Formatting Text

The Format Text command modifies multiple text attributes from a single dialog box. Individual attributes also can be changed with various commands on the Text menu, including font, size, font style, alignment, spacing, and capitalization (lower case, UPPER CASE, and Title Caps). All attributes are available on the Object Info palette, as well. Some objects have the ability to select the font formatting while setting the object attributes.

Formatting can be applied to an entire text block or to selected characters and words. If no text is selected, the settings become the defaults for the Text tool.

To quickly apply the same set of text attributes to several objects, set up a text style. You can apply the text style to objects directly, or you can assign the text style to a specific class. See Using Text Styles for details.

● To format the entire text box, select the text object with the Selection tool.

● To format a word, double-click the text object to activate the editing mode; then double-click anywhere within the word to highlight it.

● To format a line, double-click the text object to activate the editing mode; then triple-click anywhere within the line to highlight it.

● To format a section of the text, double-click the text object to activate the editing mode; then highlight the desired text by dragging over it.

● Select Text > Format Text. Alternatively, right-click (Windows) or Ctrl-click (Mac) the text, and select Format Text from the context menu. The Format Text dialog box opens.

Parameter	Description
Style	Displays the style of the currently selected item(s). If multiple items with different styles are selected, <Un-Styled> is selected. Select a style from the list; the remaining parameters change to match the settings for that style. If you change any of the other parameters after selecting a style, the style reverts to <Un-Styled>.
Save	Opens the Assign Name dialog box to save the current settings as a new style. Enter a name for the style and click OK. The new style is automatically assigned the current solid pen and fill color that are set as the default for new objects in the Attributes palette.
Font	Displays the font of the currently selected item(s) and lists all available, installed fonts. This field is blank when multiple items with different fonts are selected. Select a font from the list, or type the first letter(s) of the desired font to highlight the closest match in the list.
Size	Displays the size and unit measurement (points, millimeters, or inches) of the currently selected item(s). This field is blank when multiple items with different size/unit measurement are selected. Enter a size and select a unit measurement (points, millimeters, or inches).
Spacing	Displays the line spacing of the currently selected item(s). If multiple items with different spacing are selected, Other is selected. Select one of the standard spacing options, or select Other and specify a size and unit measurement (points, millimeters, or inches) of your own.
Font Style	Displays the font style of the currently selected item(s). If multiple items are selected and they have different settings for a particular style, the selection box displays an indeterminate state: (Windows) or (Mac). Specify the desired options. Outline and Shadow options are available for Mac only. Superscript and Subscript are disabled when the entire text block is selected.
Alignment	Displays the alignment of the currently selected item(s). If multiple items with different alignments are selected, the Alignment fields are blank. Specify the horizontal and vertical alignment.
Preview	Previews text font, size, and style

Recent Font List

Recently used fonts are stored for quick access. When you select Text > Font, the eight most recently used fonts display at the top of the font list (with the most recent font listed first), followed by an alphabetical list of all available fonts. In addition, when the Object Info palette contains a Font field, the top of the drop-down list is populated with the eight most recently used fonts, followed by an alphabetical list of the available fonts. Fonts changes made within the Format Text dialog box or Object Info palette also update the recent font list.

Transferring Formats with the Eyedropper Tool

Use the Eyedropper tool to quickly copy text formats from one text object and apply them to another object. See Transferring Attributes.

Formatting Text

Parameter

Description

Recent Font List

Transferring Formats with the Eyedropper Tool