Units keep defaulting to Points

[Orikune]

I'm not sure why, but my units in Illustrator keep defaulting to "Points", when I've never once used points for any form of measurement except type size. I've changed the preferences both in document and restarting Illustrator without opening a file but it keeps setting them to Points. I just want my document print sizes to stay in mm.

[Ton Frederiks]

Usually, the document units from the document you open will set the units and override the preferences setting.

If you create a new document with mm as units or open an old document that certainly has mm units and the units still change, you may try to restart and reset your Preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/setting-preferences.html

[Kai NTP]

Opening a document with mm set as units, never suddenly altets my unit settings to points. But if I am silly enough to open a template that uses points, or receive a file that has the document set as units, for some brainless reason illustrator sets my units to points.
As and added bonus, the newst version of illustator has introduced a nonsicle search function, and if I enter something in it, it alters my units to points.
Not to mention I can no longer use Ctrl+K enter a value and exit to change my keyboard increment. And I cannot disable the search bar... why.. why Adobe.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Kai NTP,

I understand how frustrating this must be. Illustrator takes the units from the document or template you open, which is why they may keep switching back to points if the file was set up that way. To make sure your preferred units stick, try creating and saving a new document preset with millimeters as the default, and use that preset when starting fresh. If units still flip back unexpectedly, resetting Illustrator preferences after backing them up usually clears any conflicts. Reference: https://adobe.ly/3UFNbN8

Regarding the keyboard increment issue, please check out this thread: https://adobe.ly/45Jljgk. It contains the latest updates you can refer to.

Let me know how it goes with the unit assignment.

Abhishek

[Kai NTP]

I would accept it, if opening my template which has mm set as unit in it (I know.. have made several templates). But they do not change the unit as these other templates do. This is not good, and why does the search bar change my units? That I wish to know.

Thank you for showing me the other thread. When will the update that fixes this be pushed out?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Kai NTP,

Thanks for sharing more details. Illustrator currently picks up units either from the template or the document you open, but if you're seeing the switch happen with your own mm-based templates, could you share a screen recording demonstrating the whole workflow. Could you try creating and saving a brand-new preset with millimeters as the default and use that to see if the behavior is any different? 

As for the search bar changing units, please share a screen recording demonstrating it for better understanding.  Regarding your question about when the fix will be pushed out, I don't have a timeline to share right now, but I'll keep this thread updated once there's news.

Looking forward for hearing back. 

Abhishek 

[Orikune]

Sorry for the very late reply to this topic, but it's still ongoing. Ive reset all preferences, re-installed Illustrator but everytime I open the "Print" media tab for presets, they're all still in bloody "points" units.

Again, this is when I go to start a totally new file. No other file has been opened etc.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences and for the detailed follow-ups. Since both of you are still running into units unexpectedly defaulting back to points even after resetting preferences and reinstalling Illustrator, it would really help if you could share a short screen recording that shows the steps where the switch happens. That way I can try to reproduce the behavior on my side and get it checked further with the team. Please also include your Illustrator version and OS details in the recording or reply, so we have the full context.

Looking forward to your updates.

Abhishek

[Ton Frederiks]

There was a problem with the 29.7 version that changed the units to pt in Preferences when (by accident or on purpose) something was entered in the search field. That has been solved in the 29.8 update which is currently becoming available.