Discussion:
[blfs-support] *rxvt xft letter spacing
Paul Rogers
2018-07-19 18:24:48 UTC
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For years I've used rxvt-2.7.10, which relied on PCF fonts, no longer part of XOrg-7.7. I saw two options, 1) build PCF fonts separately, 2) try one of the more modern "xterms" using TTF. So I've tried both urxvt & mrxvt but in both the text has a space between l e t t e r s. I'm not finding anything on Google. What do I need to fix, please? TIA.
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Bruce Dubbs
2018-07-19 19:11:04 UTC
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Post by Paul Rogers
For years I've used rxvt-2.7.10, which relied on PCF fonts, no longer part of XOrg-7.7. I saw two options, 1) build PCF fonts separately, 2) try one of the more modern "xterms" using TTF. So I've tried both urxvt & mrxvt but in both the text has a space between l e t t e r s. I'm not finding anything on Google. What do I need to fix, please? TIA.
I'm not sure which fonts you mean Paul. While I don't use rxvt, I do
build all the Xorg fonts, The book has Xorg Fonts:

23756dab809f9ec5011bb27fb2c3c7d6 font-util-1.3.1.tar.bz2
0f2d6546d514c5cc4ecf78a60657a5c1 encodings-1.0.4.tar.bz2
6d25f64796fef34b53b439c2e9efa562 font-alias-1.0.3.tar.bz2
fcf24554c348df3c689b91596d7f9971 font-adobe-utopia-type1-1.0.4.tar.bz2
e8ca58ea0d3726b94fe9f2c17344be60 font-bh-ttf-1.0.3.tar.bz2
53ed9a42388b7ebb689bdfc374f96a22 font-bh-type1-1.0.3.tar.bz2
bfb2593d2102585f45daa960f43cb3c4 font-ibm-type1-1.0.3.tar.bz2
6306c808f7d7e7d660dfb3859f9091d2 font-misc-ethiopic-1.0.3.tar.bz2
3eeb3fb44690b477d510bbd8f86cf5aa font-xfree86-type1-1.0.4.tar.bz2

Xorg Legacy:

2a455d3c02390597feb9cefb3fe97a45 app/ bdftopcf-1.1.tar.bz2
1347c3031b74c9e91dc4dfa53b12f143 font/ font-adobe-100dpi-1.0.3.tar.bz2
6c9f26c92393c0756f3e8d614713495b font/ font-adobe-75dpi-1.0.3.tar.bz2
cb7b57d7800fd9e28ec35d85761ed278 font/ font-jis-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
0571bf77f8fab465a5454569d9989506 font/ font-daewoo-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
a2401caccbdcf5698e001784dbd43f1a font/ font-isas-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2

But I also have a script make-xorg-old-legacy-fonts:

cc0726e4a277d6ed93b8e09c1f195470 font-arabic-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
3e0069d4f178a399cffe56daa95c2b63 font-cursor-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
6e7c5108f1b16d7a1c7b2c9760edd6e5 font-dec-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
143c228286fe9c920ab60e47c1b60b67 font-micro-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
96109d0890ad2b6b0e948525ebb0aba8 font-misc-cyrillic-1.0.3.tar.bz2
e3e7b0fda650adc7eb6964ff3c486b1c font-misc-meltho-1.0.3.tar.bz2
c88eb44b3b903d79fb44b860a213e623 font-misc-misc-1.1.2.tar.bz2
56b0296e8862fc1df5cdbb4efe604e86 font-mutt-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
e805feb7c4f20e6bfb1118d19d972219 font-schumacher-misc-1.1.2.tar.bz2
beef61a9b0762aba8af7b736bb961f86 font-sony-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2
948f2e07810b4f31195185921470f68d font-sun-misc-1.0.3.tar.bz2

I use the last set because I don't like warnings in /var/lob/Xorg.0.log.
Perhaps one of the fonts in the last group is what you need.

