InDesign The Tools panel

Get familiar with the Tools panel Selection Tool (V, Escape)
in InDesign. Go to Window >
Direct Selection Tool (A)
Tools if not shown by default.
Page Tool (Shift+P)
The Tools panel lists all the Gap Tool (U)
available tools for selecting content,
drawing and typing, transforming
elements, modifying colour and Content Collector Tool (B)
navigating your document. Content Placer Tool

The most commonly used tools are

visible immeditately on the panel,
Type Tool (T)
but other tools will be hidden in
Type on a Path Tool (Shift+T)
drop-down menus behind other
tool icons.
Line Tool (\) Pen Tool (P)
Simply click the small black arrow
Add Anchor Point (=)
at the bottom right corner of the
Delete Anchor Point (-)
icon to open the menu. Pencil Tool (N)
Convert Direction Point Tool (Shift+C)
Smooth Tool
This couple of pages shows the Erase Tool
Rectangle Frame Tool (F)
main tools and their keyboard Ellipse Frame Tool
shortcuts. Rectangle Tool (M) Polygon Frame Tool
Ellipse Tool (L)
Polygon Tool

Cheat Sheets IDS

InDesign The Tools panel

Free Transform Tool (E)

Rotate Tool (R)
Scissors Tool (C)
Scale Tool (S)
Shear Tool (O)

Gradient Feather Tool (Shift+G)

Gradient Swatch Tool (G)
Scissors Tool (C)

Eyedropper Tool (I) Note Tool

Measure Tool (K)

Hand Tool (H)

Zoom Tool (Z)

Swap Fill and Stroke (X)

Switch between Normal

and Preview View Modes (W)

InDesignSkills