxclickNamedGridicon
Open Frame Grid Options dialog boxclickNumberofcharactersHorizontalorNumberofCharactersVerticalorCharacterAkiorLineAkiorVerticalScaleorHorizontalScaleorGridVieworFontSizeorNumberofColumnsororColumnGuttericon

Type panels and dialog boxes

ActionShortcut
Open Justification dialog box+++J
Open Paragraph Rules dialog box++J
Open Keep options dialog box++K
Activate Character panel+T
Activate Paragraph panel++T
Open Justification dialog box+++J
Open Paragraph Rules dialog box++J
Open Keep Options dialog box++K
Activate Character panel+T
Activate Paragraph panel++T

Character and paragraph styles

ActionShortcut
Make character style definition match textSelecttextandpress+++C
Make paragraph style definition match textSelecttextandpress+++R
Change options without applying style++doubleclickstyle
Remove style and local formattingclickparagraphstylename
Clear overrides from paragraph style+clickparagraphstylename
Show/hide Paragraph and Character Styles panels, respectively+F11or++F11

Tabs panel

ActionShortcut
Activate Tabs panel++T
Switch between alignment optionsclickTab
Activate Tabs panel++T
Switch between alignment optionsclickTab

Layers panel

ActionShortcut
Select all objects on layerclicklayer
Copy selection to new layerdragsmallsquaretonewlayer
Add new layer below selected layerclickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer to the top of the layer list+clickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer to the top of the layer list and open New Layer dialog boxCmd⌥clickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer and open New Layer dialog boxclickCreateNewLayer
Select all objects on layerclicklayer
Copy selection to new layerdragsmallsquaretonewlayer
Add new layer below selected layerclickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer to the top of the layer list+clickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer to the top of the layer list and open New Layer dialog box++clickCreateNewLayer
Add new layer and open New Layer dialog boxclickCreateNewLayer

Pages panel

ActionShortcut
Apply master to selected pageclickmaster
Base another master page on selected masterclickthemasteryouwanttobasetheselectedmasteron
Create master pageclickCreateNewPagebutton
Display Insert Pages dialog boxclickNewPagebutton
Add new page after last page++P
Apply master to selected pageclickmaster
Base another master page on selected masterclickthemasteryouwanttobasetheselectedmasteron
Create master pageclickCreateNewPagebutton
Display Insert Pages dialog boxclickNewPagebutton
Add new page after last page++P

Color panel

ActionShortcut
Move color sliders in tandemdragslider
Select a color for the nonactive fill or strokeclickcolorbar
Switch between color modes (CMYK, RGB, LAB)clickcolorbar
Move color sliders in tandemdragslider
Select a color for the nonactive fill or strokeclickcolorbar
Switch between color modes (CMYK, RGB, LAB)clickcolorbar

Separations Preview panel

ActionShortcut
Turn on Overprint preview+++Y
Show all plates+++~[tilde]
Show Cyan plate+++1
Show Magenta plate+++2
Show Yellow plate+++3
Show Black plate+++4
Show 1st Spot plate+++5
Show 2nd Spot plate+++6
Show 3rd Spot plate+++7
Turn on Overprint preview+++Y
Show all plates+++~[tilde]
Show Cyan plate+++1
Show Magenta plate+++2
Show Yellow plate+++3
Show Black plate+++4
Show 1st Spot plate+++5
Show 2nd Spot plate+++6
Show 3rd Spot plate+++7

Swatches panel

ActionShortcut
Create new swatch based on the current swatchclickNewSwatchbutton
Create spot color swatch based on the current swatch+clickNewSwatchbutton
Change options without applying swatch++doubleclickswatch
Create new swatch based on the current swatchclickNewSwatchbutton
Create spot color swatch based on the current swatch+clickNewSwatchbutton
Change options without applying swatch++doubleclickswatch

Transform panel

ActionShortcut
Apply value and copy object+Enter
Apply width, height, or scale value proportionally+Enter
Apply value and copy object+Enter
Apply width, height, or scale value proportionally+Enter