Using the Position Tool

The Position tool works like a combination of the Selection and Direct Selection tools. Originally created for PageMaker users who missed that feature when they switched to InDesign, the Position tool may be the solution for confused editors (see sidebar on the opposite page) who don't know which tool to use for what purpose.

To use the Position tool:

1.

Click the Position tool in the Toolbox . The Position tool in the Toolbox works as a combination of the Selection and Direct Selection tools.

2.

Use the Position tool with a graphic frame as follows: Move the cursor over the edge of a frame to select the frame. A square next to the cursor indicates that the frame will be selected . Place the Position tool over the edge of a frame to select the frame. Move the cursor over one of the bounding boxes of the frame. The double-headed arrow indicates that both the frame and the graphic can be resized . Place the Position tool over the bounding box to resize a frame and graphic Move the cursor over the center point of the frame. The curved arrow indicates that you can move the frame and its contents . Place the Position tool over the center point to move a frame. Move the cursor over the placed graphic within the frame. The Hand cursor indicates that the graphic may be repositioned inside the frame . Place the Position tool over the image to move the graphic inside a frame. Click the Hand cursor inside the frame. The bounding box for the placed graphic indicates that the graphic may be resized. Move the cursor over the bounding box for the graphic. The double-headed arrow indicates that the graphic can be resized . Place the Position tool over the bounding box for a graphic to resize the graphic. Tip The Position tool does not allow you to reshape frames.

"Why Does the Frame Say 100% Even Though I Resized the Image?"

Here's something that confuses my students. They import an image into a frame, and then choose Fit Content Proportionally to shrink the image.

When they look at the Control palette the frame size is listed at 100%. That seems impossible; how can the image which has just been shrunk down still be listed as 100%? The answer is that the frame may be listed as 100%, but if you select the image with the Direct Selection tool, you'll see the percentage that the image was scaled.

"OK," my student says, "but how come sometimes the frame does show something less than 100% for the size of the frame as well as the image?"

That happens under a very specific set of circumstances: You have applied a stroke to the frame and you have chosen Scale Strokes from the Control palette menu. When that happens, and the frame is resized, the percentage for the frame size appears in the Control palette.