[mgp-users 00693] Re: Chinese support

[Alex Madon <madon@cma-it.com>]

Hello Jim,

Thank you for your X11 specialist's advice.

I didn't know the speed issue (your point #1) in using Xft.
Some weeks ago I tried to test the Xft library but never got
a successful output of Chinese characters from a ttf font.
I looked for sample code on the Internet for help but didn't find any.
Do you have such a sample program available?

For the moment I'm still using the XmbDrawString X function
with the module "xtt" loaded in the X (XFree86 4.0.3) server (section module
of the /etc/X11/XF86Config)... Note that the "freetype" module didn't work
out of the box with my cyberbit.ttf font.

Alex

Jim Gettys wrote:
> 
> When we designed the X Window System, we did not forsee the consequences
> of some of the design decisions we made, particularly when combined
> with outline fonts.
> 
> The core X protocol requires that the font metrics of the entire font
> be returned.  So when you image an outline font (still a gleam in various
> people's eyes at the time we were doing the design work), you have to
> render the *entire* font: all glyphs must be imaged to be able to return
> the font metrics, most of which you will never use.  All this has to happen
> before you can paint a single character.
> 
> Needless to say, on eastern fonts with many glyphs, this can take a significant
> amount of time.
> 
> Sorry.  We goofed.
> 
> OK, so what is the solution?  If someone would convert mgp to use the new
> Xft library which uses the new X Render extension you will get:
>     1) incremental rendering of glyphs as needed.  Startup time on eastern
>        fonts will be dramatically reduced.
>     2) anti-aliased text.
>     3) sub-pixel decimation on flat panel displays (something like Microsoft's
>        ClearType, but fundamentally better).
> Xft has been designed to make it reasonably easy to retrofit applications,
> and will fail-over to use bitmap fonts if outline fonts and/or Render
> is not available.  Render is now becoming pretty widespread on open source
> systems.
> 
> So this is the solution I recommend.
>                           - Jim Gettys
> 
> --
> Jim Gettys
> Technology and Corporate Development
> Compaq Computer Corporation
> jg@pa.dec.com

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