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Date:      Tue, 18 Mar 2003 11:49:33 -0500 (EST)
From:      Kenneth W Cochran <kwc@TheWorld.com>
To:        Jason Andresen <jandrese@mitre.org>
Cc:        freebsd-stable@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: XFree 4.3.0 / Xft font problems
Message-ID:  <200303181649.LAA5741960@shell.TheWorld.com>
References:  <200303181439.JAA5706913@shell.TheWorld.com>

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>Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2003 10:27:44 -0500
>From: Jason Andresen <jandrese@mitre.org>
>To: Kenneth W Cochran <kwc@theworld.com>
>Cc: freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG
>Subject: Re: XFree 4.3.0 / Xft font problems
>
>Kenneth W Cochran wrote:
>> 
>> "Regular" xchat 1.8.11 and gaim 0.59.9 look fine.
>> Mozilla built without Xft (-DWITHOUT_XFT) looks ok (menu bar
>> looks good, as with other apps) but not great (displayed
>> text looks "ok" but not very good).
>
>Mozilla uses whatever you have configured in the preferences panel as 
>the font for the menubar IIRC.  Try changing your font from serif to 
>sans-serif.
>
>Additionally, you're probably having trouble with the antialiased small 
>text.  You might want to try creating a /usr/X11R6/etc/fonts/local.conf
>file with the following lines:
>
><!-- Fontconfig local overrides -->
>
><match target="pattern">
>         <test qual="any" name="size" compare="less_eq">
>                 <double>12</double>
>         </test>
>         <edit name="antialias" mode="assign">
>                 <bool>false</bool>
>         </edit>
></match>
>
>And see if that's any easier on your eyes.

Where is that kind of thing documented?
And how can I "isolate" these changes across OS/system
maintenance/upgrades?
Why does the "default install" look so bad?  (Hmm, maybe
don't answer that... ;)

As installed, Mozilla-1.3b,1 fonts:  (WITHOUT_XFT)
Proportional: Serif 12 pixels
       Serif: adobe-avantgarde-iso8859-1
  Sans-serif: (same)
     Cursive: (same)
     Fantasy: (same)
   Monospace: (same) 16 pixels

As installed, Mozilla-1.3b,1 fonts:  (default build, with Xft)
Proportional: Serif 12 pixels
       Serif: Bitstream Charter
  Sans-serif: (same)
     Cursive: (same)
     Fantasy: (same)
   Monospace: (same) 16 pixels

So where are the various "font classes" (for want of a
better term) "used?"  And how do I fix this stuff for (for
examples) the Xft-enabled versions of other clients?

Excerpts from XF86Config: (vidcard is Matrox G400 32mb)

# This loads the Type1 and FreeType font modules
    Load        "type1"
    Load        "speedo"
    Load        "freetype"
#    Load        "xtt"

# This loads the GLX module
    Load       "glx"
# This loads the DRI module
    Load       "dri"

# From "XFree86 -configure"
#    Load  "extmod"
    Load  "record"
    Load  "xtrap"
...

    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
#    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType/"
#    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/freefont/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/URW/"

Is this of any help?  Any config changes appropriate?

X was configured thusly:
1.  As root, "XFree86 -configure"
2.  As root, "xf86config" - answer the questions & write out XF86Config
3.  Customize XF86Config:
    a.  Carefully "merge" the XF86Config.new into XF86Config.
    b.  Add URW fonts per requirements for some ports.
    c.  "other stuff" as appropriate

Is there a Better Way To Do This(tm)?  ;)
Would welcome faq/documentation pointers, both online & printed.

<semi-rant>
Complexities/oddities such as this are, I think,
part of what hinders "public/PHB acceptance" of
Unix/Linux/*BSD/opensource and keeps in place certain
monopolies.  As a friend of mine says, "you have to have
a Decoder Ring to run this stuff."
</semi-rant>

Please pardon my, umm, "venting," I'm sure stuff like this
will be fixed before long.  ;)

-kc

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