Is there a default shortcut for the paragraph Style Options panel, and if not how do I set one?

[Chris P. Bacon]

Google gave no results...

[Chris P. Bacon]

Ah I can see I can set a shortcut in the panel itself.

Still, is there anything set as default?

[Scott Citron]

macOS: Window>Styles>Paragraph Styles (cmd+F11)

[Chris P. Bacon]

I mean paragraph style options:

[Scott Citron]

What you're asking for is dependent on a specific Paragraph Style name. Using Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts>Panel Menus you can create your own shortcut, but for the shortcut to work you first have to click once to select which para style you want to edit. Since double-clicking will open any para style, creating another shortcut to do so doesn't make sense (to me).

[Chris P. Bacon]

So that means that there is no default shortcut for this:

just because that is specific for each paragraph style? okay, i get it.

[Laubender]

Hi Chris,

if you hover over a specific paragraph style name you could invoke the context menu to get to the menu that will open the style options of that specific paragraph style. Is that the command you are looking for?

A double-click on the style's name would open it as well, but would also apply the style to selected text. Sometimes you would not want this. Using the context menu would not apply the style to selected text.

I think for this special usage, the context menu, there cannot be a keyboard shortcut, because InDesign is building the menu option name on the fly. From the position of the cursor on the style listed in the Paragraph Styles panel.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

[Chris P. Bacon]

Hi Uwe,

what I meant if there is a default shortcut gor this specific field:

 but now I get it that it isn't and that's just vecause that is specific to each paragraph style, isn't it?

thanks

[Peter Spier]

I'm not sure you understand what that shortcut field in the dialog is doing. Putting a value in that field assigns a shortcut to apply that style to text. You would normally do this when you define the style. if you decide to add a shortcut to apply the style later you would need to edit the style.

A lot of users find Quick Apply to be useful for applying styles. On windows the default is to hit Ctrl + Enter to open the Quick Apply dialog, then start typing the style name. I personally am not a fan of Quick Apply so I can't say if it will help you.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Oh i see. No, i am looking for the default shortcut to display the Paragraph Style Options window, just like I am using Ctrl + B to display the Text Frame Options window. Ctrl + B for that window works even if no text frame is selected, and no matter what tool is currently active.

I suppose one text frame should be selected to get the specific Paragraph Style Options window for that specific paragraph, if there is any default shortcut. I am looking for that default shortcut.

I got it now that that shorcut box is for making a shortcut to apply the style formatted in that specific Paragraph Style Options window. But I am looking for the shortcut to open that window, just like Ctrl + B opens the Text Frame Options window.

[jmlevy]

Since you need to select a paragraph style among all existing paragraph styles before displaying the paragraph style options, what you ask for is impossible.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Clicking on a text frame should be sufficient before using the shortcut. Then the app could assume that the Paragraph Style Options window of that paragraph in that frame is what it should display. So it cannot be set a custom shorcut either?

[jmlevy]

of that paragraph in that frame

Mostly, you have more than one paragraph in a frame.

Let me try to explain this another way: imagine a file in which you have one style for the headings, another one for the main title, a third one for the subtitle, another one for the body text, and so on. How can you expect the software to be able to know what style you want to edit? Styles and text frames work completely differently.

[Chris P. Bacon]

I got it now, yes. Okay. So can you confirm that that custom shortcut option is for applying those paragraph style options on selected text?

[jmlevy]

So can you confirm that that custom shortcut option is for applying those paragraph style options on selected text?

No, I am afraid you don't get it. These shortcuts are used to apply the style on one or more paragraphs, not to edit the paragraph syle options. To say it quickly, there is no way to apply any shortcut to edit the paragraph style options.

Edit: English is not my native language, I hope I use the proper words in my answers.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Yes, that is what I mean, it's for applying the style. Great, so it's sorted out. Thanks!

[Peter Spier]

If you want to edit the style options for any particular style I think maybe the fastes way would simply be to select a paragraph that uses that style, change whatever formatting you want changed, then right-click the style name in the Paragraph Styles Panel and choose Redefine Style.

[Chris P. Bacon]

That is what I did previously, maybe were Character Styles? I don't remember exactly, but i even had in icon button for redefining styles, but now I don't have any panel icon or menu entry either for redefining styles:

Where are they gone?

[Peter Spier]

To the best of my knowledge there has never been a button to redefine a style at the bottom of the panel.

The create new style button has cahnge appearance, but there are no other changes to the panel buttons that I am aware of.

[Chris P. Bacon]

But the option is not (anymore) in the right click menu either.

[jmlevy]

The “redefine style” option is only available when modifications have been made on the paragraph (not the paragraph style). If there is no modifications, nothing can be redefined…

[Peter Spier · Accepted solution]

If you haven't made changes to styled text as Jean Marc points out there will be no option to redefine the style and in those cases you would choose Edit {Stylename}... to open the options dialog to make changes.

[Chris P. Bacon]

Ah, that was it.