Keyboard shortcut to move text to a new column in InDesign????

[SoreBear]

I can do para return, shift par return but not move copy to new column. It'a driving me potty. Don't want text boxes full of returns, Do I need to make 3 text boxes for 3 columns rather than using a shortcut in one box????

[John Mensinger · Accepted solution]

The number pad Enter key inserts a column/frame break. If you don't have a num-pad Enter key, choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts > Type Menu > Insert Break Character: Column Break and assign a key combination...

[SoreBear]

Fantastic - thanks a million.

[Sarcastic Sam]

Almost a year later, your tip is still paying off. Thanks lots

[SSNDTech]

2016 and your answer is the gift that keeps on keeping on... Thanks!

[HMSyl]

Almost four years later and it's helpful!

[Austin & Emily5FE7]

2021 and you're still helping people (me) out

[gitah2289807]

On many current short keyboard laptops (Windows) Fn Return no longer works. Which Shortcut combination is most widely used for a column break (so student/employees can use them consistenly in different settings/computers)?

[prismatic cat]

THANK YOU! 🙂

[Ahmed Ateek]

Thanks you smart guy

[Donovan Andrews]

Glory and praise to the design gods! THANK YOU FOR THIS ANSWER! Was driving me "potty" as well since I don't have a full keyboard.

[ClaytonKing]

I hate to be daft, but if I have a frame that is 2 columns and I press the Num Enter key, it breaks to a new page, not to the other column. What am I missing?

[John Mensinger]

What am I missing?

Well, you may be missing something, but it's hard to tell from here.

If you're not, then it's a malfunction, the kind that often clears up with a reset of preferences.

Troubleshooting 101: Replace, or "trash" your InDesign preferences

[winterm]

How this thing should work:

Numpad Enter breaks to next column (or next frame if there’s no next column in that frame, or next page if there’s no next frame on that same page)

Shift+Enter breaks to next frame

Ctrl+Enter breaks to next page

If you’re on a notebook with the main keyboard only (no numpad), try to include Fn key in a combination, using 'main' Enter/Return key.

[teresae28045038]

Right on!

[teresae28045038]

I spoke too soon! The text I did have in the 2nd column disappeared after hitting the #pad enter key while in column 1. Where did it go?

[Mike Witherell]

It is overset. Look at Edit > Edit in Story Editor. Also, you will see a red plus sign in the outport of the textframe (the lower-right corner)

[Vizzie]

Running CS6 and to my great frustration, I could not assign a shortcut key combination. I followed instrux up til the assign & then nothing I came up with would satisfy.

The Column Break window even gave "Delete" as the default...

I tried a variety of options, but NOTHING jumped the type to the next column. Any guesses, or suggestions for a key combination????

[John Mensinger]

flushleft  wrote

The Column Break window even gave "Delete" as the default...

Sounds like corrupt preferences. Reset: Troubleshooting 101: Replace, or "trash" your InDesign preferences then try again.

I hesitate to suggest a key combination, having no idea what program defaults you might or might not consider expendable. I tend to explore the Function keys (e.g., F8) with modifiers, perhaps just because I find them easy to remember.

[Vizzie]

Will try- but exactly what kind of modifiers with the F keysI don't

really use these much anyway, so no problem there. Are modifiers letters?

Opt/Control/Shift etc?

On Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 2:09 PM John Mensinger <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[Vizzie]

Thx. REplaced Prefs & it got rid of the 'Delete' under Default.

Tried using Fn key + Return, but without moving manually to the next

column, the next line doesn't jump.

On Tue, Sep 12, 2017 at 2:08 PM, John Mensinger <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

[winterm]

Well, why you need a custom key comb, when there is one already?

You don't have numpad, and what's about Fn key?

Did you try Fn+Return? It's documented as a workaround for those without numpad keys.

[Vizzie]

I reset the Preferences and the 'Default delete' disappeared. One down.

But the Fn key + Return isn't a stand-alone single command to change columns. I still have to MOVE the carat to the next column....

I would so much appreciate ANY suggested keyboard shortcut, e.g., F8 with modifier [not sure what this might be]

[iD2comm]

Kinda late to the party, but if you work on a short keyboard, column break is fn + return, frame break is fn + shift + return. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Kinda late to the party, but if you work on a short keyboard, column break is fn + return, frame break is fn + shift + return. 

By @iD2comm

Unfortunately, not on a Dell laptop - Inspiron 7559 - or because I have a "full" keyboard?