Shortcuts are essential to making the most of InDesign. Sure, you can access everything from a menu or pane, but shortcuts make the work much faster. This appendix covers InDesign's keyboard shortcuts and working with contextual menus , which lets you use the mouse to find out what options are available for specific objects.
Because there are so many keyboard shortcuts, I've broken them into functional areas to help you find them more easily in the following table.
Action or command | Macintosh | Windows |
---|---|---|
Opening/closing/saving | ||
New document | z +N | Ctrl+N |
New default document | Option+ z +N | Ctrl+Alt+N |
Open document | z +O | Ctrl+O |
Open library | Shift+Option+ z +L | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+L |
Close document | z +W | Ctrl+W or Ctrl+F4 |
Close all documents | Option+Shift+ z +W | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+W |
Quit program | z +Q | Ctrl+Q or Alt+F4 |
Save document | z +S | Ctrl+S |
Save document as | Shift+ z +S | Ctrl+Shift+S |
Save copy of document | Option+ z +S | Ctrl+Alt+D |
Export document to PDF or EPS | z +E | Ctrl+E |
Place text and graphics | z +D | Ctrl+D |
Viewing | ||
Hide/show panes | Tab | Tab |
Hide/show all panes but toolbox | Shift+Tab | Shift+Tab |
Zoom in | z +plus | Ctrl+plus |
Zoom out | z +hyphen | Ctrl+hyphen |
Fit page/spread in window | z +0 | Ctrl+Alt+plus |
Fit spread in window | Shift+ z +0 | Ctrl+Alt+0 |
Fit entire pasteboard in window | Option+Shift+ z +0 | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+0 |
Display actual size | z +1 | Ctrl+1 |
Display at 50% | z +5 | Ctrl+5 |
Display at 200% | z +2 | Ctrl+2 |
Display at 400% | z +4 | Ctrl+4 |
Overprint preview | Option+Shift+ z +Y | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Y |
Switch between current and previous view | Option z +2 | Ctrl+Alt+2 |
Set magnification | Option z +5 | Ctrl+Alt+5 |
Set all pages to same view | z +percent in view percent menu | Ctrl+percent in view percent menu |
Switch to previous document window | Shift+ z +F6 | Ctrl+Shift+F6 |
Switch to next document window | z +Y | Ctrl+F6 |
Show/hide text threads | Option+ z +Y | Ctrl+Alt+Y |
Show/hide frame edges | z +H | Ctrl+H |
Show/hide rulers | z +R | Ctrl+R |
Show hidden characters | Option+ z +I | Ctrl+Alt+I |
Preference/setup | ||
Preferences dialog box | z +K | Ctrl+K |
Document setup | Option+ z +P | Ctrl+Alt+P |
Tools | ||
Selection tool | V | V |
Direct Selection tool | A | A |
Type tool | T | T |
Text Path tool | Shift+T | Shift+T |
Pen tool | P | P |
Ellipse tool | L | L |
Rectangle tool | M | M |
Rectangle Frame tool | F | F |
Rotate tool | R | R |
Scale tool | S | S |
Shear tool | O | O |
Scissors tool | C | C |
Hand tool | H | H |
Temporary Hand tool | Shift+spacebar | Shift+spcebar |
Zoom tool | Z | Z |
Temporary zoom-in tool | z +spacebar | Ctrl+spacebar |
Temporary zoom-out tool | Option+ z +spacebar | Ctrl+Alt+spacebar |
Gradient tool | G | G |
Fill box | X | X |
Stroke box | X | X |
Swap Fill/Stroke box | Shift+X | Shift+X |
Default Fill/Stroke box | D | D |
Apply Color box | , (comma) | , (comma) |
Apply Gradient box | . (period) | . (period) |
Apply None box | / | / |
Panes | ||
Apply value in field | Option+Enter | Shift+Return |
Show Control palette | Option+ z +6 | Ctrl+Alt+6 |
Show Links pane | Shift+ z +D | Ctrl+Shift+D |
Show Layers pane | F7 | F7 |
Show Pages pane | F12 | F12 |
Show Swatches pane | F5 | F5 |
Show Color pane | F6 | F6 |
Show Transform pane | F9 | F9 |
Show Character pane | z +T | Ctrl+T |
Select Font Name field | NA | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M |
Show Paragraph pane | Option+ z +T | Ctrl+Alt+T |
Show Character Styles pane | Shift+F11 | Shift+F11 |
Show Paragraph Styles pane | F11 | F11 |
Show Text Wrap pane | Option+ z +W | Ctrl+Alt+W |
Show Text Frame Options pane | z +B | Ctrl+B |
