Measurement units of gridPreferences

[Guest]

Hi,

how can I unify the measurement units of preferences. For example: I want to know the amount of space between baseline grid lines. This works:

  var grid = app.activeDoucument.gridPreferences.baselineDivision;

However, in InDesign the value is 14.4Pt, but the script tells me: grid = 5.08. I don't know what unit this is supposed to be, but is there a way to get the pt-value?

Thanks for your help.

[Peter Kahrel]

// remember the current preferences

var docPrefs = app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.properties;

// set the document's units to points

doc.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points;

// get your grid value

var grid = app.activeDocument.gridPreferences.baselineDivision;

// resore the document's view preferences

app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.properties = docPrefs;

Peter

[Guest]

Oh, so this affects all preferences. Thanks.

But why are for example the measurement units used in paragraph styles unaffected. And out of curiosity, how would I change these measurement units?

[John Hawkinson]

Some items are always measured in points, especially those related to type.

14.4 points == 0.20 inches == 5.08 mm

[Jongware]

John Hawkinson wrote:

Some items are always measured in points, especially those related to type.

Except that you can always override them, if you really want:

app.selection[0].pointSize = "5mm";

(If you were expecting this to set the size of some selected text to 5 mm, well ... you are correct. But you'll have to think about the meaning of 'point size' in typography: the size of a period? a capital 'X'? a digit? the width of a lowercase 'm'? (Answer: none of the above!))

[John Hawkinson]

Some items are always measured in points, especially those related to type.

Except that you can always override them, if you really want:

app.selection[0].pointSize = "5mm";

Sure, but it's always measured in points. I you set the default units, or even if you set it that way once, if you ask ID what it is, it will tell you in points:

>> app.selection[0].pointSize="5mm"
5mm

>> app.selection[0].pointSize
14.1732283464567

[milligramme]

if version CS5 or later

app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = MeasurementUnits.POINTS;

//// The measurement unit used during script processing.

// do something

// revert setting

app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = AutoEnum.AUTO_VALUE;

can use

here is sample code => http://www.milligramme.cc/wp/archives/3895

mg.