Save time by dragging files to an empty frame in InDesign

Did you know that you can drag a graphic, photo, PDF or text file onto an empty frame in Adobe InDesign from the OSX Finder or Adobe Bridge and InDesign will fill that frame with the file you dragged. Not only does this feature save you the time of sizing the placed item once it’s in your document (because you already have that frame sized correctly, right?), but it can save you dozens of clicks in a navigation box if you already have the folder with those graphics and text files open in the Finder. You can also drag files from the Finder to InDesign without having an empty frame in your document, but InDesign just places them at 100% size in your document. This option is great if you don’t know where exactly you’re going to place the images just yet or what size you’re going to make them, but you want to see what they look like for comparison in your layout.

Related posts:

1. InDesign text frame options keyboard shortcuts
2. Sizing a frame to fit content in InDesign
3. Center and fill graphics in an InDesign frame
4. Quick text frame linking in InDesign
5. Drag instead of “Place” files into InDesign