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PugMOM
PugMOM
Participating Frequently
November 2, 2016
Answered

Indesign Keyboard Shortcuts for Styles don't make sense to me?!?!?

  • November 2, 2016
  • 3 replies
  • 1080 views

Where is the 'time save' when I have to (I'm doing listings that have like 8 different points to hightlight bold followed by regular weight text descriptions)

1. highlight text with mouse

2. left hand hits command/right hand hits 2 on the Number Pad

3. grab mouse, highlight next, and etc. etc. etc.

How is this any faster that just using the styles panel? Why can I not use the numbers above the letter keys? (but they don't work!)

This seems wonky and I bet I'm missing something...

help.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Steve Werner

    I believe the poster is talking about keyboard shortcuts assigned to paragraph or character styles (which are set up in the Paragraph Styles or Character Styles panels).

    For as long as there have been style shortcuts, they have required the use of a numeric keypad. It's quite ridiculous actually.

    In the meantime, I find using Quick Apply to call out styles (faster for me, keys on my keyboard). Learn about it in InDesign Help:

    Format text in InDesign

    3 replies

    joet082964
    joet082964
    Inspiring
    November 2, 2016

    If I understand correctly, maybe nested styles can help you?  That's if your "listings" are consistent and there are many of them.

    Create and use nested styles in InDesign | Adobe InDesign CC tutorials

    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    John MensingerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 2, 2016

    PugMOM wrote:

    3. grab mouse, highlight next, and etc. etc. etc.

    IMO, this is where you're going awry...

    Better options:

    1. Using the mouse in between is an interruption of your flow; use the keyboard to navigate and select text
    2. Use the Find Format feature of the Find/Change function to search for and apply styles to the terms you want to style.
    3. Use GREP styles to automatically apply Character Styles to specific text or patterns that occur in particular Paragraph Styles

    Why can I not use the numbers above the letter keys? (but they don't work!)

    True; only the num-pad number keys are style-shortcut-eligible. I don't know why, and personally, I prefer the number pad to the numbers-above, so lucky me, I guess.

    PugMOM
    PugMOMAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    November 2, 2016

    I like the thinking...yep, flow def interrupted.

    couple notes on my end:

    no way to highlight with keyboard (that I know!)

    GREP styles would def be more efficient..never used those! Thanks.

    if my fingers stretched from the command key to the key pad, i'd be set.

    Thanks for the alternative method..will def try in the future.

    C
    cbishop01
    Inspiring
    November 2, 2016

    You can change the Shortcuts to what ever you think is more useful Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts (On Mac)

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 2, 2016

    I believe the poster is talking about keyboard shortcuts assigned to paragraph or character styles (which are set up in the Paragraph Styles or Character Styles panels).

    For as long as there have been style shortcuts, they have required the use of a numeric keypad. It's quite ridiculous actually.

    In the meantime, I find using Quick Apply to call out styles (faster for me, keys on my keyboard). Learn about it in InDesign Help:

    Format text in InDesign

    PugMOM
    PugMOMAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    November 2, 2016

    ya know..this is an option..i still don't see any more efficiency though. Seems a bit more cumbersome to pull up this panel...

    again, probably missing something.

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