Show Index pane | Shift+F8 | Shift+F8 |
Show Table pane | Shift+F9 | Shift+F9 |
Show Tabs pane | Shift z +T | Ctrl+Shift+T |
Show Align pane | Shift+F7 | Shift+F7 |
Show Stroke pane | F10 | F10 |
Show Transparency pane | Shift+F10 | Shift+F10 |
Show Info pane | F8 | F8 |
Guides | ||
Show/hide guides | z +; (semicolon) | Ctrl+; (semicolon) |
Lock/unlock guides | Option+ z +; (semicolon) | Ctrl+Alt+; (semicolon) |
Snap to guides on/off | Shift+ z +; (semicolon) | Ctrl+Shift+; (semicolon) |
Show/hide baseline grid | Option+ z +' (apostrophe) | Ctrl+Alt+' (apostrophe) |
Show/hide document grid | z +' (apostrophe) | Ctrl+' (apostrophe) |
Snap to document grid on/off | Shift+ z +' (apostrophe) | Ctrl+Shift+' (apostrophe) |
Select all guides | Option+ z +G | Ctrl+Alt+G |
Create zero-point guidelines | z +click zero point when dragging guides | Ctrl+click zero point when dragging guides |
Adding and navigating pages | ||
Add new page | Shift+ z +P | Ctrl+Shift+P |
Go to first page | Ctrl+Shift+Page Up | Shift+ z +PgUp |
Go back one page | Ctrl+Page Up | z +PgUp |
Go forward one page | Ctrl+Page Down | z +PgDn |
Go to last page | Ctrl+Shift+Page Down | Shift+ z +PgDn |
Object selection | ||
Select master page | Shift+ z +click | Ctrl+Shift+click |
Select topmost object | Option+Shift+ z +] | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+] |
Select object above current object | Option+ z +] | Ctrl+Alt+] |
Select bottommost object | Shift+Option+ z +[ | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+[ |
Select object below current object | Option+ z +[ | Ctrl+Alt+[ |
Go to last frame in thread | Shift+Option+ z +PgDn | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Page Down |
Go to next frame in thread | Option+ z +PgDn | Ctrl+Alt+Page Down |
Go to first frame in thread | Shift+Option+ z +PgUp | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+Page Up |
Go to previous frame in thread | Option+ z +PgUp | Ctrl+Alt+Page Up |
Moving objects | ||
Move selection 1 point | left, right, up, and | left, right, up, and |
down cursors | down cursors | ‚ |
Move selection 10 points | Shift+left, right, up, and down cursors | Shift+left, right, up, and down cursors |
Bring object to front | Shift+ z +] | Ctrl+Shift+] |
Bring object forward | z +] | Ctrl+] |
Send object to back | Shift+ z +[ | Ctrl+Shift+[ |
Send object backward | z +[ | Ctrl+[ |
Object commands | ||
Cut | z +X | Ctrl+X |
Copy | z +V | Ctrl+V |
Paste | z +P | Ctrl+P |
Paste into | Option+ z +V | Ctrl+Alt+V |
Paste in place | Option+Shift+ z +V | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+V |
Clear | Backspace | Backspace or Del |
Duplicate object | Option+ z +D | Ctrl+Alt+D |
Step and repeat | Shift+ z +V | Ctrl+Shift+V |
Resize proportionately | Shift+drag | Shift+drag |
Resize frame and content | z +drag | Ctrl+drag |
Center content | Shift+ z +E | Ctrl+Shift+E |
Fit content proportionally | Option+Shift+ z +E | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+E |
Fit content to frame | Option+ z +E | Ctrl+Alt+E |
Fit frame to content | Option+ z +C | Ctrl+Alt+C |
Decrease size/scale by 1% | z +comma | Ctrl+comma |
Decrease size/scale by 5% | Option+ z +comma | Ctrl+Alt+comma |
Increase size/scale by 5% | Option+ z +period | Ctrl+Alt+period |
Duplicate | Option+drag, or Option+left, right, up, and down cursors | Alt+drag, or Alt+left, right, up, and down cursors |
Group | z +G | Ctrl+G |
Ungroup | Shift+ z +G | Ctrl+Shift+G |
Lock | z +L | Ctrl+L |
Unlock | Option+ z +L | Ctrl+Alt+L |
Drop shadow | Option+ z +M | Ctrl+Alt+M |
Graphics handling | ||
Convert text to outlines | Shift+ z +O | Ctrl+Alt+O |
Create outlines without deleting text | Option+Shift+ z +O | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+O |
Image color settings | Option+Shift+ z +D | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+D |
