Indesign Keyboard Shortcuts

Tools

V, EscapeSelection Tool
aDirect Selection tool
Ctrl+TabToggle Selection and Direct Selection tool
Shift+pPage tool
uGap tool
pPen tool
=Add Anchor Point tool
Delete Anchor Point tool
Shift+cConvert Direction Point tool
tType tool
Shift+tType On A Path tool
nPencil tool (Note tool)
\Line tool
fRectangle Frame tool
mRectangle tool
lEllipse tool
rRotate tool
sScale tool
oShear tool
eFree Transform tool
iEyedropper tool
kMeasure tool
gGradient tool
cScissors tool
hHand tool
Spacebar (Layout mode), Alt (Text mode), /Alt+Spacebar (both)Temporarily select Hand tool
zZoom tool
Ctrl+SpaceTemporarily select Zoom In tool
xToggle Fill and Stroke
Shift+xSwap Fill and Stroke
jToggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects Text
, (comma)Apply Color
. (period)Apply Gradient
/Apply No Color
wSwitch between Normal View and Preview Mode
Shift+gGradient Feather tool

Selecting and moving objects

Any tool (except selection tools)+CtrlTemporarily select Selection or Direct Selection tool (last used)
Direct Selection tool+Alt; / Pen, Add Anchor Point, / Delete Anchor Point tool+Alt+CtrlTemporarily select Group Selection tool
Esc/ double-clickSelect container of selected content
Shift+Esc/ double-clickSelect content of selected container
Selection, Direct Selection, / Group Selection tool+Shift-click (to deselect, click center point)Add to or subtract from a selection of multiple objects
Selection, Direct Selection, / Group Selection tool+Alt-drag*Duplicate selection
Alt+Arrow KeysDuplicate and offset selection
Alt+Shift+Arrow KeysDuplicate and offset selection by 10 times**
Arrow KeysMove selection**
Ctrl+Shift+Arrow KeysMove selection by 10th**
Shift+Arrow KeysMove selection by 10 times**
Selection / Direct Selection tool+Ctrl+Shift-clickSelect master page item from document page
Selection tool+Ctrl-click, / Selection tool+Alt+Ctrl-clickSelect next object behind or in front
Alt+Ctrl+ Page Down/Page UpSelect next or previous frame in story
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+ Page Down/Page UpSelect first or last frame in story
Ctrl+[Send object backward
Shift+Ctrl+[Send object to back
Ctrl+]Bring object forward
Shift+Ctrl+]Bring object to front
*Press Shift to constrain movement to 45° angles.
**Amount is set in Edit > Preferences > Units & Increments

Transforming Objects

Transformation tool+Alt-dragDuplicate and transform selection
Select object+double-click Scale tool, Rotate tool, / Shear tool in ToolboxDisplay Transform tool dialog box
Ctrl+, (comma)Decrease scale by 1%
Ctrl+. (period)Increase scale by 1%
Ctrl+Alt+. (period)Increase scale by 5%
Selection tool+Ctrl-dragResize frame and content
Selection tool+Shift+Ctrl-dragResize frame and content proportionately
Ellipse tool, Polygon tool, / Rectangle tool+Shift-dragConstrain proportion
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+zSwitch image from High Quality Display to Fast Display

Editing Paths and Frames

Direct Selection tool+Alt+Ctrl, / Pen tool+AltTemporarily select Convert Direction Point tool
AltTemporarily switch between Add Anchor Point and Delete Anchor Point tool
Scissors tool+AltTemporarily select Add Anchor Point tool
Pen tool+ShiftKeep Pen tool selected when pointer is over path or anchor point
Pen tool+SpaceMove anchor point and handles while drawing
F10Display the Stroke panel

Working with Tables

Begin dragging row / column border, and then hold down Alt as you dragInsert or delete rows or columns while dragging
Shift-drag interior row / column borderResize rows or columns without changing the size of the table
Shift-drag right / bottom table borderResize rows or columns proportionally
Tab/Shift+TabMove to next/previous cell
Alt+Page Up/Alt+Page DownMove to first/last cell in column
Alt+Home/Alt+EndMove to first/last cell in row
Page Up/Page DownMove to first/last row in frame
Arrow Up/Arrow DownMove up/down one cell
Arrow Left/Arrow RightMove left/right one cell
Shift+Arrow Up/+Arrow DownSelect cell above/below the current cell
Shift+Arrow Right/Arrow LeftSelect cell to the right/left of the current cell
Enter on numeric keypadStart row on next column
Shift+Enter on numeric keypadStart row on next frame
EscToggle between text selection and cell selection

