Creation of text frames

In program InDesign the text is allocated in the objects named frames.

To other objects you can similarly change the size or the form of text frames (In more details about creation of objects and operation with them sm in chapter 4)

To create the text frame by means of the tool Round:

  1. Click on the tool Round (Text) on a toolbar (fig. 3.1).
  2. Move the cursor on page. The cursor becomes the tool Round (fig. 3.2).
  3. Dragging the mouse on a diagonal, create the frame (fig. 3.3).

    4. The frame beginning is the horizontal line intersecting the cursor of the text frame

  4. Release the mouse button. On the screen there will be a frame with the text cursor specifying that in the frame it is possible to type the text.

The tool Round always creates square-topped frames. To receive frames of other form, you can use tools for creation of other geometrical figures.

Tools for creation of geometrical figures allow to set the exact sizes of the frame

Creation of the frame of the oval form

  1. Click on tool Ellipse (Ellipse) on a toolbar (fig. 3.4).
  2. Draw an oval, dragging the mouse on a diagonal (fig. 3.5)
  3. When the oval reaches the necessary size, release the mouse button.

Fig. 3.1. For operation with the text select the tool Round on a toolbar

Fig. 3.2. The cursor of the text frame

Fig. 3.3. To create the text frame, drag tool Ture on a diagonal

Fig. 3.4. Tool Ellipse on a toolbar

Fig. 3.5. To create an oval, drag the mouse on a diagonal

Fig. 3.6. Tool Polygon on a toolbar

Fig. 3.7. By means of dialog box Polygon: Settings it is possible to change the form and to set an amount of the sides of a polygon

Fig. 3.8 to create a polygon or a star, drag the mouse on a diagonal

Empty frames

By means of tools Ellipse, Polygon and Rectangle there are empty frames. It means that they do not contain neither the text, nor images. However let this title does not frighten you. Actually has no value, whether the frame is empty or not.

You can transform the empty frame in text or graphic.

Tool Polygon (Polygon) allows to draw stars, and also normal polygons.

Creation of the polygonal frame

  1. Select tool Polygon double click on a toolbar (рислЗ.6). On the screen there will be dialog box Polygon Settings (Polygon) - fig. 3.7.
  2. Enter value in the field Number of Sides (Number of the sides).
  3. Leave field value Star Inset (Depth of rays) equal 0 %. At magnification of value of the given field the star (the following section see) turns out.
  4. To create a polygon, drag the mouse on a diagonal (fig. 3.8).

    5. In the course of figure drawing push keys with upward facing arrows and downwards for magnification or reduction of an amount of the sides of a polygon

  5. At achievement of the necessary size of a figure release the mouse button.

Creation of the frame in the form of a star

  1. Mouse double click on a toolbar open dialog box Polygon Settings (fig. 3.7).
  2. Set an amount of rays in the field Number of Sides.
  3. Enter value in the field Star Inset. The more this value, the there will be star rays more sharply.
  4. Drag the mouse on a diagonal to draw a star (fig. 3.8). In the course of figure drawing push keys with upward facing arrows and downwards for magnification or reduction of an amount of rays of a polygon.
  5. When the figure appears the necessary size, release the mouse button.

In the course of figure drawing push keys with left arrows and to the right for change of length and width of a ray of a star.

Square-topped figures form by means of tool Rectangle (Rectangle).

Creation of the square-topped frame

  1. Click on tool Rectangle on a toolbar (fig. 3.9).
  2. Drag the mouse on a diagonal to draw a rectangle (fig. 3.10).
  3. When the figure reaches the necessary size, release the mouse button.

Tools of creation Oval and squared allow to set the size of the frame.

Choice of the size of the frame

  1. Select tool Ellipse or Rectangle on a toolbar.
  2. Install the cursor in a place where want to create the frame.
  3. Click the mouse. On the screen there will be a dialog box (fig. 3.11).
  4. Set width and frame height in fields Width (Width) and Height (Height).
  5. Push APPRX. After that the frame will be created, the left which upper corner is in a place specified by you.

Fig. 3.9. Tool Rectangle on a toolbar

Fig. 3.10. To draw a rectangle, drag the mouse on a diagonal

Retain pushed key Opt/Alt, clicking the mouse to make the given point a central point of the frame.

Fig. 3.11. In dialog boxes Ellipse and Rectangle it is possible to set width and frame height

Councils about creation of frames

There are some variants of keyboard shortcuts which can be used at creation of frames:

  • Retain pushed SHIFT key to draw a square, a circle or an equipotential polygon;
  • Retain pushed key Opt/Alt to draw the frame from center;
  • Retain pushed a gap key to change position of the frame in the course of drawing.

Fig. 3.12. The overflow character specifies that the text part in the frame is invisible

Any of created by means of tools Ellipse, Polygon or Rectangle frames can be transformed in text the frame.

Conversion of the empty frame

  1. Select the frame which want to transform.
  2. Select the tool Round (Text) and click in the frame.

    Or

    Execute commands Object-> Content-> Text (the Element-> Contents-> the Text). There will be the text cursor meaning that you can enter the text.