-- Bruce
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Paul Rogers
2018-07-19 22:07:13 UTC
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Post by Bruce Dubbs
I'm not sure which fonts you mean Paul. While I don't use rxvt, I do
My issue is in my latest 8.1 build, in which I installed these,
following the book.
Post by Bruce Dubbs
23756dab809f9ec5011bb27fb2c3c7d6 font-util-1.3.1.tar.bz2
0f2d6546d514c5cc4ecf78a60657a5c1 encodings-1.0.4.tar.bz2
6d25f64796fef34b53b439c2e9efa562 font-alias-1.0.3.tar.bz2
fcf24554c348df3c689b91596d7f9971 font-adobe-utopia-type1-1.0.4.tar.bz2
e8ca58ea0d3726b94fe9f2c17344be60 font-bh-ttf-1.0.3.tar.bz2
53ed9a42388b7ebb689bdfc374f96a22 font-bh-type1-1.0.3.tar.bz2
bfb2593d2102585f45daa960f43cb3c4 font-ibm-type1-1.0.3.tar.bz2
6306c808f7d7e7d660dfb3859f9091d2 font-misc-ethiopic-1.0.3.tar.bz2
3eeb3fb44690b477d510bbd8f86cf5aa font-xfree86-type1-1.0.4.tar.bz2
Specitically, it seems this is the one with the ancient bitmapped PCF
Post by Bruce Dubbs
c88eb44b3b903d79fb44b860a213e623 font-misc-misc-1.1.2.tar.bz2
I use the last set because I don't like warnings in /var/lob/Xorg.0.log.
Perhaps one of the fonts in the last group is what you need.
-- Bruce
Yes, I certainly COULD do that too, even just the 8859-1 that rxvt
wants as opposed to all 8MB of the whole thing, but I'm hoping I only
have to use that as a last resort. Maybe the better path in the long
run is to replace this legacy package. The book uses urxvt. It appears
to me that perhaps I have something misconfigured or misinstalled with
xft to produce this wierd l e t t e r s p a c i n g, which certainly
suggest two bytes being used. Probably better to fix my error, I don't
see many others with this problem. I'm hoping somebody here recognizes
it and knows what to do.
--
Paul Rogers
***@fastmail.fm
Rogers' Second Law: "Everything you do communicates."
(I do not personally endorse any additions after this line. TANSTAAFL :-)
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Ken Moffat
2018-07-20 00:28:42 UTC
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Post by Paul Rogers
Specitically, it seems this is the one with the ancient bitmapped PCF
Post by Bruce Dubbs
c88eb44b3b903d79fb44b860a213e623 font-misc-misc-1.1.2.tar.bz2
I use the last set because I don't like warnings in /var/lob/Xorg.0.log.
Perhaps one of the fonts in the last group is what you need.
-- Bruce
Yes, I certainly COULD do that too, even just the 8859-1 that rxvt
wants as opposed to all 8MB of the whole thing, but I'm hoping I only
have to use that as a last resort. Maybe the better path in the long
run is to replace this legacy package. The book uses urxvt. It appears
to me that perhaps I have something misconfigured or misinstalled with
xft to produce this wierd l e t t e r s p a c i n g, which certainly
suggest two bytes being used. Probably better to fix my error, I don't
see many others with this problem. I'm hoping somebody here recognizes
it and knows what to do.
These comments are specifically for rxvt-unicode (urxvt).

I'm sure that the urxvt maintainers regard me as a heretic, because
I prefer TrueType and OpenType fonts. I limit its configuration to
using fonts which I like. But I can recall occasions where spacing
for some characters (particularly chinese) was wide and the glyphs
were small - for that I use a larger size for that particular font.

In the urxvt manual, search for -fn : the first font in the list
determines the size, others can be larger. So sometimes I specify
larger sizes as noted above (or so that "missing" glyphs, typically
uncommon precomposed accented letters, are of a similar size to
common letters, even though the shape might differ).

And in particular, ensure you set resources for URxvt.font (I use
~/.Xresources - and you need to load that in startx). The book has
some details, but not necessarily an example of the fonts and sizes
I currently use.

I've forgotten everything I used to know about the old fonts, so I
can't offer any guidance on what to specify. But google for urxvt
font : for me a top match is the Arch wiki which has some detail on
9x15. And there I also see "URxvt.letterSpace: -1" to reduce the
spacing (not necessary in my experience with xft fonts, but maybe
what you are looking for).

You can also, from one term, try opening a new term with a different
font to test it, e.g (TrueType)
urxvt -fn 'xft:dejavusansmono:pixelsize=11'
urxvt -fn "xft:DejaVu Sans Mono:pixelsize=11" (the same font)

For a list of the fixed (i.e. monospace) XFree86 fonts, see
https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ucs-fonts.html - I would hope that
the legacy fonts in the book include some of those. There are links
to Marcus's packaging on that page, those links still appear to
work.

HTH

ĸen
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Paul Rogers
2018-07-20 22:32:27 UTC
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Post by Ken Moffat
These comments are specifically for rxvt-unicode (urxvt).
Thanks, I _am_ making some progress, but have more to try to compile urxvt before reporting. These devs don't seem to have grasped the "Unix Principle"!
Post by Ken Moffat
larger sizes as noted above (or so that "missing" glyphs, typically
uncommon precomposed accented letters, are of a similar size to
For a terminal emulator all I need is the standard Roman set.
Post by Ken Moffat
~/.Xresources - and you need to load that in startx). The book has
I thought that was being done, but I'd never needed to use it. It wasn't.
Post by Ken Moffat
9x15. And there I also see "URxvt.letterSpace: -1" to reduce the
spacing (not necessary in my experience with xft fonts, but maybe
what you are looking for).
Seems necessary to me. But it's complicated. "News at 11!"
Post by Ken Moffat
https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/ucs-fonts.html - I would hope that
the legacy fonts in the book include some of those. There are links
But XOrg is moving away from legacy fonts. Sooner or later...
Post by Ken Moffat
HTH
Much appreciated.
--
Paul Rogers
***@fastmail.fm
Rogers' Second Law: "Everything you do communicates."
(I do not personally endorse any additions after this line. TANSTAAFL :-)
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