InDesign

Keys for tools

This table isn’t a complete list of keyboard shortcuts. It lists only those shortcuts that aren’t displayed in menu commands or tool tips.

Tool

Windows

Mac OS

Selection tool

V, Esc

V, Esc

Direct Selection tool

A

A

Position tool

Shift+A

Shift+A

Toggle Selection and Direct Selection tool

Ctrl+Tab

Command+Control+Tab

Pen tool

P

P

Add Anchor Point tool

=

=

Delete Anchor Point tool

-

-

Convert Direction Point tool

Shift+C

Shift+C

Type tool

T

T

Type On A Path tool

Shift+T

Shift+T

Pencil tool (Note tool)

N

N

Line tool

\

\

Rectangle Frame tool

F

F

Rectangle tool

M

M

Ellipse tool

L

L

Rotate tool

R

R

Scale tool

S

S

Shear tool

O

O

Free Transform tool

E

E

Eyedropper tool

I

I

Measure tool

K

K

Gradient tool

G

G

Button tool

B

B

Scissors tool

C

C

Hand tool

H

H

Temporarily selects Hand tool

Spacebar (Layout mode), Alt (Text mode), or Alt+Spacebar (both)

Spacebar (Layout mode), Option (Text mode), or Option+Spacebar (both)

Zoom tool

Z

Z

Temporarily selects Zoom In tool

Ctrl+Spacebar

Command+Spacebar

Toggle Fill and Stroke

X

X

Swap Fill and Stroke

Shift+X

Shift+X

Toggle between Formatting Affects Container and Formatting Affects Text

J

J

Apply Color

, [comma]

, [comma]

Apply Gradient

. [period]

. [period]

Apply No Color

/

/

Switch between Normal View and Preview Mode

W

W

Gradient Feather tool

Shift+G

Shift+G