Author: branden
Date: 2004-01-13 12:12:14 -0500 (Tue, 13 Jan 2004)
New Revision: 908
Modified:
branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/changelog
branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/local/FAQ
Log:
Add new Debian X FAQ entry, "Why are some fonts (or graphical rulers)
sized incorrectly?", based on text submitted by Eduard Bloch (thanks,
Eduard!). (Closes: #227217)
Modified: branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/changelog
===================================================================
--- branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/changelog 2004-01-13 16:20:49 UTC (rev 907)
+++ branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/changelog 2004-01-13 17:12:14 UTC (rev 908)
@@ -46,8 +46,13 @@
- debian/xdm.{postinst,postrm,prerm}.in: add observe() calls to default
display manager file updates
- -- Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tue, 13 Jan 2004 08:39:37 -0500
+ * Add new Debian X FAQ entry, "Why are some fonts (or graphical rulers)
+ sized incorrectly?", based on text submitted by Eduard Bloch (thanks,
+ Eduard!). (Closes: #227217)
+ - debian/local/FAQ
+ -- Branden Robinson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tue, 13 Jan 2004 12:08:08 -0500
+
xfree86 (4.3.0-0pre1v5) experimental; urgency=low
* Grab fixes to upstream CVS xf-4_3-branch since last pull.
Modified: branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/local/FAQ
===================================================================
--- branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/local/FAQ 2004-01-13 16:20:49 UTC (rev 907)
+++ branches/4.3.0/sid/debian/local/FAQ 2004-01-13 17:12:14 UTC (rev 908)
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
*) How do I keep my mouse from going crazy (or going away) when switching
between X and the Linux virtual console?
*) How do I get the X server to find the "fixed" font?
+*) Why are some fonts (or graphical rulers) sized incorrectly?
*) Why doesn't the X server package just depend on the xfonts-base package?
*) Why does the "single-quote" (') symbol in the fonts not look the way it
used to?
@@ -967,6 +968,64 @@
running, is listening on the TCP port, and/or engage in some network
troubleshooting.
+*) Why are some fonts (or graphical rulers) sized incorrectly?
+
+Programs that try to optimize font sizes for better screen output (such as
+FontConfig-based applications) and those that try to show real-world geometry
+(like inch/centimeter scales in the GIMP) need to know the pixel density of
+the display to be accurate. This value is the ratio of the display's pixel
+resolution to the physical size of your monitor -- generally between 70 and
+120 DPI (dots per inch). If the DPI value used by the X server does not match
+the actual monitor characteristics, applications that use this information are
+likely to display fonts and other graphics that are scaled incorrectly based
+on this inaccurate information. You can use the xdpyinfo program in the
+xbase-clients package to check the assumed monitor size and dot resolution.
+The DPI value is retrieved by X client applications by querying the X server;
+therefore, the X server needs to know (or be told) what value to use.
+
+Two ways to get an accurate DPI value to your application are:
+
+1) pass the -dpi option to the X server (this also works for many non-XFree86
+ X servers); or
+2) let the XFree86 X server calculate the DPI value based on the DisplaySize
+ parameter in its configuration file, XF86Config-4. See the
+ XF86Config-4(5x) manual page for details.
+
+The first method is recommended if you already know the DPI value of your
+monitor and wish to always run it at the same resolution; the second method is
+the more flexible way, but only available for the XFree86 X server.
+
+Locate and edit the scripts which start the X server:
+
+/etc/X11/xinit/xserverrc for xinit and startx (in the xbase-clients package)
+/etc/gdm/gdm.conf for gdm
+/etc/kde3/kdm/Xservers for kdm
+/etc/X11/wdm/Xservers for wdm
+/etc/X11/xdm/Xservers for xdm
+
+ Passing the -dpi option to the X server:
+
+ In each of these files above, replace the value after -dpi with the correct
+ number.
+
+ Letting the XFree86 X server calculate the DPI:
+
+ In each of the files above, remove the -dpi word and the following number.
+ Then edit /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 and locate the "Monitor" section there.
+ Add a line like:
+
+ DisplaySize 288 216
+
+ to it. The numbers above are horizonatal and vertical dimensions of the
+ monitor's visible screen area (in milimeters) which you can often find in
+ the monitor's manual. Manually measuring the visible screen area with a
+ ruler or tape measure may be the most precise method, but keep in mind that
+ depending on the modeline definitions, the exact measurements of the visible
+ portions screen may differ from mode to mode.
+
+When you've finished, restart the X server and use xdpyinfo to check the new
+DPI settings.
+
*) Why doesn't the X server package just depend on the xfonts-base package?
(I often get this question, accompanied by rhetoric like, "1 CANT BEL1EVE U
