This Week's Secret
Finding hidden panels, controls, or menu items
()
Introduction
Welcome to InDesign Secrets
()
December 2020
Adding crop marks on your page
()
InDesign Easter egg stroke styles
()
Three essential InDesign scripts you already have
()
Handy uses for the Show Set feature
()
November 2020
Create linked text using a CC Library
()
Capturing a character style in a running head
()
Customize the menus for a streamlined workflow
()
October 2020
Copy and paste object positions with the Eyedropper
()
Using a section marker as a header
()
Create a boilerplate text collection in CC Library
()
Find indexed color images
()
September 2020
Activate and manage Adobe Fonts from a CC Library
()
Use one frame, not many
()
Create a portable InDesign document
()
Create a grid with nCreate a portable InDesign document gaps
()
Two GREP styles you have to know
()
August 2020
Tips and tricks for the Pages panel
()
Learn Data Merge in five minutes
()
Combine two documents to maintain pagination
()
Apply corner options to corner options
()
July 2020
Rounded endcaps on paragraph rules
()
How to tell which styles contain a font
()
Keep links intact when pasting
()
Find all documents that contain an image
()
June 2020
Pulling out key colors from placed images
()
Add a time stamp to your layouts
()
Adding form fields at the bottom of a contract
()
Working with Google Docs in InDesign
()
May 2020
Adding descriptions to scripts
()
Threading filled frames
()
Clearing all overrides from a particular style
()
Custom page numbering tricks
()
Use blend modes to highlight text on images
()
April 2020
Where did the application bar widgets go?
()
Making speech bubbles
()
Working with ligatures
()
Quick tips for numbered lists
()
March 2020
Your first GREP style—no codes!
()
Change page size fast with the Page tool
()
Sharing InDesign elements between versions
()
Shadows and special effects on drop caps
()
February 2020
Auto-expand acronyms
()
Knock a hole in an object
()
Three ways to abolish runts (short last lines)
()
Variable fonts
()
January 2020
Browse all Adobe Fonts from inside InDesign
()
Create object styles for page positioning
()
Using math in InDesign fields
()
Freeze the top row of a table
()
December 2019
417 Share layout elements with older versions
()
419 Tips for managing Adobe fonts in InDesign
()
Find the special character you need fast
()
November 2019
414 One click to better-looking type
()
415 Set up tables with footnote numbering
()
416 Copy colors, styles, or master pages across
()
418 Right-align numbers in a numbered list
()
October 2019
409 Copy and paste effects
()
410 Tell InDesign to do your math homework
()
411 Manage the Edit Keyboard Shortcuts dialog
()
412 Three InDesign navigation shortcuts you need to know
()
413 Create a fast-and-easy fake duotone
()
September 2019
405 When to use Balance Ragged Lines feature
()
406 Fix spacing between items in a list
()
407 Share parts of a layout with another designer
()
408 The master page trick
()
August 2019
401 Import PDF comments from old PDFs
()
402 Draw on text frame above another
()
403 Import PDF comments from Document Cloud
()
404 Use InDesign Find and Replace for hyperlinks
()
July 2019
397 Properties panel: Formatting objects
()
398 Change balanced ragged lines to pyramids
()
399 Properties panel: Text and styles tips
()
