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Adobe InDesign CS3

InDesign Basics

Adobe InDesign CS3 is a professional document layout program. It is excellent for working with documents that feature complex formatting and/or multiple pages, such as newsletters, resumes, reports, and handouts. The InDesign workspace contains multiple elements to make creating a document easy.

This document will provide you with a foundation for building your InDesign skills. We will address basics such as opening InDesign, creating a new file, saving documents, and opening documents.

return to topOpening InDesign

  1. From the Start menu, select All Programs » Adobe Design Premium CS3 » Adobe InDesign CS3
    NOTE: Due to individual computer differences, program location may vary.

return to topOpening an Existing InDesign Document

You can always open a saved document to make changes or additions after it had been closed. To open a document, with InDesign open and running on your machine:

  1. From the File menu, select Open...
    The Open a File dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Look in pull-down list, navigate to and select the file you wish to open

  3. Click OPEN
    The document opens.

return to topCreating a New Document

InDesign lets you set your page properties when you create a new document.

  1. From the File menu, select New » Document...
    The New Document dialog box appears.
    New Document dialog box

  1. In the Number of Pages text box, type a value for the total number of pages for this document
    NOTE: If necessary, you can add or delete pages later.

  2. OPTIONAL: To view your document in two-page spreads, select Facing Pages

  3. To select a preset page size, from the Page Size pull-down menu, select the page size

  4. To change the orientation, next to Orientation, select PortraitPortrait Orientation iconor LandscapeLandscape Orientation icon
    NOTE: When the height is larger than the width, select the portrait icon. When the width is larger than the height, select the landscape icon. Only one option can be selected.

  5. OPTIONAL: Under Columns, in the Number text box, type the number of columns you want per page

  6. OPTIONAL: In the Gutter text box, type the amount of space you want between the columns
    NOTES:
    The default margin is 1p0 (abbreviation for 1 picas and 0 points).
    A pica is 1/6 of an inch.

  7. Under Margins, type the desired value for each margin size
    NOTE: The default margin size is 3p0, or about 0.5 inches.

  8. OPTIONAL: To save the setup for future documents
    1. Click SAVE PRESET...
      The Save Preset dialog box appears
    2. In the Save Preset As text box, type a name for the preset
      OR
      From the Save Preset As pull-down list, select an existing preset

    3. Click OK

  9. Click OK
    InDesign will open a new document according to your specifications.

return to topSaving a Document

Saving a document allows you to specify a name and location for the document file. The Save and Save As commands are located within the File menu. If you are saving a document for the first time, either option will take you to the Save As dialog box.

Saving a Document: Using Save As...

Use this option if you are saving your document for the first time or if you are saving an existing file under a new name or location. Save As... allows you to specify the file name and location.

  1. From the File menu, select Save As...
    The Save As dialog box appears.

  2. Using the Save in pull-down list, navigate to and select a save location

  3. In the File name text box, type a filename
    HINT: To help you locate the file in the future, use a brief but descriptive filename.

  4. Click SAVE
    The document is saved.

Saving a Document: Using Save

Use the Save command to save a document that has already been saved one or more times. This command saves the document under the name and location already specified. If you want to change the file name or location, you must select the Save As... command.

  1. From the File menu, select Save
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [S]
    The document is saved.

return to topExiting InDesign

You can exit InDesign completely or just close the document you are working on while remaining in InDesign.

Closing Documents

Using these instructions, InDesign stays open while closing the current document.

  1. From the File menu, select Close
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [W]
    If you have not saved your document, a dialog box will appear asking whether you want to do so before closing.

  2. To save, click YES
    To close without saving, click NO
    To abort the close request and return to the document, click CANCEL

Exiting InDesign

Using these instructions will close both the current document and the InDesign program.

  1. From the File menu, select Exit
    OR
    Press [Ctrl] + [Q]
    If you forgot to save your document, a dialog box will appear asking whether you want to save the document before exiting.

  2. To save, click YES
    To close without saving, click NO
    To abort the close request and return to the document, click CANCEL

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