Keyboard shortcuts are a big time saver! And when I say big, I mean BIG! 😀 I love shortcuts, and by time, they become part of you, and your everyday workflow! But! It’s becoming difficult to remember all shortcuts when you use more than one program, and I know you do! So, I decided to create nice little interactive shortcuts guide and to be even better, I wanted to use just InDesign‘s interactive features!
It was quite a challenge for me even though I knew how to use InDesign and InDesign‘s interactive features. I know, it sounds crazy, but InDesign is really awesome for creating interactive content too! To be honest, I was quite skeptic about interactivity inside such awesome typographic software, but I’m really blown away! Flash is powerful, and you can do a way more and have much more control, but InDesign is just simple and effective! Here are few screen shots that were made from finished InDesign layout before exporting.
So, you might be wondering how this is really created. Here is short outline of workflow I’ve used to create this interactive guide. Remember, I’ve used just InDesign!
- Collect all shortcuts PC and Mac
- Create InDesign Keyboard Layout
- Create Object Styles for Normal/Over/Click keys
- Input all shortcuts to tables (every key to separate page)
- Merge shortcuts page to Multi-State Object with script
- Assign every key to Multi-State Object state
- Export to SWF
I think there is no need to explain how to use this guide. 🙂 Simply start it and explore! In case you still need some help, there is short Quick Start Guide. 🙂
That’s it! I hope that you will find this guide useful and helpful! Please, if you have any suggestions, feedback, and even if you find errors, do not hesitate to send me an email!
If you want to put direct link to
Interactive Shortcuts Guide from your blog or website,
PLEASE use original bit.ly URL!http://webarena.rs/InDesignShortcutsGuide/
THANK YOU!
February 15th, 2011 at 09:35
Nice, but you need to have an English keyboard layout for it. Other languages have other keys in important places on the keyboard.
February 15th, 2011 at 13:17
Thanks!
Yes, I understand that, and thanks for suggestion! Maybe in some future versions 🙂
February 15th, 2011 at 14:28
Excellent work Marijan! It’s really amazing how far you were able to take the interactive features of InDesign. It’s a powerful testimony of the power of InDesign … as well as your own talents! 🙂
February 15th, 2011 at 18:33
Thank you Harbs!
As I said, I was really surprised how far interactivity can go inside InDesign! I can’t compare it to Flash, but it’s really easy to use and you can do astonishing works! 🙂
February 15th, 2011 at 16:00
Marijan,
Great idea. Nice job!
Do you mind if I put a note and a link in my brazilian portuguese blog? Here is the direction: http://indesignbrasil.blogspot.com/
February 15th, 2011 at 18:35
Hi Vitor!
Sure you can put a link on your blog! It would be my honor! You don’t have to link to this post, but please use bit.ly link (http://bit.ly/InDesignShortcutsGuide).
Thank you!
February 15th, 2011 at 18:11
Great, great, great !
Thanks !
February 15th, 2011 at 18:35
Thanks Pat!
I hope you find it useful!
Greetings!
February 17th, 2011 at 15:07
[…] View original post. shortcuts […]
February 22nd, 2011 at 00:51
Awesome guide! Any chance you will be posting the ID files so we can see how it was done?
February 28th, 2011 at 20:30
Thanks Stephan!
I have to think about it 😀 Maybe I’ll do few posts about techniques used to achieve certain effects 🙂
March 2nd, 2011 at 20:50
Link was down today for few hours! I had to move it to new place!
This is new link:
http://webarena.rs/InDesignShortcutsGuide/
Sorry for inconvenience!
March 10th, 2011 at 17:26
Well done!
I added the link to my website with the URL you suggested.
If you make any other versions or a detailed tutorial consider putting up a donations button.
Regards,
Kirsten
March 10th, 2011 at 20:39
Thank you Kirsten!
I’m planing to do few posts about techniques I’ve used to create this guide 🙂 Unfortunately, I can’t put donations button, because Serbia doesn’t have PayPal yet 😦 but, if you want to donate, you can do it here: http://www.gofundme.com/MarijanTompa
Thank you!
March 16th, 2011 at 03:31
incredible! Thank you!
March 19th, 2011 at 03:16
Amazing… simply amazing!
July 8th, 2011 at 00:49
Marijan,
I’m a trainer, mostly core Adobe CS Premium apps. I tend to collect links as I come by them and share with students. Well today a student shared your interactive ID shortcuts with me and I have to say, it’s one of the best interfaces for kb shortcuts I’ve seen. I will use it for sure, and share it with students, not to mention when I present next Thursday at Portland IDUG. Great work! And I’ve got my fingers crossed that maybe you or someone else will do the same thing for AI, PS, etc.. I imagine it’s quite a job.
Rick
August 26th, 2011 at 16:19
Thanks for the tips. I found it very useful and so very helpful. I am a student and these guidelines have really been a lifesaver!