Reset Scaling to 100% is grayed out - need to change

[doodler22]

Every time I scale an object, it keeps resetting to 100%. I need to know the % of this object as I'm placing others and I want them to be the same.

In the Transform palette, Reset scaling to 100% is grayed out. I do not want this to keep resetting. I want to know the actual %. What am I doing wrong?

 

[jimoblak]

Use the direct selection tool (the white pointer), and click on the graphic to get the scaled percentage of the art.

 

[apepp]

...resizing with the Selection tool and the Ctrl or Command key changes the frame and the content, but not the scale percentage in the Transform and Control palette. This method works the same way on frames with graphic content, text inside of text frames, and objects in a group...

...to track the percentage change of path dimensions, use the Scale tool or Scale dialog box (double-click the Scale tool) instead of using the Transform or Control palette...

...you can also scale objects in 1% or 5% increments, similar to the way you can nudge an object’s position with the arrow keys. When you use this method to change the dimensions of a path, the Transform and Control palettes report the path’s new height and width as 100%. When you use this method to change the dimensions of a graphic, the Transform palette reports the graphic’s new height and width as a percentage of its original dimension. This lets you easily reset a graphic to 100% at any time, by typing 100% into the graphic’s dimensions in the Transform or Control palette...

Andrew

 

[doodler22]

I must be doing something wrong because when I use the white arrow and type in a percentage that I want to increase my object, the frame increases but not the object, then the number goes back to 100%.

I miss Quark's picture boxes.

Here's what I want to do. I placed a pdf. It came in at 100% which is 8.5 x 11. I want to reduce it to 16%. If I was in Quark, I would click on the picture box with the closed arrow, and type in 16% in the size and wa-la -- my pdf would be 16% of 8.5 x 11. How do I do this same exact thing in InDesign?

 

[apepp]

...the flyout menu in the transform palette has 'transform content' option...

...select you pdf with the black arrow and see what happens when you adjust the scale...

Andrew

 

[apepp]

...when you've resized, click an image with the white arrow and it will show you what scale that image really is...

Andrew

 

[doodler22]

Thank you. That worked. It's still annoying to me, though. I'd still rather see the scale all the time with the black arrow instead of having to click on it with the white arrow.
But that's just me -- old Quark habits die hard (even though I love InD for so many other things!)

 

[apepp]

...yes there is a bit of getting used to how indesign functions with scaling, for tracking percentages indesign really wants you to use the scale tool or transform tool rather than manually using the direct select tool with the key combo...

Andrew