Managing Text

Ctrl+F1Insert selected text into Find What box
Shift+F1Insert selected text into Find What box and finds next
Shift+F2/Alt+Ctrl+fFind next occurrence of Find What text
Ctrl+F2Insert selected text into Change To box
Ctrl+F3Replace selection with Change To text

Working with Type

Shift+Ctrl+bBold
Shift+Ctrl+iItalic
Shift+Ctrl+yNormal
Shift+Ctrl+uUnderline
Shift+Ctrl+/Strikethrough
Shift+Ctrl+kAll caps (on/off)
Shift+Ctrl+hSmall caps (on/off)
Shift+Ctrl+[+]Superscript
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+[+]Subscript
Shift+Ctrl+x/ Shift+Alt+Ctrl+xReset horizontal or vertical scale to 100%
Shift+Ctrl+L, R, /cAlign left, right, or center
Shift+Ctrl+F (all lines) / J (all but last line)Justify all lines
Shift+Ctrl+>/<Increase or decrease point size*
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+ >/<Increase or decrease point size by five times*
Alt+Arrow Up/Arrow DownIncrease or decrease leading (horizontal text)*
Alt+Ctrl+ Arrow Up/+Arrow DownIncrease or decrease leading by five times (horizontal text)*
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+aAuto leading
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+gAlign to grid (on/off)
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+hAuto-hyphenate (on/off)
Alt+ Arrow Left/Arrow RightIncrease or decrease kerning and tracking (horizontal text)
Alt+Ctrl+ Arrow Left/Arrow RightIncrease or decrease kerning and tracking by five times (horizontal text)
Alt+Ctrl+\Increase kerning between words*
Alt+Ctrl+BackspaceDecrease kerning between words*
Alt+Ctrl+qClear all manual kerning and reset tracking to 0
Shift+Alt+ Arrow Up/+Arrow DownIncrease or decrease baseline shift** (horizontal text)
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+ Arrow Up/Arrow DownIncrease or decrease baseline shift by five times (horizontal text)
Shift-click loaded text iconAutomatically flow story
Alt-click loaded text iconSemi-automatically flow story
Alt+Ctrl+/Recompose all stories
Alt+Ctrl+nInsert current page number

Navigating Through and Editing Text

Arrow Right/Arrow LeftMove to right or left one character
Arrow Up/Arrow DownMove up or down one line
Ctrl+ Arrow Right/Arrow LeftMove to right or left one word
Home/EndMove to start or end of line
Ctrl+Arrow Up/Arrow DownMove to previous or next paragraph
Ctrl+Home/Ctrl+EndMove to start or end of story
Double-click wordSelect one word
Shift+ Arrow Right/Arrow LeftSelect one character right or left
Shift+ Arrow Up/+Arrow DownSelect one line above or below
Shift+Home/+EndSelect start or end of line
Triple-click / quadruple-click paragraph, depending on Text Preferences settingSelect one paragraph
Shift+Ctrl+ Arrow Up/Arrow DownSelect one paragraph before or after
Shift+Ctrl+\Select current line
Shift-clickSelect characters from insertion point
Shift+Ctrl+ Home/Ctrl+EndSelect start or end of story
Ctrl+aSelect all in story
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+ Page Up/Page DownSelect first/last frame
Alt+Ctrl+ Page Up/Page DownSelect previous/next frame
Ctrl+Backspace/DeleteDelete word in front of insertion point (Story Editor)
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+/Update missing font list

