There are tools in the toolbox for selecting, editing, and creating page elements. Other tools are for choosing type, shapes, lines, and gradients. You can change the overall layout of the toolbox to fit your preferred window and palette layout.

By default, the toolbox appears as two vertical columns of tools (shown left).

You can also set it up as a single vertical column (right) or as one horizontal row (above). You can't change the order of individual tools in the toolbox.

• To change the toolbox layout in Windows double-click the dark blue title bar.
  
  
• On Mac OS click the zoom box in the upper right corner of the toolbox. Repeat until you have the layout that you want. This is a problem once you have the narrow layout shown right as the zoom box may disappear... solve this by selecting preferences from the InDesign menu and choosing from the Tools Palette drop down menu.

• Select a tool by clicking it once. 
  
  
• To move the toolbox drag the toolbox by the title bar.
  
  
• To display the toolbox choose from the menu Window > Tools.

The toolbox also contains several hidden tools indicated by triangles on the lower right of the tool icons. Select a hidden tool by holding down the mouse button on the current tool in the toolbox and then selecting the tool that you want from the 'flyout' menu.

All tool shortcuts are listed on the Adobe InDesign Quick Reference Card and tool tips.