am attending a workshop on InDesign CS5 these two days at NTU ACL1. here’s some tips to remember for the future:
1. Fast changing of shapes (e.g.) while retaining all specs
– Use “Pathfinder” (via “Windows” –> “Object & Layout”)
2. WYSIWYG x-pointed stars drawing tool (can see points being increased on screen on the fly)
– Polygon tool –> Draw by Click n Drag <strong>N HOLD</strong> –> hit <space> (still hold) –> Up-down arrows
3. Fast duplicating of shapes
– Polygon tool –> Draw by Click n Drag <strong>N HOLD</strong> –> Up-down arrows
4. Font selection on-the-fly, see what’s good and select
– Highlight text –> Highlight font name in toolbar –> Up-down arrows (cycle thru fonts)
– <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<‘>’> to increase, or <Ctrl>+<Shift>+<‘<‘> to decrease font size
5. Fill (large extensive) textbox with random text
– Type –> Fill with Placeholder Text
6. Trace connections of how long text flows from one textbox to another
– View –> Extras –> Show Text Threads <Alt>+<Ctrl>+<Y>
7. 3 types of Text Flow, works during Place(ing) text
– Manual — Semi-autoflow (<alt>) — Autoflow (<shift>)
8. Scroll page view horizontally
– <Ctrl> + <mouse scroll button>
9. Controlling flow of text around graphics/pictures
– Use Text Wrap (after clicking on graphics/pics)
10. ‘Eye-dropper’ to pick up text attributes
– Highlight text to be changed. Click on “Eyedropper” –> click on text with desired attributes (font/size/color etc.) to apply formatting to highlighted text
11. the 2-3-4-5 clicks
– double click selects a word, triple click – line, four clicks – para, five clicks – select all
12. Create “Text Styles”
– format a paragraph to desired attributes, then click <Create New Style> under Paragraphs menu (cf. Character style)
13. ePublication don’t recognise empty <CR>
– use Paragraph formatting, “indents and spacing”
14. Auto Spellcheck MS-Word style (no grammar)
– Edit –> Spelling –> Dynamic spelling
here’s 2 photos of the class:
instructor @shirley tan reminding participants to visit AceTraining’s fb page for weekly tips n tricks
instructor @shirley tan explaining how to add a new page w/o disrupting existing page flow
[credit: 