400 Change the space between objects fast!
()
June 2019
393 Case-sensitive spell checks for custom words
()
394 Transform points to create amazing shapes
()
395 Properties panel: Tips for the new user
()
396 The right way to make a table style
()
May 2019
388 Split a text frame into multiple threaded frames
()
389 Add notes to CC Library items
()
390 Use Split Window when choosing text colors
()
391 Copy layers from one layout to another
()
392 Swap text and images with a free script
()
April 2019
384 Out-of-gamut warnings when choosing colors
()
385 Larger previews of CC Library items
()
386 Snippets: The easiest way to save and share styles
()
387 Move CC Libraries around with a file
()
March 2019
380 Fill empty table cells with this script
()
381 Tips for targeting table strokes
()
382 Free, high-quality maps in vector format
()
383 Favorite Bridge tips for InDesign users
()
February 2019
376 Make cast shadows
()
377 Loose and tight body styles
()
378 Change your measurements and rulers
()
379 Troubleshoot missing fonts
()
January 2019
371 Determine type specs in a PDF
()
372 Add or remove columns while editing a story
()
373 Convert a PDF to an editable INDD
()
374 Animation: Fly in diagonally
()
375 Script editing for nonscripters
()
November 2018
364 The mysterious _GoBack bookmark
()
365 Quick check for TypeKit fonts
()
366 Paste with and without text formatting
()
367 The line breaks of Paragraph Composer
()
December 2018
368 PB, DT, and OV in the Links panel
()
369 Shared CC Libraries tips
()
370 Run scripts with Quick Apply or shortcuts
()
October 2018
360 Find spacing problems
()
361 Use the No Break option to format characters
()
362 Find/Change to add text to many table cells
()
363 Export all text
()
August 2018
351 Change default fonts
()
352 Best default RGB
()
353 Use Adobe Bridge to find fonts
()
354 Discretionary line breaks
()
355 Scale pictures inside a layout
()
September 2018
356 Numbering items in a diagram
()
357 Extract anchored text frames
()
358 When Paragraph Style has no effect
()
359 Efficient ways to format paragraph styles
()
July 2018
348 Make a quick grid from objects on your page
()
349 Utilize the new note feature
()
350 Exchange or swap two images
()
May 2018
339 Change default keyboard shortcuts
()
340 Mapping one color swatch to another
()
341 Find free InDesign templates on Adobe Stock
()
342 Numbering items in a diagram
()
343 Border spacing fix
()
June 2018
344 Insert a line before and after a heading
()
345 View track changes and export with InCopy
()
346 Export to HTML5
()
347 How to merge paragraph shading
()
April 2018
335 Edit spacing from the keyboard
()
336 Create perfect triangles
()
337 Footnote and endnote keyboard shortcuts
()
338 Publish Online statistics
()
February 2018
326 Changing word or character spacing in a paragraph style
()
327 Preflight profile to check for Typekit fonts
()
328 Naming items in the Layers panel
()
329 Distinguish among multiple working documents
()
March 2018
330 Add corner brackets around a frame
()
331 InCopy with InDesign workflow
()
332 - Add space around lists with spans
()
333 Tips for formatting text spacing
()
334 Free script to rotate selected characters
()
January 2018
322 Change character style for text inside parentheses
()
323 Typekit tips: Workarounds
()
324 Top 10 keyboard shortcuts to know
()
325 Link text frames
()
December 2017
319 Use Creative Cloud to share InDesign files
()
320 Combining Animated GIFs with InDesign Animations
()
321 Conditional text with editorial notes
()
November 2017
315 Streamline placement of auto-formatted images
()
316 Pay attention to Transparency Blend Space
()
317 Color fills with Eye Dropper
()
318 How to split a long story into smaller pieces
()
September 2017
307 Two ways to ignore text wrap
()
308 Easily insert glyphs with free script
()
309 Create better publish online thumbnails
()
310 View publish online document stats
()
October 2017
311 Make Word act like InDesign
()
312 Create Cross-Refs with a page range
()
313 Quick Apply preferences
()
314 Duplicate objects into a Grid
()
August 2017
302 Automate a numbered list with check boxes
()
303 Import a style with Find/Change
()
304 Create a calendar with CalendarWizard
()
305 Keep options for table rows
()
306 Automatically crop multiple images
()
July 2017
298 How to embed a YouTube video
()
299 Shrink your InDesign files
()
300 Remove blue highlighting from text
()
301 Embed a two-column text frame
()
May 2017
289 Display overriding styles
()
290 Work with scripts
()
291 Overview of working with CC libraries
()
292 Automatically format run-in headings
()
June 2017
293 Modify the Pages panel view
()
294 Adjust table strokes in Table Settings
()
295 Place and replace Artboards with a script
()
296 Incorporate Photoshop files into InDesign layouts
()
297 Share CC libraries with other users
()
April 2017
285 Replace formatted text with lorem ipsum
()
286 How to format ellipses
()
287 Merge book files with a free Script
()
288 Create a maze with a free script
()
March 2017
280 Screen redraw problems
()
281 Share a CC library
()
282 Make an image break out of its frame
()
283 Use Quick Apply to Drag and Drop
()
284 How to correct hyphenation
()
