It would be nice to have a tool like this on the control bar.

[dublove]

Sometimes I find it a bit slow to switch to the aligned faceplate.
This is because alignment faceplates are generally aligned to selections by default. It's a pain in the arse to change it.

Quickly align margins, plate centre, bleed tool.
Also wish adobe would add an align to reference line feature.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

But you can Snap to Guides and use Smart Guides. 

In order to perform action(s) you describe - you would have to have extra pallet open - and then select object and click icon. 

For me, personally, selecting an object and moving it is fast and convenient enough.

And I don't have to waste screen's real estate. 

But if you have to do it so often - it can be easily scripted - but then you'll need multiple scripts anyway - and multiple keyboard shortcuts if you prefer to use keyboard. 

Or UXP Script can create a pallet with icons. 

[dublove]

It's not practical for an individual to write a script and it doesn't always work well. Just wish Adobe would see it and add it to the control bar.
As a basic feature, like a form control pane.

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I don't wholly agree with the OP and my vote would be some serious de-clutter of the tool interface (or at least a configuration option for the tool bar!), but I do find the align/distribute function a bit plexing to use. I don't use the feature often, but when I do, it seems to be just a little harder to select an alignment mode than it should be. All those icons devoted to each specific alignment option, and then a cryptic, easily-forgotten, combo one to set the alignment mode. There has to be some better arrangement.

[Eugene Tyson]

You can always request it via the Feature Request forum - which is the best place to have your voice heard

This was put up in 2017 - it's 7 years and still no sign of it.

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/31242319-ne...

[dublove]

I don't like that site, quite unfriendly and hard to access successfully.

[Eugene Tyson]

It's the only place your voice will be heard - this is a user to user forum for everyone to help each other out.

We don't and can't have any effect on future additions or improvements.

If you want to get this added to the program you have to use that website - unfortunately even if you don't like it.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @dublove:

For sure, take a moment to vote for the bleed addition to the Align panel using the link provided by @Eugene Tyson. That's where to log feature requests. Align to bleed is missing from the Align to: list.

On the community forums, our job is to explain features as they exist today. And as a trainer, that's my day job. My observation is that Align panel frustration normally stems from not understanding how it works.

I'm showing align to selection, align to key object, align to the page edges and then grouping and moving the object to the bleed lines with the Shift+ arrow keys in this 22 second video. If that still seems like too much work/taking too long, then @Robert at ID-Tasker's suggestion of looking into a script is the only other option to solve this today. 

~Barb

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I don't find the Align panel too badly arranged (although I agree align to bleed would be quite useful!) It's the Control Bar implementation that wastes too much space and leaves the alignment mode a bit cryptic and detached. Me, I'd put three drop-downs: one for Mode, one for Align, one for Distribute, and a bit more obviously "connected" than the running jumble of little this-or-that icons for several collateral functions.

[dublove]

Hi Barb Binder.
Once again you have misunderstood my true intentions.
I am providing a module to control other objects, not to control this graphic.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @dublove:

Yes, as you have previously pointed out, I have struggled with the intent of your questions but earnestly try to move past the phrasing and try to figure out what you are asking. This happens with a lot of the questions we are asked here, not just yours. When we don't understand the original question, we either ask for clarification, or we try to answer as best we can, knowing that our initital response will encourage the OP to offer additional clarification.

If you would like to further clarify this or any other question after we (or I) misunderstand it, then please do and we will continue to try to help. But if the purpose of this post was not to get help from us on solving an InDesign workflow issue but instead to make a suggestion to the Adobe InDesign team, then please let us know so that we can mark @Eugene Tyson's first answer as correct. 

~Barb

[dublove]

It's like this, with small control charts that go over the table.
Use that chart of mine, to control the alignment of the selected objects to the specified area.