Hidden Keyboard Shortcut to Resize Frames

Report · Jul 30, 2019

Does anyone know the keyboard shortcut to proportionally resize frames in InDesign 2019? It's related to the command to scale the frame and its contents (Command+Option+> or <).

I stumbled onto it today but absolutely can't figure out what I did. I thought it had to do with whether I was using the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool but that doesn't seem to be it.

Thanks

Report · Jul 30, 2019

Hi Thomas:

Does anyone know the keyboard shortcut to proportionally resize frames in InDesign 2019?

You can hold Cmd+Sh while resizing a frame to resize the frame and contents and maintain the aspect ratio. Is that what you are looking for?

Or you can select the frame with the Selection tool and use Opt+Cmd+. (period) to scale both up incrementally by 5%. Or Cmd+. to scale by 1%. Decrease is the same, but substitute a comma for the period.

~Barb

Edit: the period and comma share the same key as the < and > which is what you mentioned in your question. Were you adding the shift key to get the < and >? That would disable the scaling commands.

Report · Jul 30, 2019

So close! But not quite. The command changes the size of the frame but leaves the contents the same size. If you click on one of the corners it will move the corner in or out as well.

I believe you start by choosing the Direct Selection key (the second one down on the tool bar, not the one at the top) then select the frame (not the contents) and use Command < and Command >. But I seem to be missing some additional step because I can only get it to work about two-thirds of the time. I'm not sure what triggers the whole thing.

I've looked at Adobe's documentation, but can't find anything.

It's there, though and extremely useful, if someone can explain how to get it to work 100 percent of the time.

Report · Jul 30, 2019

Hi Thomas:

I have my frame selected and I'm first tapping Cmd Opt . then Cmd Opt , and the frame and content are resizing together.

~Barb

Mojave 10.14.6

InDesign 14.0.2

Report · Jul 30, 2019

Thomas:

Check your keyboard shortcuts. Have you remapped the defaults? (Scroll down the "I"s to check the increase shortcuts.)

~Barb

Report · Jul 30, 2019

Hey Thomas, I have to get going so a few last thoughts, and I'll check in again tomorrow:

It's there, though and extremely useful, if someone can explain how to get it to work 100 percent of the time.

I haven't seen any reported bugs with this feature, but it's not used often so perhaps that's the issue. If you suspect a bug, you can report it here: Adobe InDesign Feedback. I use it and haven't experienced the inconsistency. Again, I'm on Mojave 10.14.6 and InDesign 14.0.2.
We do get frequent reports of other applications interfering with the modifier keys in InDesign. Anti-virus apps, malware apps and browser extensions are reported back as the culprits. Perhaps another application is interfering with Cmd or Opt.
When InDesign begins to behave erratically, it may help to rebuild preferences and cache. See .https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

~Barb