January 2017
272 Reverse text when partially over a dark object
()
273 Set tab order for forms
()
274 When white is set to overprint
()
275 When the Control panel is missing controls
()
February 2017
276 Make a grid of pages from a PDF file
()
277 Fix fraction problems in EPUBs
()
278 Adjust space between a group of objects
()
279 CC Libraries: Share vs. Collaborate overview
()
December 2016
268 Techniques to convert text to outlines
()
269 Fix Illustrator place problems
()
270 Work with new Animated Zoom features
()
271 Add images to an index
()
November 2016
264 Use a script to set the table subhead row style
()
265 Keep your templates current
()
266 Export selection or page as a sized JPEG or PNG
()
267 When all your numbers are superscript
()
September 2016
255 Check resolution in a PDF
()
256 Character style highlighting
()
257 Convert a list to a table
()
258 Move InDesign artwork to Photoshop
()
259 Include summaries in your table of contents
()
October 2016
260 Batch process images
()
261 Update swatches by syncing
()
262 Build and apply kerning tables
()
263 Sync master pages
()
August 2016
251 Share one layout among many ID users with Layout Zone
()
252 Clean out old hyperlinks and hyperlink destinations
()
253 Crop many overlapping pix at once
()
254 Find the hex number for any color
()
July 2016
247 Use InCopy to create linked boilerplate text for layouts
()
248 Keyboard shortcuts for special characters
()
249 Create layout notes in InDesign for InCopy users
()
250 Keyboard shortcut to insert special glyphs inside a font
()
June 2016
242 When a tab really means new line
()
243 Export all the fonts in a layout without packaging
()
244 Format the first line of a paragraph with Line Styles
()
245 Place all PDF pages at once
()
246 The problem with blending spot colors
()
April 2016
234 Free script identifies word stacks
()
235 Easier style mapping from Word to InDesign
()
236 Auto-reflow images in a grid
()
237 Making your style names legal for EPUBs
()
May 2016
238 See your document in grayscale onscreen
()
239 Packaging without the instruction file
()
240 Side-by-side tables
()
241 Three ways to move styles from one InDesign file to another
()
March 2016
229 Batch converting ID files to current version with the Book panel
()
230 Getting around InDesign limitations
()
231 Creating better callout lines with effects and object styles
()
232 Swapping column and row information in tables
()
233 Making bigger text link targets
()
February 2016
225 Discovering secrets of the Tabs panel
()
226 Making object styles to change frame size
()
227 Tips for using Edit Original
()
228 Setting text at an angle
()
December 2015
218 Copying and pasting Photoshop paths
()
219 Customizing frames in Normal View
()
220 Placing paragraph lines for emphasis
()
January 2016
221 Finding and editing all overset text in a doc
()
222 Adding paragraph shading
()
223 Forcing chapter names down from the top with a style
()
224 Creating custom color swatches
()
October 2015
210 Working with pasteboard options
()
211 Tips and tricks for paragraph shading
()
212 Incorporating spring-loaded tool shortcuts
()
213 Making InDesign run faster
()
214 Formatting text quickly with Apply Next
()
November 2015
215 Making a print PDF do double-duty as an online PDF
()
216 Adding continued headers to tables
()
217 Choosing which layout objects get packaged for the printer
()
September 2015
206 Creating Intertwining Objects
()
207 Fixing style collisions in EPUB output
()
208 Navigating through pages with bookmarks
()
209 Creating a keyboard shortcut for the [None] character style
()
July 2015
197 Permanently disabling hyphenation
()
198 Adding prefixes to page numbers
()
199 Taming baseline grid previews
()
200 Using Work and Turn to create two-sided documents
()
201 Making better Bridge previews
()
August 2015
202 Formatting drop words in a text document
()
203 Sharing custom workspaces
()
204 Creating a
()
205 Managing scripts
()
May 2015
189 Placing InDesign files
()
190 Make an image sandwich: Putting an image in front and in back of text for a magazine cover
()
191 Deciding between reflowable and fixed-layout EPUB
()
192 Test font choices quickly in CC
()
June 2015
193 Printing tracked changes
()
194 Using Ink Manager before sending your project to the printer
()
196 Working with dynamic layouts
()
April 2015
184 Put a box around or behind a paragraph
()
185 Fixing three common Word formatting glitches
()
186 Making long shadows
()
187 Three ways to prevent a word from hyphenating
()
188 How to type the last page number in a book
()
February 2015
176 Quickly empty out an InDesign document of text and images
()
177 Add a font from Typekit in CC
()
178 How to hide the content grabber donut
()
179 File naming for healthy EPUBs
()
March 2015
180 One-sided custom strokes for image borders
()
181 The fastest way to find missing links
()
182 Start a document on a left-hand page
()
183 Borrowing preset art paths from Illustrator and Photoshop for fresh frame looks in InDesign
()
January 2015
172 Making a character style change only the tint of your text
()
173 Editing table set up from the keyboard
()
174 How to sort text in InDesign
()
