Using InDesign's gap tool

With InDesign CS5 you get a lovely new tool, the Gap tool. Basically it allows you to manipulate the gaps between boxes, thereby changing the size of the boxes themselves.

For example, if you layout eight rectangles and, using InDesign’s gap tool, you can change the position of the gaps between each set of frames, whilst the frames resize.

By default, it will move the gap that you have. However you can also…

…use the gap tool between frames and the edge of the page

…by default the gap tool will adjust a whole row/column, unless you hold down the SHIFT key – this will only adjust two frames, and ignore the others. Again it is just moving the gap.

…holding CMD/CTL will make the gap larger/smaller

…holding down CMD/CTL-ALT makes the gap larger/smaller and will move the frames, rather than resize them

However, in a training session a couple of weeks ago, someone asked can you actually specify a gap amount? i.e. 2.3 mm – and try as I might I could not find a way to make a gap an exact size (maybe using guides, but the whole point is to do without guides as much possible). But whilst investigating we came across this…

…Where does the original gap size come from? When you layout a set of frames with the arrow keys (draw a box and then right/up arrow to create more copies), they all have a gap, already set. Where does this come from?

Well it seems to come from the standard gutter setting when creating a new document. When you do File > New > Document, you will notice a gutter set to 4.233 mm, and when you create objects as already noted, the gap is also 4.233 mm.

Changing the gutter when creating a new document also changes the gap between frames when created in the manner described above. So at least you can change the gap setting – but we did not find a way to change the gap numerically.

So if anyone knows how to do this please let me know, or if you know of any other shortcuts when using the gap tool again let me know.