[odf-discuss] Fonts and Interoperability

[Alex Hudson]

Pete Harlow wrote:
> I notice that the new version of OS  from MS has a new font collection:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Windows_Vista_typefaces
>
> ....
>
> Whilst not a huge problem this is just another little niggle when 
> exchanging documents, in whatever format, between the open and 
> proprietary worlds.

To be honest, it has ever been thus.

There is _some_ degree of compatibility: for example, Arial is 
"Helvetica-compatible" because a document written in Helvetica can use 
the Arial font instead, and the page flows exactly the same.

I don't think standardising font faces is particularly useful (there 
will always be fonts that you don't have); some method of transferring 
information about the _metrics_ of a font face would be a boon though: 
even if you didn't have the face available, you'd at least then be able 
to lay a document out the same.

At the moment, OpenDocument isn't "pixel perfect" - you can't guarantee 
the look of the document on different applications anyway (you'd want 
something like PDF for that) - but you could do things to help improve 
portability.

-- 
Alex Hudson
IT Director, Stratagia Ltd.
P: 0845 226 17 13     W: http://www.stratagia.co.uk/
F: 0845 226 17 14     E: alex (at) stratagia.co.uk