Microsoft KB Archive/38925

Acceptable Units of Measure in Word Format Fields

PSS ID Number: Q38925 Article last modified on 11-02-1994

3.x 4.00 5.00 5.50 6.00

MS-DOS

= SUMMARY =

Word uses preset units of measure (with default values) in many of the fields of the Format Character, Paragraph, Tab, and Division commands. The units of measure include inches, centimeters, pitch, points, and lines. You can enter any of these units in any of the fields that require a size, and Word will convert the measurement to the preset unit. If the field can’t convert the unit of measure, the error message “Not a valid number” will appear in the message line.

Note: In version 6.00 of Microsoft Word, if you change the above unit measure in the Format Character “font size:” field to 2 inches (2“), Word will display the error message”Not a valid number.&quot; All other measurements are the same as in Word version 5.50.

= MORE INFORMATION =

For example, the preset unit of measure in the Format Character “font size:” field is points (pt). If you change the value to one line (1li), Word will convert the measurement to 12 points (after you press the ENTER key). If you change the value to 2 inches (2“), Word will convert the measurement to 88 points. If you change the value to 2 centimeters (2cm), Word will convert the measurement to 56.5 points. If you try to change the value to 12 points (p12), Word will display the error message”Not a valid number.&quot;

Use the following unit abbreviations to specify measurement in the Format command fields requiring sizes:

To Specify the Following: Type the Following: ————————- ——————-

Inches in or &quot;

Centimeters cm

10 Pitch (10 characters per inch) p10

12 Pitch (12 characters per inch) p12

Points pt (72 points equal one inch)

Lines li (1 line equals 12 points or 1/6 of an inch)

All measurements can be decimal fractions. A space is not required between the measurement and the unit abbreviation. For example, Word interprets both 2 cm and 2cm as 2 centimeters.

In Word version 5.50, 6.00, the measurements may be changed in View Preferences (ALT, V, E), Customize (U), Measure (ALT+M).

KBCategory: kbother kberrmsg KBSubcategory: Additional reference words: ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1994.