175 Making captions easy (ignore text wrap object style library item live caption)
()
December 2014
169 All about All Caps (change case open type option)
()
170 Batch convert InDesign files to IDML and other formats
()
171 Fun with placeholder text
()
November 2014
166 Creating blank entry spaces on forms
()
167 Creative uses of the Slug area
()
168 Change the UI languaging in InDesign CS6 and CC
()
October 2014
161 Keeping page numbers on top of master items
()
162 Adding automatic currency symbols in a table cell or before text
()
163 Make a pop-up footnote for your ebook
()
164 Deleting tabs at the beginning of paragraphs and applying a paragraph style
()
165 Five InDesign Presentation tips
()
September 2014
157 Sharing swatches (PS/IL/ID and ID to ID)
()
158 Convert rounded corners to editable paths
()
159 Convert local formatting to character styles
()
160 Sort an index by page number
()
August 2014
153 When InDesign ignores your leading values
()
154 Extracting images from a Word document
()
155 Uncommon uses for Quick Apply
()
156 Uncovering InDesign's magic font folders
()
July 2014
148 Cropping with paste into
()
149 Using vertical justification to spread out text in a frame automatically
()
150 Rotate text inside a frame, or the frame around the text
()
151 Looking at snippets vs. libraries
()
152 Import a folder full of pictures, one per page
()
June 2014
144 Lay out a front back and spine for a book jacket
()
145 Ghosting area of image behind text
()
146 Make a transparency mask in InDesign
()
147 Using preflight to find common document errors
()
May 2014
139 Faking bold and italic when the font family doesnt have one
()
140 Keeping the same scale size when updating or relinking to images
()
141 Inserting glyphs
()
142 Building richer, bolder color gradients
()
143 Finding the right font with InDesigns font menus
()
April 2014
135 Fitting text to a specific size
()
136 Quick tips for making a small PDF file size
()
137 Sharing presets, workspaces, and custom shortcuts sets
()
138 Making a multi-level numbered list
()
March 2014
131 Changing the shape of polygons and starburst as you draw or afterward
()
132 Contextual text and images that you only want sometimes visible
()
133 Creating nav points in a movie
()
134 Adding effects to your rule above and rule below
()
February 2014
127 Making automatic jump lines
()
128 Turning off allow pages to shuffle in order to separate facing pages
()
129 Dealing with parentheses around text size
()
130 Make a fill in the blank label for contracts and forms
()
January 2014
122 Allow text frame to resize with text
()
123 Mapping Word styles to InDesign styles
()
124 Make two automatically threaded text flows
()
125 Saving for Web in InDesign
()
126 Numbering rows in a table
()
December 2013
119 Making alternative body text styles for fast typesetting
()
120 Making InDesign patterns with the free PatternMaker
()
121 Creating pull quotes the easy way
()
November 2013
116 Selecting text with the InDesign keyboard dance
()
117 Including a total page count in your page numbers
()
118 Making a custom arrowhead
()
October 2013
111 Packaging images on the pasteboard
()
112 Automatically updating figure references for books
()
113 Adding Tool Tips to your form fields in InDesign
()
114 Setting poetry, flush left, center on longest line
()
115 Use bookmarks to navigate long documents in production
()
September 2013
107 Using the same keyboard shortcut for two different commands with the Context feature
()
108 Making a text highlighter
()
109 Updating an interactive PDF without losing work done in Acrobat
()
110 Adding custom text at the beginning of each line automatically
()
August 2013
103 Converting text to outlines the right way
()
104 Turning InDesign into a speed demon
()
105 Working with MiniBridge
()
106 Customize your QR codes
()
July 2013
099 Aligning Objects tips and tricks
()
100 Applying corner options to any shape
()
101 Converting footnotes to endnotes with a free script
()
102 Making tab leaders pretty
()
June 2013
095 Managing changing pages with primary text frames
()
096 Secrets of the Info panel
()
097 Surprising ways to do a word count
()
098 Placing an object where you want it with an object style
()
May 2013
089 Three great Object Styles for any designer
()
090 Choosing alpha channel image transparency
()
091 Adding and reading metadata for InDesign files
()
092 Adding ALT tags to your images
()
093 How to Place & Link a text frame's text but not its formatting
()
094 Setting the baseline position of a caption
()
April 2013
085 Using Illustrator to create InDesign gradient swatches
()
086 Building a simple grep style to change character size
()
087 Exporting a grayscale PDF
()
088 Three ways to cheat text outside of its frame
()
March 2013
081 Creating a custom cross-reference format
()
082 Putting different-sized pages on a single spread
()
083 Formatting prices with nested and grep styles
()
084 Checking out the Gridify tricks
()
February 2013
077 The secrets of formatting objects with Find/Change
()
078 Using ruler guides: 10 great tricks
()
079 Converting a clipping path to a frame
()
080 Adding a drop shadow to a single word inside a frame
()
December 2012
069 Ten uses of the Story Editor
()
