InDesign: Deselecting the selection tool

Most people are aware that when using InDesign all you have to do is hit the 'v' key when you are in (almost) any other tool and you will find yourself back in the Selection tool.

This is great, and something that should become instinctive if you have been using InDesign for any amount of time. A major problem occurs, however, if you happen to be inside a text box when you hit the 'v' key. If you do this, you end up typing a 'v' into the text.

In years gone by I would get over this problem by hitting Command-Shift-A (Control-Shift-A on the PC) and this would deselect the text box, allowing me to then hit the 'v' key in safety. Nowadays, however I have a better solution:

Navigate to InDesign's Edit menu and select Keyboard Shortcuts. Under Product Area select Tools and find the Selection Tool in the list below. Under 'Context' choose 'Text' then insert your cursor into the New Shortcut field and hit 'Escape'. Hit Assign and then click 'OK'.



Simple, I know. But from now on whenever you happen to be inside a text box and need a quick exit just hit the Escape key and you're back in the Selection tool.

It's a big time-saver.