I am brand new to Photoshop and I am coming into it with a few years of being used to Paint Shoppe Pro. So I know it is going to be a struggle for me.

I am going to have a lot of questions. For starters, when you open a file, how do you see the length and width of the image easily?

So far I see where I can click on the little arrow button at the bottom frame of the window that contains the image and I click on the menu item for "Show" and then select "Document Dimensions" but it displays in inches and not in pixels.

you can change that in preferences...hi.

Hi.

So I see.

Thanks

under the eye dropper/color sellector is a measuring stick icon for measuring point to point, you can right click on the pictures title bar > image size,
click on image on the menu bar > image size,
click on view on the menu bar select rulers, right click on a ruler to choose between, inches, mm, cm, pixels, points etc

You need a pixel ruler calibrated to your monitor size and resolution.

one of the best out there,
http://www.mioplanet.com/products/pixelruler/index.htm

figures I try to be a smart ass and it turns out to be something real.

hey welcome to psc ........tofu its ok we all love ya smartass anyways.

Don't worry TOFU is one of the antique fixtures around here!