Two oldies but goodies

I'd like to bring to your attention today two fantastic keyboard shortcuts in InDesign. These aren't new, but they're valuable time- and grief-savers.

Shortcut #1: command-6 (Mac), ctrl-6 (Windows)

This shortcut will highlight the first field of the Control Panel at the top of the screen. So if you have text selected, the typeface field will be highlighted. You can then choose a typeface by typing the first few letters for the typeface name, or you can hit the tab key to move to the next field. If you have an object selected, the x: field will be highlighted. Whichever is the first field of the Control Panel at the moment is the field that will be highlighted. You might want to consider changing this shortcut to something you can easily reach with one hand, as I have. Here's how:

1. Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts
2. Choose Views, Navigation for the "Product Area"
3. Choose Toggle Keyboard Focus In Control Panel in the list of commands
4. Click in the "New Shortcut" field, and press the keyboard shortcut you want to use (I use command-3 (Mac) and ctrl-3 (Windows))
5. Click the Assign button. You may be asked if you want to create a new set. If so, answer Yes.
6. Click the OK button.

Shortcut #2: command-option-~ (Mac), ctrl-alt-~ (Windows)

This shortcut will highlight whichever numeric field you last edited in a panel. So if you have a stroke selected and type .5 in the Stroke Weight field in the Control Panel or the Stoke panel, and then change your mind and decide you want it to be 2 point, just hit this shortcut and your cursor will highlight the Stroke Weight field again ready for you to type a new value. Sweet!