Re: When will complex script support be available?

[Glenn Adams]

I'm targeting the end of this month (October) to complete a final patch
adding new test suite material, and request the temporary complex script
branch be merged into the trunk. Merging into the trunk will require
consensus by the project's PMC, so we'll see how that goes.

In the mean time, I'll take a look at your report about a loop/hanging
problem. As far as my tests go, Arabic ant RTL text is being handled
properly in tables and elsewhere. Active issues are being tracked at
http://skynav.trac.cvsdude.com/fop/report/1.

Regarding font support, see:

http://skynav.trac.cvsdude.com/fop/wiki/SupportedFonts

Although Arial Unicode MS is known to work, it is the worst quality of the
fonts listed as being supported, and also requires the most memory and
resources (and processing time) due to its large number of glyphs (50,377)
and large number of OTF tables.

For my latest dev code, see:

http://github.com/skynavga/fop


On Fri, Oct 7, 2011 at 5:11 AM, Jonathan Levinson 
jonathan.levin...@intersystems.com wrote:

 Hi,

 ** **

 When will the complex script support (for Arabic and other left-to-right
 fonts) be ready enough that we can evaluate it against the current FOP and
 see if it is suitable for our rendering needs?

 ** **

 I know this is a very difficult project with a lot of deep issues that need
 to be resolved.  I know it may be difficult to give more than a ball-park
 estimate as to readiness.  I also apologize that the term “ready” is so
 vague.  In some sense, it may be ready now.  Maybe it helps to know that
 where we are particularly running into requests for Arabic support is in FO
 tables and table layout.  It is particularly important that alignment work.
 

 ** **

 On a side-note, we’ve been using Microsoft Arial for Arabic rendering.  Is
 this a font that the complex script work will support?  Does it support
 Microsoft Arial now?

 ** **

 We realize that complex script support is a massive effort and we
 especially appreciate Glenn Adams work in moving this project forward.

 ** **

 Best Regards,

 Jonathan Levinson

 Senior Software Developer

 Object Group

 InterSystems

 One Memorial Drive

 Cambridge MA 02412

 ** **

When will complex script support be available?

[Jonathan Levinson]

Hi,

When will the complex script support (for Arabic and other left-to-right fonts) 
be ready enough that we can evaluate it against the current FOP and see if it 
is suitable for our rendering needs?

I know this is a very difficult project with a lot of deep issues that need to 
be resolved.  I know it may be difficult to give more than a ball-park estimate 
as to readiness.  I also apologize that the term ready is so vague.  In some 
sense, it may be ready now.  Maybe it helps to know that where we are 
particularly running into requests for Arabic support is in FO tables and table 
layout.  It is particularly important that alignment work.

On a side-note, we've been using Microsoft Arial for Arabic rendering.  Is this 
a font that the complex script work will support?  Does it support Microsoft 
Arial now?

We realize that complex script support is a massive effort and we especially 
appreciate Glenn Adams work in moving this project forward.

Best Regards,
Jonathan Levinson
Senior Software Developer
Object Group
InterSystems
One Memorial Drive
Cambridge MA 02412