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VBA: Convert centimeters, inches & pixels to points

VBA Code Snippets

It is frustrating that Excel, PowerPoint and Word work natively using a measurement known as points.  However, measurements within the standard application menus are set in centimeters or inches.  This can be seen when setting the position and size of a shape in PowerPoint through the standard menus.

PowerPoint measures in Cms
Measurements in standard menus are in Centimeters

Yet, when using a macro to retrieve the position of that same shape, it displays the value in points.

PowerPoint measures in Points
Measurements for VBA are in Points

Below is the PowerPoint VBA Code to show the dimensions of the active shape:

Sub getShapeSizes()

Dim msgText As String
msgText = "Top: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Top & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Left: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Left & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Height: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Height & vbNewLine
msgText = msgText & "Width: " & ActiveWindow.Selection.ShapeRange.Width & vbNewLine

MsgBox msgText

End Sub

Whether the displayed measurements are in centimeters or inches is set through the Control Panel for PowerPoint.  For Excel, the default is also set through the Control panel, but this can be changed to be non-default within the Excel options. File -> Options -> Advanced -> Display -> Ruler Units.

Change Excel Unit of Measure

Converting from Inches or Centimeters to Points

Converting from inches or centimeters into points is reasonably straightforward, as there are 72 points to an inch or 28.35 points to a centimeter (rounded to 2 decimal places).  Microsoft has provided two useful VBA function to make this conversion

Convert from Inches to Points

Dim valueInches As Double
Dim valuePoints As Double
valueInches = 25
valuePoints = Application.InchesToPoints(valueInches)
Debug.Print valuePoints

Convert from Centimeters to Points

Dim valueCentimeters As Double
Dim valuePoints As Double
valueCentimeters = 25
valuePoints = Application.CentimetersToPoints(valueCentimeters)
Debug.Print valuePoints

Convert from Points to Centimeters

Dim valuePoints As Double
Dim valueCentimeters As Double
valuePoints = 50
valueCentimeters = valuePoints / Application.CentimetersToPoints(1)
Debug.Print valueCentimeters

Convert from Points to Inches

Dim valuePoints As Double
Dim valueInches As Double
valuePoints = 700
valueInches = valuePoints / Application.InchesToPoints(1)
Debug.Print valueInches

Converting from Points to Pixels

What about Pixels?  Whilst Pixels may seem to be an understandable unit of measure for the purposes of controlling positions of objects, it’s not as useful as you might expect.

The number of pixels will depend on a variety of factors, such as screen resolution used for each monitor.  However, if you are desperate to convert points to pixels the following VBA code could be used.

Dim valuePoints As Long
Dim valuePixels As Long
valuePoints = 500
valuePixels = Application.ActiveWindow.PointsToScreenPixelsX(valuePoints)
Debug.Print "X axis Pixels: " & valuePixels
valuePixels = Application.ActiveWindow.PointsToScreenPixelsY(valuePoints)
Debug.Print "Y axis Pixels: " & valuePixels

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About the author

Hey, I’m Mark, and I run Excel Off The Grid.

My parents tell me that at the age of 7 I declared I was going to become a qualified accountant. I was either psychic or had no imagination, as that is exactly what happened. However, it wasn't until I was 35 that my journey really began.

In 2015, I started a new job, for which I was regularly working after 10pm. As a result, I rarely saw my children during the week. So, I started searching for the secrets to automating Excel. I discovered that by building a small number of simple tools, I could combine them together in different ways to automate nearly all my regular tasks. This meant I could work less hours (and I got pay raises!). Today, I teach these techniques to other professionals in our training program so they too can spend less time at work (and more time with their children and doing the things they love).


Do you need help adapting this post to your needs?

I'm guessing the examples in this post don't exactly match your situation. We all use Excel differently, so it's impossible to write a post that will meet everybody's needs. By taking the time to understand the techniques and principles in this post (and elsewhere on this site), you should be able to adapt it to your needs.

But, if you're still struggling you should:

  1. Read other blogs, or watch YouTube videos on the same topic. You will benefit much more by discovering your own solutions.
  2. Ask the 'Excel Ninja' in your office. It's amazing what things other people know.
  3. Ask a question in a forum like Mr Excel, or the Microsoft Answers Community. Remember, the people on these forums are generally giving their time for free. So take care to craft your question, make sure it's clear and concise.  List all the things you've tried, and provide screenshots, code segments and example workbooks.
  4. Use Excel Rescue, who are my consultancy partner. They help by providing solutions to smaller Excel problems.

What next?
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3 thoughts on “VBA: Convert centimeters, inches & pixels to points

  1. Imre says:

    It’s very good to know this both functions: Application.ActiveWindow.PointsToScreenPixelsX and
    Application.ActiveWindow.PointsToScreenPixelsX

    Is there a list of the character length in points? Lower and Upper case ?

    I would be glad. I would be able to count the position of the strings on the screen. If I want to position them for example centralised, or I want to create a “table” from strings. That means they should begin under each other on the same position.

    • Excel Off The Grid says:

      I’m not aware of any list of character sizes. Each font will have different sizes of characters, so it would be difficult (unless you’re using a monospaced font like Courier, which are all the same size). Plus there are settings such size and bold/italic, which would also change the character size.

  2. Sifar says:

    Hi,

    My question is very simple.
    Is there a way to determine for Powerpoint 2016 Prof (or for any Powerpoint version) the default unit set, using VBA code? i.e. Whether it is cms or inches or milimeters?

    JFYI, there is no such Ruler units dropdown in Powerpoint Options.

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