Another basic: picas?

[gcaluna13]

How do I switch?
and... for the overall document?

and what does the 8 & 6 in 8pica6 represent?

 

[eugenetyson]

You can switch measurements by opening up the ruler, if not already open, CTRL R or CMD R to toggle it.

Then click on the left ruler with the CTRL on a mac or right click on the pc. You can change to any unit system. But this will only work for the open document.

If you want it to be for all documents. With no documents open, go to Edit Preferences, Units and Rulers and set them there. Restart InDesign. You're done.

Pica is a unit of measurement.

1 pica is equal to 12 pt, and there are roughly 72 pts to the inch.

So 1 pica = 12pt, 8 pica = 96pts

the rest of it 8 pica 6, the 6 represents the pts.

So the overall measurement is 8p6 = 96pts + 6pts which = 112 pts.

1 pica = 12pts

6pica = 72 pts

72 pts = 1 inch

1 inch = 25.4 mm

 

[gcaluna13]

Thanks Eugene.

Once again a wellspring of information

 

[bigdany]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pica_(unit_of_measure)

;-)