Is there a way to quickly "get out" of the Picker when formatting text?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
October 29, 2024
3 replies
911 views

From time to time, I use the Picker (letter I) tool to "quickly" transfer text formatting attributes such as font size and color from one group of characters to another. BUT every time I do so, once I'm done and want to get back to the regular Text tool, to continue editing, it's a riot.

Perhaps I'm missing something very obvious?

Currently, once I'm done with picking and applying text attributes and want to get back to the Text tool, I first hit the Escape key which, not only gets me out of the tool and returns me to the Selection tool (Black arrow) but it also selects the text frame which isn't bad in itself. The problem is that, at this point, I have to either select the Text tool in the toolbar with the mouse or double-click the text frame wherever I want to pursue editing which is "doable", and THEN I'm back where I was, ready to continue editing text. But it is a lot of work everytime. So much so that it almost defeats the purpose of using the tool in the first place.
Please tell me there is a better way?

Performance

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E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

I just tried this - when I'm using the Picker I style some text.

Then I press T and it switches back to the text tool.

The riot happens at wanting to switch back to the Eyedropper -as you have to select from the tool panel

So what I did was set a keyboard shortcut that only works when editing Text (it won't in any other context)

Now I can style the text with the eye dropper tool

Press T to edit the text

Style some more

Then press ALT T (maybe should have picked ALT I ) but it's up to me

Now I can switch from Eyedropper to Text and back again with ease

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Community Expert

After you type Escape, can't you simply press the T key to switch to the Text tool?

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

Roger BretonAuthor

Legend

Yes, that's exactly what I do but I would wish to be able to swith back to the Text tool *without* needing to swtich to the Selection tool first : why can't I swith to the Text tool directly? When I switch out of the Picker tool with the Escape key I also lose my poition in the text. It's such a drag on productivity, David?. But I bet it's the last thin on InDesign team's priority list... Maybe the only solution is scripting? And being able to assign some Function key to the script? So that by simply typing this key, I'd be back with the Text tool? .
I confess I am disappointed -- and lazy. I'd rather avoid getting my hands dirty into programming.
I was hoping for a ready-bake solution.

Something that was there all along under my nose ...

Thanks for you kind help.

leo.r

Community Expert

Yes, that's exactly what I do but I would wish to be able to swith back to the Text tool *without* needing to swtich to the Selection tool first : why can't I swith to the Text tool directly?

By @Roger Breton