How to change default units indesign new document

my new document does this no matter what. i hit ctrl+n for new, it opens new document window, the first option is always custom (top/left) corner, 612px X 792px. nothing changes this it seems. have done what was said here, over and over.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/10917259#M175066 Feb 11, 2020 Feb 11, 2020

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Close all documents. Change the value From InDesign Preferences, Units and Increments.

You have to do this with no documents open at all to make it default.

Older documents you already had, there you have to change it once and then save the document

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12881897#M473840 Apr 15, 2022 Apr 15, 2022

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THANK YOU! I wish I had looked this up sooner. My annoyance level with this had topped out!

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/13751402#M524784 Apr 25, 2023 Apr 25, 2023

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12897897#M474583 Apr 22, 2022 Apr 22, 2022

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12951981#M477847 May 18, 2022 May 18, 2022

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Thank you thank you thank you - was driving me nuts.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/13896626#M531779 Jun 27, 2023 Jun 27, 2023

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my new document does this no matter what. i hit ctrl+n for new, it opens new document window, the first option is always custom (top/left) corner, 612px X 792px. nothing changes this it seems. have done what was said here, over and over.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/13896815#M531791 Jun 27, 2023 Jun 27, 2023

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There are menu options at the top of the New Document dialog box for determining the intent and the last used/saved InDesign documents on your system.

If your option in the menu options is for Web or Mobile , the first document will show in pixels no matter what you've set for your measurement units. Similarly, if the last document you used and/or created/saved was set for Web or Mobile intent, the first document would be in pixels for the default 72ppi describing an 8½" x 11" page.

With no documents open, try switching your Units &Increments ruler settings in Preferences to Inches or Millimeters , then click OK . Then go to your File>New>Document menu command, click on the Print menu option at the top of the dialog box and that should get you the results you're looking for.

Hope this helps,

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/10917273#M175069 Feb 11, 2020 Feb 11, 2020

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OMG. That was ridiculously easy. Thank you--it was driving me nuts having to change the units every single time.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/11691367#M408359 Dec 18, 2020 Dec 18, 2020

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This is how a lot of defaults work in InDesign. Change something when an object is selected and you change the attribute on that object. Change something when no object is selected and you make that the defult for all new objects in that InDesign document. Change something when no document is open and you make that the default for new objects in all new documnets created on that computer.

Whenever I install a new copy of InDesign or set up a new computer I set the defaults to what I want. eg. type size and leading incrments to 1 point instead of 2 and tracking/kerning to 5 units instead of 20 (which honestly should be the defaults out of the can).

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12897901#M474584 Apr 22, 2022 Apr 22, 2022

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That info could be easier to find.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12995008#M480345 Jun 09, 2022 Jun 09, 2022

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I agree with Scott and wanted to add, you open your workspace without any documents open and create presets for your default paragaraph style to change it from Minion Pro. You can set default GREP styles in that style, default object styles, swatches, character styles, etc.

Additionally, I will also transfer workspaces and keyboard shortcuts on the backend when setting up a new computer. I only know how to on Windows, but it can be done through Adobe Roaming App Data and/or Program Files and copying existing files over. This is true of all Adobe software. For example, I have a different Adobe account for work and for home, so it's an essential step to try to syncronize settings. I think Adobe tried to do this, but it didn't work very well. My backend solution has worked for a decade.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/11079163#M183798 Apr 25, 2020 Apr 25, 2020

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Thank you soo much! This has been driving me nuts for years now. :grimacing_face::upside_down_face:

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/11690659#M408328 Dec 18, 2020 Dec 18, 2020

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Heck YES! THANK YOU.

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/t5/indesign-discussions/change-the-default-units-permanently/m-p/12163469#M436177 Jul 07, 2021 Jul 07, 2021

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Thank you this has been driving me nuts!