Make compound path | z +8 | Ctrl+8 |
Release compound path | Option+ z +8 | Ctrl+Alt+8 |
Text selection | ||
Select all | z +A | Ctrl+A |
Deselect all | Shift+ z +A | Ctrl+Shift+A |
Select word | double-click | double-click |
Select one word to left | Shift+ z +left cursor | Ctrl+Shift+left cursor |
Select one word to right | Shift+ z +right cursor | Ctrl+Shift+right cursor |
Select range | Shift+left, right, up, and down cursors | Shift+left, right, up, and down cursors |
Select paragraph | triple-click | triple-click |
Select one paragraph before | Shift+ z +up cursor | Ctrl+Shift+up cursor |
Select one paragraph after | Shift+ z +down cursor | Ctrl+Shift+down cursor |
Select to start of story | Shift+ z +Home | Ctrl+Shift+Home |
Select to end of story | Shift+ z +End | Ctrl+Shift+End |
Moving within text | ||
Move left one word | z +left cursor | Ctrl+left cursor |
Move right one word | z +right cursor | Ctrl+right cursor |
Move to start of line | Home | Home |
Move to end of line | End | End |
Move to previous paragraph | z +up cursor | Ctrl+up cursor |
Move to next paragraph | z +down cursor | Ctrl+down cursor |
Move to start of story | z +Home | Ctrl+Home |
Move to end of story | z +End | Ctrl+End |
Text/paragraph formats | ||
Bold | Shift+ z +B | Ctrl+Shift+B |
Italic | Shift+ z +I | Ctrl+Shift+I |
Normal | Shift+ z +Y | Ctrl+Shift+Y |
Underline | Shift+ z +U | Ctrl+Shift+U |
Strikethrough | Shift+ z +/ | Ctrl+Shift+/ |
All caps on/off | Shift+ z +K | Ctrl+Shift+K |
Small caps | Shift+ z +H | Ctrl+Shift+H |
Superscript | Shift+ z +plus | Ctrl+Shift+plus |
Subscript | Option+Shift+ z +plus | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+plus |
Update character style based on selection | Option+Shift+ z +C | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C |
Update paragraph style based on selection | Option+Shift+ z +R | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R |
Drop caps and nested styles | Option+ z +R | Ctrl+Alt+R |
Paragraph rules | Option+ z +J | Ctrl+Alt+J |
Set horizontal scale to 100% | Shift+ z +X | Ctrl+Shift+X |
Set vertical scale to 100% | Option+Shift+ z +X | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+X |
Increase point size by 1 point | Shift+ z +> | Ctrl+Shift+> |
Increase point size by 10 points | Option+Shift+ z +> | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+> |
Decrease point size by 1 point | Shift+ z +< | Ctrl+Shift+< |
Decrease point size by 10 points | Option+Shift+ z +< | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+< |
Text alignment and spacing | ||
Align left | Shift+ z +L | Ctrl+Shift+L |
Align right | Shift+ z +R | Ctrl+Shift+R |
Align center | Shift+ z +C | Ctrl+Shift+C |
Justify full | Shift+ z +F | Ctrl+Shift+F |
Justify left | Shift+ z +J | Ctrl+Shift+J |
Justify right | Option+Shift+ z +R | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+R |
Justify center | Option+Shift+ z +C | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+C |
Autohyphenation on/off | Option+Shift+ z +H | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H |
Hyphenation on/off (selected text) | Option+ z +H | Ctrl+Alt+H |
Set spacing and justification | Option+Shift+ z +J | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+J |
Set keep options | Option+ z +K | Ctrl+Alt+K |
Increase leading by 2 points | Option+up cursor | Alt+up cursor |
Decrease leading by 2 points | Option+down cursor | Alt+down cursor |
Increase leading by 10 points | Option+ z +up cursor | Ctrl+Alt+up cursor |
Decrease leading by 10 points | Option+ z +down cursor | Ctrl+Alt+down cursor |
Use autoleading | Option+Shift+ z +A | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+A |
Increase kerning/tracking by 20 units | Option+right cursor | Alt+right cursor |
Increase kerning/tracking by 100 units | Option+ z +right cursor | Ctrl+Alt+right cursor |
