Selecting text

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Editing and formatting text > Selecting text

Selecting text

You must select text before you can edit it.

To select text:

In Browse mode or Find mode, position the pointer over any selectable text.

In Layout mode, use the selection tool

Selection tool

to manipulate a block of text as if it were an object. For example, copy or move it, change fonts, or resize it (which changes the margins of the text). When a text block is selected with the selection tool, typing replaces the text in the text block.

In Layout mode, use the text tool

Text tool

from the tool panel to edit text. You can also double-click a text block with the selection tool to edit the text.

Text selection example

To select

Do this with the I-beam pointer

Individual characters

Drag through the characters

A word

Double-click the word

A line of text

Triple-click anywhere in the line

A paragraph

Click four times anywhere in the paragraph

An entire block of text

Click five times anywhere in the block or choose Edit menu > Select All

Nothing, just place the insertion point

Click once

Related topics

Entering and changing data in fields

Formatting text in Browse mode

Selecting and working with objects on a layout

Working with the layout tools

Contents > Adding and viewing data > Editing and formatting text > Selecting text