Viewing documents and document workspaces

Spacebar (with no text insertion point), Alt-drag (with text insertion point), /Alt+Spacebar (in both text and non-text modes)Temporarily select Hand tool
Ctrl+SpaceTemporarily select Zoom In tool
Alt+Ctrl+Space/ Alt+Zoom In toolTemporarily select Zoom Out tool
Ctrl+5, 2, 4Zoom to 50%, 200%, or 400%
Shift+F5Redraw screen
Ctrl+Alt+nOpen new default document
Alt+Ctrl+2Switch between current and previous zoom levels
Ctrl+~/ Shift+Ctrl+F6/ Ctrl+Shift+~Switch to next/previous document window
Page Up/Page DownScroll up/down one screen
Ctrl+ Page Up/Page DownGo back/forward to last-viewed page
Alt+ Page Up/Page DownGo to previous/next spread
Double-click Hand toolFit spread in window
Ctrl+jActivate the Go To command
Ctrl+Alt++ (plus)Fit selection in window
Ctrl+J, type prefix of master, press EnterGo to master page while panel is closed
Shift+Alt+Ctrl+uCycle through units of measurement
Shift-drag guideSnap guide to ruler increments
Ctrl-drag guideSwitch between page and spread guides (creation only)
Ctrl-drag from zero pointCreate vertical and horizontal ruler guides for the spread
Alt+Ctrl+gSelect all guides
Right-click zero point and choose an optionLock or unlock zero point
Alt-drag guideUse current magnification for view threshold of new guide
Press first letter of button name, if underlinedSelect buttons in alert dialog boxes
Ctrl+Help > About DesignShow information on installed plugins and InDesign components

Working with XML

Arrow Right/Arrow LeftExpand/Collapse element
Alt+ Arrow Right/Arrow LeftExpand/Collapse element and child elements
Shift+ Arrow Up/Arrow DownExtend XML selection up/down
Arrow Up/Arrow DownMove XML selection up/down
Page Up/Page DownScroll structure pane up/down one screen
Home/EndSelect first/last XML node
Shift+ Home/Shift+EndExtend selection to first/last XML node
Ctrl+ Arrow Left/Arrow RightGo to previous/next validation error
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F7Automatically tag text frames and tables

Indexing

Shift+Ctrl+Alt+[Create index entry without dialog box
Ctrl+7Open index entry dialog box
Shift+Ctrl+Alt+]Create proper name index entry (last name, first name)

Panels

alt-click Delete iconDelete without confirmation
alt-click New buttonCreate item and set options
Shift+EnterApply value and keep focus on option
Ctrl+Alt+~Activate last-used option in last-used panel
Shift-clickSelect range of styles, layers, links, swatches, or library objects in a panel
Ctrl-clickSelect nonadjacent styles, layers, links, swatches, or library objects in a panel
TabApply value and select next value
EscMove focus to selected object, text, or window
TabShow/Hide all panels, Toolbox, and Control panel (with no insertion point)
Shift+TabShow/Hide all panels except the Toolbox and Control panel (docked or not)
Ctrl+Alt+TabOpen or close all stashed panels
Alt+drag any panel tab (in the group) to edge of screenStash a panel group
Alt+Ctrl-click in list, and then use keyboard to select item by nameSelect item by name
Alt+Ctrl+mOpen the Drop Shadow panel

Control Panel

Ctrl+6Toggle focus to/from Control panel
Ctrl+Alt+7Toggle Character/Paragraph text attributes mode
Any key on the numeric keypad / keyboard numbersChange reference point when proxy has focus
Alt+Arrow DownDisplay the pop-up menu that has focus
alt-click Kerning iconOpen Units & Increments Preferences
alt-click Number Of Columns iconOpen the Text Frame Options dialog box
alt-click X / Y iconOpen the Move dialog box
alt-click Angle iconOpen the Rotate dialog box
alt-click X / Y Scale iconOpen the Scale dialog box
alt-click Shear iconOpen the Shear dialog box
alt-click Superscript, Subscript, / Small Caps buttonOpen Text Preferences
alt-click Underline buttonOpen the Underline Options dialog box
alt-click Strikethrough buttonOpen the Strikethrough Options dialog box
alt-click Align To Baseline Grid, / Do Not Align To Baseline Grid buttonOpen the Grids Preferences
alt-click Drop Cap Number Of Lines, / Drop Cap One Or More Characters iconOpen the Drop Caps & Nested Styles dialog box
alt-click Leading iconOpen the Justification dialog box

Type panels and dialog boxes

Alt+Ctrl+Shift+jOpen Justification dialog box
Alt+Ctrl+jOpen Paragraph Rules dialog box
Alt+Ctrl+kOpen Keep Options dialog box
Ctrl+tActivate Character panel
Ctrl+Alt+tActivate Paragraph panel

Character and paragraph styles

Select text and press Shift+Alt+Ctrl+cMake character style definition match text
Select text and press Shift+Alt+Ctrl+rMake paragraph style definition match text
Shift+Alt+Ctrl-double-click styleChange options without applying style
alt-click paragraph style nameRemove style and local formatting
Alt+Shift-click paragraph style nameClear overrides from paragraph style
F11, Shift+F11Show/hide Paragraph and Character Styles panels, respectively

