Editing Text

InDesign offers unique concepts and tools for easy editing. Many of the concepts for editing text in InDesign are similar to those used in word processors. This document explains the basic concepts used for editing text in InDesign.

• Selecting Text
• Deleting Text
• Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text

Selecting Text

To edit or format text, you must first select the range of characters you want to affect. The Type Tool is used to select text when you want to change its type specifications, cut, copy or delete it. To deselect text, click another insertion point or select any tool in the Toolbox.
HINT: If you have problems selecting the first character at the edge of a text frame, start with the last character and drag to the first character.
Using the Type Tool you can:

• Double-click to select a word.
  
• Triple-click to select an entire line.
  
• Click and drag the I-beam to select a range of text.
  

Selecting a Portion of Text

1. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
   
2. Place the I-beam at the beginning of the text you wish to select
   
3. Click and drag to select the appropriate text
   OR
   Press and hold [Shift] + use the arrows to select the desired text
   

Selecting an Entire Story

A story is the term used to describe text that is connected, such as text that was placed from a single word processing file or text that was typed in InDesign from a single insertion point. A story can consist of one letter or of many pages.

1. Using the Type Tool, place the insertion point anywhere in the text frame
   
2. From the Edit menu, select Select All
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [A]
   

Options with Selected Text

• To delete the selected text, press [Delete].
  OR
  Begin typing. The selected text will be replaced by the new text that you type.
  
• To change type style, from the Type menu, select the appropriate options.
  For more information see Changing Type Specifications.
  
• To move or duplicate the text, from the Edit menu, use the Cut, Copy, and Paste commands.
  For more information, see Deleting Text or Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text.
  

Editing Text

If you make a mistake while typing, you can go back and fix it, using similar steps to those used in a word processor.

1. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
   
2. Create an insertion point by clicking the I-beam within the text you wish to edit
   
3. OPTIONAL: Use the mouse or the arrow keys on the keyboard to move to the correct location
   
4. Make the appropriate changes
   To insert text, simply type and the text will appear at the insertion point
   To delete text to the right of the insertion point, press [Delete]
   To delete text to the left of the insertion point, press [Backspace]
   

NOTES:
Existing text in the same text frame will automatically reposition to adjust to the new or deleted text.
You can also delete or type over large sections of text by first selecting the text and then pressing [Delete] or typing new text. For more information, see Selecting Text.

Deleting Text

If you have inserted text that you no longer need in your document, it can easily be removed using the Type Tool.

Deleting Selected Text

1. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
   
2. Select the text you wish to delete
   
3. From the Edit menu, select Clear
   OR
   Press the [Delete] key
   HINT: This text does not go on the Clipboard.
   

Retrieving Deleted Text

You can retrieve deleted text that has not been saved to the Clipboard; however, you must retrieve it immediately after it was cleared.

1. From the Edit menu, select Undo Clear/Undo Typing
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [Z]

Cutting, Copying, and Pasting Text

Cut-and-copied items are placed on the Clipboard (a temporary storage location). The most recent item remains on the Clipboard and is inserted into the document when the Paste command is selected.
WARNING: The computer will retain only one cut or copy at a time. If you select Cut and then select another item or items and select Cut or Copy, the first item or group of items will be replaced on the Clipboard by the second group.

Moving Selected Text

1. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
   
2. Select the text you wish to move
   
3. From the Edit menu, select Cut
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [X]
   The selected text is removed from its original location and moved to the Clipboard.
   
4. Place the insertion point where you want the cut text to appear
   
5. From the Edit menu, select Paste
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [V]
   The cut text appears in the new location.
   

Copying Selected Text

1. From the Toolbox, select the Type Tool
   
2. Select the text you wish to copy
   
3. From the Edit menu, select Copy
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [C]
   The selected text remains in its original location and is copied to the Clipboard.
   
4. Place the insertion point where you want the copied text to appear
   
5. From the Edit menu, select Paste
   OR
   Press [Ctrl] + [V]
   The copied text appears in the new location.
   

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