How do I change settings from inches to pixels?

[fuss]

I can't seem where or how to fix this. I'm on the latest verion of Xara Photo & Graphic Designer 7, and for some reason, when I go to create a shape, everything is in inches instead of pixels. It won't let me just type in pixels, it just reverts back to inches and won't change the shape. I am pulling my hair out trying to find the setting or preference. Anyone know where I can change the settings so that things are always in pixels and not inches?

[The Alien]

Under
Utilities > Options
or
File > Page Options
Click the Units tab.

[angelize]

another quicker way if you have the rulers enabled is to right click in the upper right corner where the units are displayed and choose Grid and Ruler options from the dropdown list and go to the units tab

[fuss]

Hi, Alien

That only helps if I have a file open. I don't want to have to go and change the units every time I start a new file. I want the default units to be pixels rather than inches (in the past, my Xara versions have always opened new files automatically in pixels, not inches, so I'm not sure why that's changed now).

For example, I go to create a circle shape. It's doing the shape in inches. So I go into to units and change it to pixels. That works for that file. But it doesn't change the program default. When I go to create a new shape on a new page, it is still doing the shape in inches.

What I need to know is how to set the DEFAULT units to pixels, not inches so I don't have to change them every time manually.

[fuss]

Hi Frances

I'm not sure where you mean. I don't have rulers on very often. I have to manually go in and turn them off. Did that, but I'm not sure where you are talking about this units. It's still displaying in inches and when I go there and manually type in pixels, it still shows in inches.

Can you provide a screenshot of what you are talking about? Does your tip change the program defaults? (Changing individual file units is not what I'm asking about.)

[zaphodeist]

OPen a new page, set to pixels, save as template making sure to click on save as default :-)

[Rik]

Rulers are turned off by default. To turn them on:

• Right click and choose "Show Grid/Guides" > "Show Rulers" to turn display of the grid on/off.

• Press "Ctrl + Shift + R".

• Or select "Window" > "Bars" > "Show Rulers".

I use the CTRL+Shift+R method all the time. Dead easy and very quick and useful.

Hope that helps about the rulers.

About setting the units and keeping them set, I use John's method of setting all my requirements and then saving that as a template - method listed below.

To make your template document:

• Open an existing document ("File" > "Open", or "Ctrl + O") or create a new one with the New button on the Standard control bar or "Ctrl + N".

• Make any required changes (these could be changing the page size, adding a logo or adding a message). You can edit the template document just like an ordinary document.

• When you are happy with the changes choose "File" > "Save Template" and choose a template name.

To make your new template the default template (i.e. which is there when you first open Designer Pro) check the Use as Default Template option when saving the template.

By the way; all of the above is found in the Help section.

[Scotty]

Hi,
it is under Utilities> Option >Units change to whatever you want from list, then set rulers up.
Jim

[fuss]

One more question on this... how do I set my preferences so that when I click on the icon to open a new file, it automatically opens my A4 portrait template. I've got all these other settings working now. But can't figure out how to make it open by default my A4 portrait file where I have them all saved. Am I explaining clearly?

[zaphodeist]

Open the template you've made [or a blank page you want to create a template from] and File>>Save Template>>.... making sure Use as default template is checked ...