Tabs Panel

Shift+Ctrl+tActivate Tabs panel
alt-click tabSwitch between alignment options

Layers Panel

alt-click layerSelect all objects on layer
Alt-drag small square to new layerCopy selection to new layer
Ctrl-click Create New LayerAdd new layer below selected layer
Shift+Ctrl-click Create New LayerAdd new layer to the top of the layer list
Shift+Alt+Ctrl-click Create New LayerAdd new layer to the top of the layer list and open New Layer dialog box
alt-click Create New LayerAdd new layer and open New Layer dialog box

Pages Panel

alt-click masterApply master to selected page
alt-click the master you want to base the selected master onBase another master page on selected master
Ctrl-click Create New Page buttonCreate master page
alt-click New Page buttonDisplay Insert Pages dialog box
Shift+Ctrl+pAdd new page after last page

Color Panel

Shift-drag sliderMove color sliders in tandem
alt-click color barSelect a color for the nonactive fill or stroke
Shift-click color barSwitch between color modes (CMYK, RGB, LAB)

Separations Preview panel

Ctrl+Alt+Shift+yTurn on Overprint preview
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+~ (tilde)Show all plates
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+1Show Cyan plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+2Show Magenta plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+3Show Yellow plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+4Show Black plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+5Show 1st Spot plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+6Show 2nd Spot plate
Ctrl+Alt+Shift+7Show 3rd Spot plate

Swatches Panel

alt-click New Swatch buttonCreate new swatch based on the current swatch
Alt+Ctrl-click New Swatch buttonCreate spot color swatch based on the current swatch
Shift+Alt+Ctrl-double-click swatchChange options without applying swatch

