InDesign CS2
Adding Text
Many of the concepts and techniques that you know from working with a word processor will carry over to InDesign. One key difference is that you must select the Type Tool before you begin to type or edit. The Type Tool looks like this:
When making formatting adjustments to text (e.g., font or size), you will be working with options from the Type menu.
Creating Text
Using InDesign to type headlines, titles, captions, headers and footers (usually set off with a different style or placement) is easy. However, we do not advise typing large volumes of text in InDesign. It is often easier to type or edit large amounts of text in a word processor, and copy them into InDesign later to create your page layout.
Before you can type text in Indesign, you need to create a frame to contain it. InDesign offers several shapes of text frames.
Creating Text: Rectangular Text Frame
If you want to create a rectangular text frame, use the Type Tool. If you would like to create an elliptical or polygonal text frame, refer to Creating Text: Custom Text Frame.
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From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
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Click and drag in your document to create the text frame
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When the text frame reaches the desired size, release the mouse button
NOTE: Unless text already exists, the insertion point will position itself at the current default alignment. -
Type the text
Creating Text: Custom Text Frame
Using the frame drawing tools (rectangle, ellipse, or polygon), you can create a custom-shaped text frame.
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From the Toolbox, select the desired frame drawing tool (rectangle, ellipse, or polygon)
For more information on the buttons in the toolbox, refer to The InDesign Toolbox.
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Click and drag in your document to create the frame
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When the frame reaches the desired size, release the mouse button
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From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
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Move the tool inside the text frame
It becomes an I-beam
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Click within the text frame to create an insertion point
NOTE: Unless text already exists, the insertion point will position itself at the current default alignment. -
Type the text
Placing an External Text File into Your Document
Text files from InDesign-compatible word processing programs, such as Microsoft Word, can be placed into an InDesign document. After placing the text into InDesign, you can edit, format, and manipulate it using the same methods as you would for text typed directly into InDesign.
HINT: Text files with little or no formatting generally work best.
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From the File menu, select Place...
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Press [Ctrl] + [D]
The Place dialog box appears.
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Using the Look in pull-down list and navigation window, select the file you wish to insert
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Select the desired import options:
OptionDescriptionShow Import Options Opens another dialog box, which contains additional importing options. These options are specific to the type of file being placed.
EXAMPLE: When placing a Microsoft Word file into InDesign, you have the option of deleting the pre-existing format and styles in the document.
Replace Selected Item Overwrites the existing contents of the frame with the file being placed
NOTE: This option is available only if you had a frame selected prior to placing a file.
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Click OPEN
The pointer turns into the Place Text icon
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Click where you want the file inserted
The selected file appears in your document.
HINT: If the entire document does not appear, enlarge the text frame. You may also need to add more pages with text frames if one page does not offer enough space.