Decrease kerning/tracking by 20 units | Option+left cursor | Alt+left cursor |
Decrease kerning/tracking by 100 units | Option+ z +left cursor | Ctrl+Alt+left cursor |
Clear all kerning/tracking (set to 0) | Shift+ z +Q | Ctrl+Shift+Q |
Increase baseline shift by 2 points | Option+Shift+up arrow | Alt+Shift+up arrow |
Increase baseline shift by 10 points | Option+Shift+ z +up arrow | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+up arrow |
Decrease baseline shift by 2 points | Option+Shift+down cursor | Alt+Shift+down arrow |
Decrease baseline shift by 10 points | Option+Shift+ z +down arrow | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+down arrow |
Align to grid on/off | Option+Shift+ z +G | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+G |
Table editing | ||
Insert table | Option+Shift+ z +T | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+T |
Insert column | Option+ z +9 | Ctrl+Alt+9 |
Insert row | z +9 | Ctrl+9 |
Select table | Option+ z +A | Ctrl+Alt+A |
Select column | Option+ z +3 | Ctrl+Alt+3 |
Select row | z +3 | Ctrl+3 |
Select cell | z +/ | Ctrl+/ |
Delete column | Shift+Delete | Shift+Backspace |
Delete row | z +Delete | Ctrl+Backspace |
Table setup | Option+Shift+ z +B | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+B |
Set cell text options | Option+ z +B | Ctrl+Alt+B |
Find/change text, spelling, and indexing | ||
Edit in Story Editor | z +Y | Ctrl+Y |
Find/change | z +F | Ctrl+F |
Find next | Option+ z +F | Ctrl+Alt+F |
Search for selected text | Shift+F1 | Shift+F1 |
Add selected text to Find What field | z +F1 | Ctrl+F1 |
Add selected text to Change To field | z +F2 | Ctrl+F2 |
Change current selection | z +F3 | Ctrl+F3 |
Change current selection and search forward | Shift+ z +F3 | Ctrl+Shift+F3 |
Check spelling | z +I | Ctrl+I |
Add new index entry | Option+ z +U | Ctrl+Alt+U |
Add new index entry ( reversed ) | Shift+ z +F8 | Ctrl+Shift+F8 |
New index/open index entry dialog box | z +U | Ctrl+U |
Special characters | ||
Bullet (‚) | Option+8 | Alt+8 |
Ellipsis (...) | Option+; (semicolon) | Alt+; (semicolon) |
Copyright (‚) | Option+G | Alt+G |
Registered trademark (‚) | Option+R | Alt+R |
Trademark () | Option+2 | Alt+2 |
Paragraph (‚) | Option+7 | Alt+7 |
Section (‚§) | Option+6 | Alt+6 |
Switch between keyboard and typographic quotes | Option+Shift+ z +' (apostrophe) | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+' (apostrophe) |
Em dash (‚) | Option+Shift+- (hyphen) | Alt+Shift+- (hyphen) |
En dash (‚) | Option+- (hyphen) | Alt+- (hyphen) |
Nonbreaking hyphen | Option+ z +- (hyphen) | Ctrl+Alt+- (hyphen) |
Discretionary hyphen | Shift+ z +- (hyphen) | Ctrl+Shift+- (hyphen) |
Em space | Shift+ z +M | Ctrl+Shift+M |
En space | Shift+ z +N | Ctrl+Shift+N |
Thin space | Option+Shift+ z +M | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+M |
Hair space | Option+Shift+ z +I | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+I |
Nonbreaking space | Option+ z +X | Ctrl+Alt+X |
Soft return | Shift+Enter | Shift+Return |
Column break | Keypad Enter | Keypad Enter |
Frame break | Shift+keypad Enter | Shift+keypad Enter |
Page break | z +keypad Enter | Ctrl+keypad Enter |
Indent to here | z +\ | Ctrl+\ |
Right-indent tab | Shift+Tab | Shift+Tab |
Insert current page number | Option+Shift+ z +N | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+N |
Insert next page number | Option+Shift+ z +] | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+] |
Insert previous page number | Option+Shift+ z +[ | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+[ |
Printing and output | ||
Print document | z +P | Ctrl+P |
Preflight document | Option+Shift+ z +F | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+F |
Package document | Option+Shift+ z +P | Ctrl+Alt+Shift+P |
Miscellaneous | ||
Help | Help | F1 |
Undo | z +Z | Ctrl+Z |
Redo | Shift+ z +Z | Ctrl+Shift+Z |