InDesign CS2

Editing Text

Many of the concepts for editing text in InDesign are similar to things that you learned in word processors. However, InDesign offers unique concepts and tools for easy editing.

Selecting Text
Changing Type Specifications
Deleting, Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text

Selecting Text

To edit or format text, you must first select the range of characters you want to affect. Select text when you want to change its type specifications, cut, copy or delete it. The Type Tool is used to accomplish this. To deselect text, click another insertion point or select any tool in the Toolbox.

HINT: If you have problems selecting the first character at the edge of a text frame, start with the last character and drag to the first character.

Using the Type Tool you can:

Double-click to select a word.
Triple-click to select an entire line.
Click and drag the I-beam to select a range of text.

Selecting a Portion of Text

From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
Place the I-beam at the beginning of the text you wish to select
Click and drag to select the appropriate text
OR
Click + hold down [Shift] and use the arrow keys to select the appropriate text

Selecting an Entire Story

A story is the term used to describe text that is connected, such as text that was placed from a single word processing file or text that was typed in InDesign from a single insertion point. A story can consist of one letter or of many pages.

Using the Type Tool, place the insertion point anywhere in the text frame
From the Edit menu, select Select All
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [A]

Options with Selected Text

To delete the selected text, press [Delete].
OR
Begin typing. The selected text will be replaced by the new text that you type.
To change type style, from the Type menu select the appropriate options.
For more information see Changing Type Specifications.
To move or duplicate the text, from the Edit menu, use the Cut, Copy and Paste commands.

Editing Text

If you make a mistake while typing, you can go back and fix it, just as in a word processor.

From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
Create an insertion point by clicking the I-beam within the text you wish to edit
OPTIONAL: Use the mouse or the arrow keys on the keyboard to move to the correct location
Make the appropriate changes
To insert text, simply type and the text will appear at the insertion point
To delete text to the right of the insertion point, press [Delete]
To delete text to the left of the insertion point, press [Backspace]

NOTES:
Existing text in the same text frame will automatically reposition to adjust to the new or deleted text.
You can also delete or type over large sections of text by first selecting the text and then pressing [Delete] or typing new text. See Selecting Text.

Changing Type Specifications

The Transform palette allows you to alter your text's appearance. You can modify the font, size, and style of the text.

Changing Type Specifications: Existing Text

Select the text
To display the Transform palette, from the Window menu, select Object & Layout » Transform
NOTE: A check mark will appear next to Transform when the Transform palette is visible.
From the Transform palette, select the Character tab
Using the pull-down lists, modify the font, size, and style as desired
For more information about character formatting options, see The Transform Palette.
To deselect the text, click outside of the selected text area

Changing Type Specifications: Before You Type

Using the Type Tool, set the insertion point where the text will begin
From the Transform palette, select the Character tab
Using the pull-down lists, modify the font, size, and style as desired
For more information about character formatting options, see The Transform Palette.
Type the text
NOTES:
Do not reset the insertion point. If you change the insertion point before you begin typing, text will revert back to previous type settings.
The new text will have the characteristics that you selected in step 3.

Deleting, Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text

Cut-and-copied items are placed on the Clipboard (a temporary storage location). The most recent item remains on the Clipboard and is inserted into the document when the Paste command is selected.

WARNING: The computer will retain only one cut or copy at a time. If you select Cut and then select another item or items and select Cut or Copy, the first item or group of items will be replaced on the Clipboard by the second group.

Deleting Selected Text

Select the Text Tool and select the text you wish to cut or copy
From the Edit menu, select Clear
OR
Press the [Delete] key
HINT: This text does not go on the Clipboard.

Retrieving Cleared or Deleted Text

You can retrieve deleted text that has not been saved to the Clipboard, but you must do it immediately after it was cleared.

From the Edit menu, select Undo Clear
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [Z]

Moving Selected Text

Select the Text Tool and select the text you wish to cut
From the Edit menu, select Cut
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [X]
Place the insertion point where you want the cut text to appear
From the Edit menu, select Paste
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [V]
The cut text appears in the new location.

Copying Selected Text

Select the Text Tool and select the text you wish to copy
From the Edit menu, select Copy
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [C]
Place the insertion point where you want the copied text to appear
From the Edit menu, select Paste
OR
Press [Ctrl] + [V]
The copied text appears in the new location.