070 Moving an object: Ten ways!
()
071 Understanding optical margin alignment (and the quote trick)
()
072 Changing the shape of any frame with the pen tool
()
January 2013
073 Working with sets in the content conveyor tool
()
074 Running text along the top and the bottom of a circle
()
075 Creating a list using the Table of Contents feature
()
076 Quickly threading frames together and unthreading frames
()
November 2012
065 Customizing the story editor preferences
()
066 Setting the size of text exactly with this free script
()
067 Using Gravity to simulate perspective
()
068 Fixing the overflowing text frame problem in EPUBs
()
October 2012
061 Embedding images
()
062 Adjusting leading inside a paragraph
()
063 Placing one InDesign file inside another
()
064 Creating bookmarks for PDFs
()
September 2012
057 Text wrapping
()
058 Inserting pages: Understanding the Pages panel
()
059 Copying paths between Illustrator and InDesign
()
060 Automating Find/Change with the Find/ChangeByList script
()
August 2012
051 Five things that should be in every new file
()
052 Forcing EPUB page breaks with invisible objects
()
053 Understanding component information
()
054 Creating running heads using section markers
()
055 Making a font with InDesign using the IndyFont script
()
056 Finding where that color is used
()
July 2012
047 Specifying an exact amount of space between objects
()
048 Fixing last lines that are too short
()
049 Creating web graphics from your InDesign artwork
()
050 Using No Language to suppress unwanted hyphenation, spell-checking, and smart quotes
()
June 2012
043 Formatting fractions correctly
()
044 Fixing unwanted hyperlinks in an imported Word file
()
045 Inline graphic tricks with invisible paragraphs
()
046 Ensuring the first line of every chapter starts in the same spot
()
May 2012
037 Updating a linked table without losing formatting
()
038 Creating electronic sticky notes
()
039 Moving master page items to the top layer for visibility
()
040 Five guide tricks that will impress your coworkers
()
041 Letting InDesign add the diacritics
()
042 Using single-cell table cells for custom paragraph formatting
()
April 2012
033 Importing a custom dictionary
()
034 Changing document orientation and page size
()
035 Numbering instead of using auto page numbers
()
036 Setting story order with the Articles panel
()
March 2012
027 Creating running heads using variables
()
028 Live Caption tips and tricks
()
029 Making professional drop caps
()
030 Making two-state buttons in interactive documents
()
031 Moving pages from one document to another
()
032 Wrapping bulleted text around a curve
()
January 2012
019 Using multiple windows for comparisons
()
020 Putting images on a stroke
()
021 Making your own motion path
()
022 Copying objects between Illustrator and InDesign
()
February 2012
023 Using layer comps in Photoshop files to show alternates in InDesign
()
024 Adding custom HTML tags to EPUB/HTML exports
()
025 Tracking down type issues with the composition highlighter
()
026 Managing your InDesign panels
()
December 2011
015 Aligning numbered lists by decimal points
()
016 Running a script
()
017 When text disappears from a text frame
()
018 Preview and Presentation modes (changing color etc.)
()
November 2011
011 InDesign's Easter eggs
()
012 Three cool GREP styles everyone can use
()
013 A field guide to special characters
()
014 Trashing the application preferences to solve weird behaviors
()
October 2011
007 Selecting through and into objects using cmd-click and Select Above/Below
()
008 Some great tips and tricks for the Swatches panel
()
009 Saving down for backward compatibility with INX and IDML
()
010 Using the INX and IDML formats to fix problems
()
August 2011
001 The hidden "auto-expand text" feature
()
002 Letting InDesign do the math for you
()
September 2011
003 The indispensible Quick Apply feature
()
004 Customizing the Links panel
()
005 Magically building graphs with the Chartwell font
()
006 Using the Eyedropper tool to pick up character or paragraph attributes
()