Keyboard shortcut to select Character Formatting in control panel?

[judyross]

Is there a keyboard shortcut (Mac) to select the Character Formatting field in the control panel (or if not, can I add a custom one?).

My problem: Every time I want to change fonts, I have to click to highlight the Character Formatting field, then start typing the name of the font I want if it's not in the recent list. I think I remember seeing someone doing just that years ago, but I haven't been able to find it after searching online, or a way to add a custom shortcut. In the name of effeciency, can anyone fill me in?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Don't think there is - maybe you are thinking about Ctrl+Enter (PC)?

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

I think RT is right, no shortcut for this purpose. However, as wonky as it is, I find that hitting Ctrl-T twice closes then opens the Character pane and leaves the font name field selected. Maybe that can be exploited.

And, I gotta say... this is to change styles, right? You're not using it to apply spot formatting? *eek*

[judyross]

I think you figured out a good workaround! (And sorry if it gives you the vapors , but yes, it's to apply spot formatting. When I'm designing something new, I need to be able to try out different fonts that haven't been formatted as styles yet. So I'm opening new fonts/weights, selecting them, and seeing what they look like.) I normally don't have the Character panel open, but I'm going to give it a try. Thanks!!!

[leo.r]

You should also be able do this with a 3rd-party macro utility such as Keyboard Maestro: https://www.keyboardmaestro.com/main/

Since the Character Formatting button in the Control panel is always at the same spot, with Keyboard Maestro you can record a click that will click the button (and also a click in the Font field, if you need) and assign a shortcut to that click (or the sequence of clicks).

(Keyboard Maestro isn't free and I'm not aware of any free utility that can do this although they may exist.)

[BobLevine]

On Mac it's CMD+OPT+7. 

Windows is CTRL+ALT+7.

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

On Mac it's CMD+OPT+7. 

Windows is CTRL+ALT+7.

By @BobLevine

It only switches:

 

Doesn't activate Fonts list...

BUT - if you use CTRL+ALT+6 - TWICE - show / hide ControlPanel - IT WILL activate Fonts list!!!

Update - CTRL+6 - Activates Fonts list.

Result	Windows	Mac OS
Toggle focus to/from Control panel	Ctrl+6	Command+6

Full list:

https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/indesign/using/default-keyboard-shortcuts.html

[BobLevine]

Right. I missed the font formatting part of the post and thought the OP just wanted to toggle to the character formatting.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Why not use a character style instead? Then you can apply a keyboard shortcut--however, the downside is that it has to use a numeric keypad number with a modifier key. The upside is that it is a better workflow.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Dave Creamer of IDEAS

OP needs to play with different fonts - before finall formatting is applied...

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Ahh... Didn't see that in the original post. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Ahh... Didn't see that in the original post. 

By @Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Not in the OP:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/keyboard-shortcut-to-select-character-formatting... 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

What I meant was I didn't see it in the OP. I did see it in a later post.