(Legacy) InDesign CS3: Positioning Text in a Text Frame

With Adobe InDesign, you have many options for positioning text within a text frame. Text can be aligned to the top, center, bottom, or justified. You are also able to create insets to control the distance between the text and the edges of the text frame.

Positioning Text Vertically

InDesign allows you to change the vertical alignment of text within a text frame.

1. From the Toolbox, select the Selection Tool.

2. Select the desired text frame.

3. Right click within the text frame » select Text Frame Options... 
   The Text Frame Options dialog box appears. 
   

4. In the Vertical Justification section, from the Align pull-down list, select Top, Center, Bottom, or Justify.
   NOTE: Choosing Justify will position the text evenly between the top and bottom of the frame.

5. (Optional) If Justify is chosen, in the Paragraph Spacing Limit text menu, select the desired space.
   NOTE: The Paragraph Spacing Limit sets the space between paragraphs in the text frame.

6. To preview what the text will look like when changes are made, select Preview.

7. Click OK.
   The changes are applied to your text.

Adding Inset Spacing

InDesign allows you to control the distance between the text and the border of the text frame. This is called inset spacing and may be especially useful if your text frame has a visible border.

1. From the Toolbox, select the Selection Tool.

2. Select the desired text frame.

3. Right click within the text frame » select Text Frame Options... 
   The Text Frame Options dialog box appears.

4. In the Inset Spacing section, in the Top, Bottom, Right, and Left text boxes, type the desired distance of the text from each edge of the text box.
   OR
   To set the same value for all sides,
   1. Click Make All Settings the Same.

   2. Type the desired value in one of the text boxes.
      

5. To preview what the text will look like when changes are made, select Preview.

6. Click OK.
   The changes are applied to your text.