Transform Panels

Alt+EnterApply value and copy object
Ctrl+EnterApply width, height, or scale value proportionally
Adjust Font Size
Increase by Increment (set in Preferences)Cmd-Shift->
Decrease by IncrementCmd-Shift-<
(add Option to the above keystrokes to make them Increment x 5)
Adjust Leading
Increase by Increment (set in Preferences)Option-down arrow
Decrease by IncrementOption-up arrow
(add Cmd to the above keystrokes to make them Increment x 5)
Revert to Auto LeadingCmd-Option-Shift-A
Adjust Kerning / Tracking & Word Spacing
Increase by Increment (set in Preferences)Option-right arrow
Decrease by IncrementOption-left arrow
(add Cmd to the above keystrokes to make them Increment x 5)
Increase between wordsCmd-Option-Shift-\
Decrease between wordsCmd-Option-Shift-Delete
Clear all manual kerning, tracking, and word spacingCmd-Option-Q
Adjust Baseline Shift
Move Up by Increment (set in Preferences)Option-Shift-up arrow
Move Down by IncrementOption-Shift-down arrow
(add Cmd to the above keystrokes to make them Increment x 5)
Scaling Pictures
Make sure the picture content is selected (not the frame that it’s inside)
Scale 5% BiggerCmd-Opt->
Scale 5% SmallerCmd-Opt-<
Scale 1% BiggerCmd->
Scale 1% SmallerCmd-<
Fitting Content & Pictures
Fit Content ProportionallyCmd-Opt-Shift-E
Fill Frame ProportionallyCmd-Opt-Shift-C
Center ContentCmd-Shift-E
Fit Frame to ContentCmd-Opt-C
Nudging Objects
Move by Increment (set in Preferences)Any arrow key
Move by Increment x 10Shift-any arrow key
Move by Increment x 1/10Cmd-Shift-any arrow key
Flowing Text
Multi-Page Autoflow (creates additional pages)Shift-click
Semi-autoflow (keeps text in cursor so you can continue flowing)Option-click
Fixed-Page Autoflow (does not create additional pages)Shift-Option-click
Styling Text & Working with Styles
BoldCmd-Shift-B
ItalicCmd-Shift-I
NormalCmd-Shift-Y
All CapsCmd-Shift-K
Edit Style Sheet without Applying itCmd-Option-Shift-Double click style
Redefine a Paragraph StyleCmd-Opt–Shift-R
Redefine a Character StyleCmd-Opt–Shift-C
Working with Paragraph Styles
To remove local formatting (non Style changes)Opt-click Style Name
To remove local formatting and Character StylesOpt-Shift-click Style Name
Working with Master Pages
Override a single master page item on a document pageCmd-Shift-click it
Override several master page itemsCmd-Shift-drag a marquee over them
Override all master page items on pages selected in Pages panelCmd-Opt-Shift-L
Insert Special Characters
Indent to HereCmd-\
Right Indent TabShift-Tab
Discretionary HyphenCmd-Shift-hyphen (-)
Nonbreaking HyphenCmd-Opt-hyphen (-)
Type in Single Straight Quote (Foot Mark)Ctrl-‘
Type in Double Straight Quote (Inch Mark)Ctrl-Shift-‘
Current Page Number (Auto Page Numbering)Cmd-Opt-Shift-N
Insert White Space
Em spaceCmd-Shift-M
En spaceCmd-Shift-N
Nonbreaking spaceCmd-Opt-X
Thin spaceCmd-Opt-Shift-M
Insert Break Characters
Column BreakEnter (on keypad)
Frame BreakShift-Enter (on keypad)
Page BreakCmd-Enter (on keypad)
Forced Line Break (or “soft return”)Shift-Return
Moving Text Cursor
Move cursor to beginning or end of lineHome or End
Move cursor one word to the left/rightCmd-Left/right arrow
Move cursor to Previous paragraphCmd-Up Arrow
Move cursor to Next paragraphCmd-Down Arrow
Selecting & Working with Text
Leave Text Frame and switch to Selection toolEsc
Select from cursor to beginning or end of lineShift-Home or Shift-End
Select from cursor to end of storyCmd-Shift-End
Select from cursor to beginning of storyCmd-Shift-Home
Select whole wordDouble-click
Select lineCmd-Shift-\ (or Triple-click)
Select one word to the left/rightCmd-Shift-Left/Right arrow
Navigating & Scrolling Through Documents
Scroll using Hand toolOption-Spacebar-Drag
Go to the First PageCmd-Shift-Page Up
Go to the Last PageCmd-Shift-Page Down
Go to Page (then type in page number)Cmd-J
Switch between open DocumentsCmd-tilde(~)
Zooming
Get the Zoom in tool without selecting itHold Cmd then Space
Get the Zoom out tool without selecting itHold Cmd then Space and Option
Zoom In or OutCmd-plus(+) or Cmd-minus(-)
Fit Page in WindowCmd-0 (zero)
Fit Spread in WindowCmd-Option-0 (zero)
Access zoom percentage box (so you can enter a zoom level)Cmd-Opt-5
Toggle between current and previous zoom levelsCmd-Opt-2
Find / Change
Insert selected text into Find What boxCmd-F1
Insert selected text into Find What box and then Find Next instanceShift-F1
Find the next occurrence of Find What textShift-F2 or Cmd-Option-F
Insert selected text into Change To boxCmd-F2
Replace selected text with Change To textCmd-F3
Replace selected text with Change To text and Find NextShift-F3
Working with Panels
Highlight the first option in the Control panelCmd-6
Toggle Control panel between Character & Paragraph optionsCmd-Opt-7
Apply a value but keep it highlighted in panelShift-Return
Show/Hide all Panels including ToolboxTab (while not in a text frame)
Show/Hide all Panels except the ToolboxShift-Tab (while not in a text frame)
Expand/Collapse Panel StacksCmd-Opt-Tab (while not in a text frame)
Create new (style, swatches, etc) & display options dialogOpt-click New button
Working with Dialog Boxes
Rotate down through section of options displayed on the leftPage Down
Rotate up through section of options displayed on the leftPage Up
Jump to section of options displayed on the leftCmd-1 for 1st, Cmd-2 for 2nd, etc.
Choose Yes, No, Don’t Save, or SaveY, N, D, or S
Miscellaneous Good Stuff
Select frame hidden behind anotherHold and keep clicking frame stack
Increase/decrease a value in a fieldClick in field, press up/down arrow
Highlight the Last Used Field (in a panel)Cmd-Option-tilde(~)
Tabs panel: Move Left Indent (triangle) without moving First Line IndentHold Shift while dragging the (bottom) triangle
Select all GuidesCmd-Opt-G
Select an Individual Table CellWith Type tool, click in cell and hit Esc
Quick ApplyPress Cmd-Return. Then start typing a style name, menu item, text variable, etc. Then press Return to apply.
Sort Menus AlphabeticallyHold Cmd-Opt-Shift and click on Menu
Toggle Typographer’s Quotes preferenceCmd-Opt-Shift-‘

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