Does Indesign have an option like Area Type Tool in Illustrator?

[rhapsdy]

I am working on a book layout and what some text to flow into a shaped text box that is not a regular rectangle. I can easily do this in illustrator, but that's not set up for putting together a 150 page book. Is there any way to do this in InDesign? I've looked all over for this information and just can't seem to find anything. I have the shape I want the text to flow into as a vector and can obviously place that into InDesign, but see no way to flow text into it.

Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

Just create a shape with a shape tool (rectangle, ellipse, polygon), or any shape with the Pen tool.

Then choose the regular type tool and move inside the top of the shape, and you'll see an "area type" cursor, and click to place an insertion point. Then type text, or place text, or use placeholder text:

[SJRiegel]

That will work if the Type Tool Converts Frames to Text Frames is checked in the preferences. (I keep it unchecked, because I got tired if this automatically happening when I did not want it to).

If it is unchecked, you can go the the Object menu to change the nature of the frame contents.