editor2: fixed font vs proportional font?
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editor2: fixed font vs proportional font?
editor2: Anyone know what is the difference between a fixed font vs proportional font? Thanks.
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fixed fontproportional
I have Editor2 v2.7.0.2. ANSI and US English keyboard.
When both fixed font and proportional font are set to Microsoft Sans Serif bold #8 there is absolutely no difference in appearance. The only font type that aligns tabs perfectly is Terminal (in either fixed or proportional mode), but for some reason available sizes are 5 6 9 12 14 (it looks like Microsoft's restriction) and the best size in my case would be 10 or 11.
In the old days with Win95 the default Notepad would align tabs properly and the font size was just about right. After upgrading to WinXP a few years back, I remember spending a few hours trying to get that Win95 font and couldn't find it anywhere in XP. Below are a few examples.
Microsoft Sans Serif bold 8, fixed or proportional, no difference:
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7071/0 ... 807op4.png
Terminal bold 9, fixed or proportional (after conversion from Sans Serif everything is crooked):
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6905 ... 136rd2.png
Terminal bold 9, tabs fixed manually:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4589 ... 312ot6.png
When both fixed font and proportional font are set to Microsoft Sans Serif bold #8 there is absolutely no difference in appearance. The only font type that aligns tabs perfectly is Terminal (in either fixed or proportional mode), but for some reason available sizes are 5 6 9 12 14 (it looks like Microsoft's restriction) and the best size in my case would be 10 or 11.
In the old days with Win95 the default Notepad would align tabs properly and the font size was just about right. After upgrading to WinXP a few years back, I remember spending a few hours trying to get that Win95 font and couldn't find it anywhere in XP. Below are a few examples.
Microsoft Sans Serif bold 8, fixed or proportional, no difference:
http://img53.imageshack.us/img53/7071/0 ... 807op4.png
Terminal bold 9, fixed or proportional (after conversion from Sans Serif everything is crooked):
http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/6905 ... 136rd2.png
Terminal bold 9, tabs fixed manually:
http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/4589 ... 312ot6.png
I am not sure what you are trying to say, but let me make some comments.
> A fixed font is a fixed-width font: defined such that all characters have equal-width and spacing (examples=Courier, FixedSys), while a proportional font uses different widths for characters to make the text more pleasing to the eye and generally easier to read (examples=Times, Ariel)
> E² permits you to specify two fonts to change between quickly.
Although the choices are labeled "Fixed" and "Proportional" think of them merely as "A" and "B" -- You can specify any font (proportional or fixed) for either. Editor² tries to render the font you choose as best it can, but cannot turn a fixed font into a proportional one or vice-versa, nor does it try. So if you have the exact same font, size and style set for both, you should see no difference.
> "Microsoft Sans Serif" is a proportional font - just look at the character sizes and spacing in your example. (Change your tab width to 8 or 9 and see the misalignments -- it looks like you have it at 12.)
> "Terminal" is a fixed font, but there seems to be an issue with how it is rendered to your screen, where perhaps your screen driver is making a font substitution due to screen resolution (maybe to "small fonts", which are proportional). ...or you may have extra 'space' characters in some places. Please post more detail if you want to pursue this.
HTH
PS - I use "Lucida Console" as my fixed font for its readability and unambiguous rendering of similar characters like 1,l,I,| and O,0.
> A fixed font is a fixed-width font: defined such that all characters have equal-width and spacing (examples=Courier, FixedSys), while a proportional font uses different widths for characters to make the text more pleasing to the eye and generally easier to read (examples=Times, Ariel)
> E² permits you to specify two fonts to change between quickly.
Although the choices are labeled "Fixed" and "Proportional" think of them merely as "A" and "B" -- You can specify any font (proportional or fixed) for either. Editor² tries to render the font you choose as best it can, but cannot turn a fixed font into a proportional one or vice-versa, nor does it try. So if you have the exact same font, size and style set for both, you should see no difference.
> "Microsoft Sans Serif" is a proportional font - just look at the character sizes and spacing in your example. (Change your tab width to 8 or 9 and see the misalignments -- it looks like you have it at 12.)
> "Terminal" is a fixed font, but there seems to be an issue with how it is rendered to your screen, where perhaps your screen driver is making a font substitution due to screen resolution (maybe to "small fonts", which are proportional). ...or you may have extra 'space' characters in some places. Please post more detail if you want to pursue this.
HTH
PS - I use "Lucida Console" as my fixed font for its readability and unambiguous rendering of similar characters like 1,l,I,| and O,0.
Thanks for clarifying how "fixed" and "proportional" are used in Editor2.
I'm just trying to find the fixed-width font with the optimal size and texture and, as you pointed out, no ambiguity between similarly shaped characters.
MS Sans Serif bold 8 would be ideal if it was fixed-with:
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6869 ... 025bx6.png
Lucida Console bold 8 is ok but ideally it should be more condensed:
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1010 ... 241mf6.png
With Lucida Console bold 7 the characters are too small:
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6673 ... 550ul7.png
it looks like size 7.5 would solve the problem, but of course it's not available. I insist on bold style because I find it easier on the eyes. Screen resolution might be part of a problem, it's and old CRT monitor, 800x600. On the weekend I will google for the full list of fixed-width fonts and look into this again. Thanks for help.
I'm just trying to find the fixed-width font with the optimal size and texture and, as you pointed out, no ambiguity between similarly shaped characters.
MS Sans Serif bold 8 would be ideal if it was fixed-with:
http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/6869 ... 025bx6.png
Lucida Console bold 8 is ok but ideally it should be more condensed:
http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1010 ... 241mf6.png
With Lucida Console bold 7 the characters are too small:
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/6673 ... 550ul7.png
it looks like size 7.5 would solve the problem, but of course it's not available. I insist on bold style because I find it easier on the eyes. Screen resolution might be part of a problem, it's and old CRT monitor, 800x600. On the weekend I will google for the full list of fixed-width fonts and look into this again. Thanks for help.
I find bold often less readable for me, but it IS monitor-resolution dependent.
Did you try 8pt regular?
FWIW, I use Lucida console at 9pt regular, but my screen is usually set to 1280x960, which is crisp on this CRT. (I can go as fine as 1600x1200 but the monitor is 6 yrs old and focus is no longer sharp enough for that to be best.)
Good luck finding the most readable combination.
-fg-
Did you try 8pt regular?
FWIW, I use Lucida console at 9pt regular, but my screen is usually set to 1280x960, which is crisp on this CRT. (I can go as fine as 1600x1200 but the monitor is 6 yrs old and focus is no longer sharp enough for that to be best.)
Good luck finding the most readable combination.
-fg-