Group:  Microsoft Word ยป microsoft.public.word.newusers
Thread: Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?

Geek News

Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?
"Peter Rooney" <magnetix[ at ]ix.netcom.com> 12/2/2008 5:22:48 AM
(Word 2003) The ruler is measured in inches, which are divided into 8 parts:
for halves, quarters, and eighths.
Instead of this, I would like the ruler divided into 1/10s of an inch. Then
I could set line length to be exact, by pulling in the right margin, and set
exact indents and hanging indents. As it is, I have to approximate: I can't
make a line of 3.7 inches, the closest I can come to it is 3.75 inches.
Is there some setting that would accomplish what I want?

(P.S. I know the ruler can be measured in centimeters, points, or picas, but
I don't see how that would help)


RE: Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?
Luc 12/2/2008 8:23:01 AM
Peter,
Hmm, my first answer does not seem to show up. If this is a repeat, please
forgive.
I know of no way to change the measurements on the ruler to tenths of an inch.
On the other hand you can set an indent or a margin to an exact setting by
Alt+dragging in the ruler, the exact measurement will appear whilst dragging.
It will take some effort but you can set it to the measurement you need.
Also if you set the indent or margin in the menu you can type in an exact
measurement.
If i misunderstood your question I am sure someone else will set me straight.
Luc Sanders
MVP - PowerPoint
"Peter Rooney" wrote:

[Quoted Text]
> (Word 2003) The ruler is measured in inches, which are divided into 8 parts:
> for halves, quarters, and eighths.
> Instead of this, I would like the ruler divided into 1/10s of an inch. Then
> I could set line length to be exact, by pulling in the right margin, and set
> exact indents and hanging indents. As it is, I have to approximate: I can't
> make a line of 3.7 inches, the closest I can come to it is 3.75 inches.
> Is there some setting that would accomplish what I want?
>
> (P.S. I know the ruler can be measured in centimeters, points, or picas, but
> I don't see how that would help)
>
>
>
Re: Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?
"Terry Farrell" <terryfarrell[ at ]msn.com> 12/2/2008 9:56:07 AM
No way at all. Back in the days before decimalisation was forced on us,
rulers often came with inches in tenths along one side of the ruler and
inches in eights and sixteenths along the other side. Now we get centimetres
instead of inches in tenths. It does seem surprising that the ruler hasn't
followed the modern trend for decimals though <go>

However, you can draw a line any length you want using most common
measurements (inches, centimeters, millimeters, points and picas). Draw the
line approximately the length required then right-click on the line and
select Format. In the Size tab, type in the width of line you need. If you
want to use non-default measurements, just add the correct abbreviation for
the units. So you can type in 1.7 in or 4.318 cm and you will get the exact
line you need.

--
Terry Farrell - MSWord MVP

"Peter Rooney" <magnetix[ at ]ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
news:2-idnfxaw7eZWqnUnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com...
[Quoted Text]
> (Word 2003) The ruler is measured in inches, which are divided into 8
> parts: for halves, quarters, and eighths.
> Instead of this, I would like the ruler divided into 1/10s of an inch.
> Then I could set line length to be exact, by pulling in the right margin,
> and set exact indents and hanging indents. As it is, I have to
> approximate: I can't make a line of 3.7 inches, the closest I can come to
> it is 3.75 inches.
> Is there some setting that would accomplish what I want?
>
> (P.S. I know the ruler can be measured in centimeters, points, or picas,
> but I don't see how that would help)
>
>

Re: Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?
"Jay Freedman" <jay.freedman[ at ]verizon.net> 12/2/2008 3:22:04 PM
In addition, you can improve the accuracy of the "approximate" length by
adjusting the drawing grid.

On the Drawing toolbar, click Draw > Grid. In the dialog, set the horizontal
and vertical spacing to 0.1", and confirm that "Snap objects to grid" is
checked. That won't change the markings on the ruler, but any lines or
AutoShapes that you draw will start and end on 0.1" increments unless you
hold the Alt key while drawing. (The grid can also be made visible by
checking the appropriate box in the Grid dialog.)

