2009/9/25 John Kaufmann <kaufm...@nb.net> > In a message dated 2009.09.25 05:34 -0500, Harold Fuchs wrote: > > ... OO recognizes, and tries to encapsulate, structural entities. >>> With respect to text, those entities seem to be characters, lines, >>> paragraphs, and OO provides formatting capabilities to >>> independently adjust spacing of each of those entities. However, >>> AFAICS there is no comparable treatment for words or sentences - no >>> recognition of words or sentences as structural elements, and no >>> independent spacing adjustments between words or between sentences. >>> Is that correct? >>> >> >> I think the nearest Writer gets to what you want is via its Justified >> format which adjusts the spacing between words and sentences so as to >> give straight margins on left and right sides. You can adjust the >> width of each margin independently and so, to some extent at least, >> influence the spacing between words. You can't adjust the "space >> distribution" algorithm ... >> > > As I understand it, the "space distribution" algorithm is a function of the > font design, adjusted by Writer's character spacing function; correct? But > Writer has no adjustment for word spacing (in which the only character width > to be adjusted is the space character) or sentence spacing (in which the > space between sentence is adjusted). "Justified" alignment is not the same > as word and sentence spacing, but is of course affected by word spacing. > > It's not entirely clear to me what you want to be able to do. I understand >> that it would be nice to be able to say "two spaces between sentences" but >> beyond that ??? Perhaps you could give some examples. >> > > That is, in fact, the example of sentence spacing: the common problem of > how to highlight sentence limits to the eye, wherein the "typewriter" > solution was "two spaces between sentences" - a practice deprecated in > modern use but for which some word processors still do not provide an > alternative. > > Word spacing addresses different issues: Perhaps to the author, or to the > particular purpose, a font's default spacing seems to provide inadequate (or > excessive) space between words. This is commonly encountered in, for > example, headings, where one might like to add slightly more spacing between > words. > > > John > >
I have not played in this area but: When you create a paragraph style, or modify an existing one, there's a tab in the dialogue labelled "Position". Near the bottom of this tab is a heading "Spacing" that covers two lists and a check box. The first list has options "Default", "Expanded" and "Condensed". If you choose other than Default you may now select, in the second list, a number of *points* (you may enter decimal numbers such as 3.5). The check box lets you choose to specify "Pair kerning" - you probably know what that means, I don't. As you change the number of points you are shown the effect. So, create a new heading style, or modify an existing one, and select the spacing to suit ... Or am I barking up the wrong tree? Am I even in the right forest? -- Harold Fuchs London, England Please reply *only* to users@openoffice.org
