Creating a Text Frame


All the text blocks in an InDesign document are contained in text frames . Unlike a word processing program, which doesn't let you do anything but enter text, InDesign requires you to create a text frame before you can add text to a page using the keyboard. If you want to import the text from a word processing file onto a page, you don't have to create a text frame before you import. After you create a new text frame, you can enter and format text, move or resize the frame, and add graphic effects to the frame edge and the frame background.

Cross-Reference ‚  

For information about importing text, see Chapters 14 and 15.

The Tools palette contains several tools for creating both shapes and graphics frames, and because any shape or graphics frame can be converted into a text frame, you can use any of these tools to create a container that you intend to fill with text. However, in most cases, your text will be contained within simple, rectangular text frames, and the quickest and easiest way to create such a frame is with the Type tool (it's the tool with a big T on it).

Tip ‚  

If you want to place a particular piece of text on every page in a multipage publication (for example, the title of a book or the name of a magazine), you should place the text frame on a master page.

Cross-Reference ‚  

For more information about placing text frames on master pages, see Chapter 7.

Here's how to create a text frame:

  1. Select the Type tool by clicking on it or by pressing T.

  2. Move the I-beam pointer anywhere within the currently displayed page or on the pasteboard .

  3. Click and hold the mouse button, and while holding down the mouse button, drag in any direction.

    As you drag, a crosshair pointer is displayed in the corner opposite your starting point, and a blue rectangle indicates the boundary of the frame, as shown in Figure 10-1. You can look at the width and height values displayed in the Control palette or the Transform pane as you drag to help you get the size you want. Holding down the Shift key as you drag creates a square.


    Figure 10-1: Creating a text frame with the Type tool is a simple matter of clicking and dragging until the rectangle that's displayed as you drag is approximately the size and shape of the intended text block.

  4. When the frame is the size and shape you want, release the mouse button.

    The flashing cursor is displayed in the finished frame, indicating that you can enter new text via the keyboard. Don't worry too much about being precise when you create a text frame: You can always go back later and fine-tune its size and position.

    Tip ‚  

    When you create a text frame with the Type tool, you can align the frame edge with a guideline by clicking within the number of pixels specified in the Snap to Zone in the Guides & Pasteboard pane of the Preferences dialog box (File Preferences on the Mac or Edit Preferences in Windows, or z +K or Ctrl+K).

At this point, you can begin typing, or you can click and drag elsewhere on the page or pasteboard to create another text frame. To add text to the frame, you can also:

  • Choose File Place to import a word processing file. (If no text frame is selected, InDesign will create a text frame for you.)

  • Paste in text that you've copied from another InDesign document or from a document created with another program.

    Note ‚  

    If you paste text that's been copied from another program, you'll lose any formatting applied to the text. If you paste text copied from within InDesign, formatting is retained, unless you deselect the Preserve Text Attributes When Pasting check box in the General pane of the Preferences dialog box ‚ a new option in InDesign CS.

  • Drag and drop text highlighted from text from another document.

    Tip ‚  

    There are a couple of other ways to place text on a page: (1) You can drag the icon of a text file or a supported word processing file directly from the Windows Explorer (desktop or folder) or from the Mac Finder (desktop or folder) onto an InDesign page. (2) You can use your operating system's drag-and-drop text feature to drag highlighted text from a document created with another program (Microsoft Word, for example) into an InDesign document window. In both cases, a new text frame is created.

Whenever the Text tool is selected, you can create as many new text frames as you want. Just make sure not to click in an existing text frame when your intention is to create a new one. If you click within an existing frame when the Type tool is selected, the flashing cursor is displayed and InDesign thinks you want to enter text.

In addition to adding text to a newly created text frame, you can also move, resize, delete, or add a border (called a stroke ) or a colored background. But you can't do any of these things when the Type tool is selected. You have to switch to the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool. (See Chapter 11 for more about modifying frames and Chapter 8 for more on creating colors.)

Tip ‚  

If you accidentally use the Type tool to create a frame that you want to use as a container for a graphic, you can change it to a graphics frame by choosing Object Content Graphic.

Note ‚  

Because InDesign lets you convert any empty shape into a text frame or a graphics frame and convert any text or graphics frame into an empty shape, it doesn't really matter what tool you use to create a particular shape. However, you have to be careful when working with shapes and frames. For example, using the Place command (File Place, or z +D or Ctrl+D) to place an imported image into a text frame produces different results (placing an image in a text frame creates an anchored graphic within text, which limits your ability to size, position, and otherwise modify it) than placing an image within a graphics frame (you have nearly unlimited control over its attributes).




Adobe InDesign CS Bible
Adobe InDesign CS3 Bible
ISBN: 0470119381
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2003
Pages: 344
Authors: Galen Gruman

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