--
Regards,
Jay Freedman
Microsoft Word MVP FAQ: http://word.mvps.org
Email cannot be acknowledged; please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup so
all may benefit.

Terry Farrell wrote:
[Quoted Text]
> No way at all. Back in the days before decimalisation was forced on
> us, rulers often came with inches in tenths along one side of the
> ruler and inches in eights and sixteenths along the other side. Now
> we get centimetres instead of inches in tenths. It does seem
> surprising that the ruler hasn't followed the modern trend for
> decimals though <go>
> However, you can draw a line any length you want using most common
> measurements (inches, centimeters, millimeters, points and picas).
> Draw the line approximately the length required then right-click on
> the line and select Format. In the Size tab, type in the width of
> line you need. If you want to use non-default measurements, just add
> the correct abbreviation for the units. So you can type in 1.7 in or
> 4.318 cm and you will get the exact line you need.
>
>
> "Peter Rooney" <magnetix[ at ]ix.netcom.com> wrote in message
> news:2-idnfxaw7eZWqnUnZ2dnUVZ_jWdnZ2d[ at ]earthlink.com...
>> (Word 2003) The ruler is measured in inches, which are divided into 8
>> parts: for halves, quarters, and eighths.
>> Instead of this, I would like the ruler divided into 1/10s of an
>> inch. Then I could set line length to be exact, by pulling in the
>> right margin, and set exact indents and hanging indents. As it is, I
>> have to approximate: I can't make a line of 3.7 inches, the closest
>> I can come to it is 3.75 inches.
>> Is there some setting that would accomplish what I want?
>>
>> (P.S. I know the ruler can be measured in centimeters, points, or
>> picas, but I don't see how that would help)


Re: Can ruler be marked off in tenths of inch?
"Peter Rooney" <magnetix[ at ]ix.netcom.com> 12/3/2008 5:40:57 AM
These are good suggestions. I didn't know about ALT+Drag - it's hard to read
the figures, though; so I think it's better to use the Format-Paragraph or
Format-Tab menus where possible. Using ALT-Drag, you can drag a tab so that
it lines up with text columns in the document. I am working with
nonproportional fonts, like Lucida Console. Each character occupies 1/10 of
an inch, so the tabs and hanging indent can be lined up with the column you
want.
It's interesting to know how to size a drawn line, although that's not what
I'm doing.
Thanks, all.

"Luc" <Luc[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:5430E044-B1F1-4611-8E23-7D5F7526A11F[ at ]microsoft.com...
[Quoted Text]
> Peter,
> Hmm, my first answer does not seem to show up. If this is a repeat, please
> forgive.
> I know of no way to change the measurements on the ruler to tenths of an
> inch.
> On the other hand you can set an indent or a margin to an exact setting by
> Alt+dragging in the ruler, the exact measurement will appear whilst
> dragging.
> It will take some effort but you can set it to the measurement you need.
> Also if you set the indent or margin in the menu you can type in an exact
> measurement.
> If i misunderstood your question I am sure someone else will set me
> straight.
> Luc Sanders
> MVP - PowerPoint
> "Peter Rooney" wrote:
>
>> (Word 2003) The ruler is measured in inches, which are divided into 8
>> parts:
>> for halves, quarters, and eighths.
>> Instead of this, I would like the ruler divided into 1/10s of an inch.
>> Then
>> I could set line length to be exact, by pulling in the right margin, and
>> set
>> exact indents and hanging indents. As it is, I have to approximate: I
>> can't
>> make a line of 3.7 inches, the closest I can come to it is 3.75 inches.
>> Is there some setting that would accomplish what I want?
>>
>> (P.S. I know the ruler can be measured in centimeters, points, or picas,
>> but
>> I don't see how that would help)
>>
>>
>>


Home | Search | Terms | Imprint Contact
Newsgroups Reader - provided by WiredBox.Net