On Wed, 12 Jan 2011, Bruno Fassino wrote
Yes, the computation of the aspect ratio gives results depending on the size. But this does not mean that such computations are wrong.
I'm not sure I understand that sentence, but I think you would agree that it is desirable to state in information sources on this topic that x-height varies with font size, and a reason why as you have indicated. From there one could perhaps reasonably say that it isn't particularly important, and if the value can not be deduced the browser invents one but I certainly don't think that sources should invent values, like the CSS spec used to, and say they are fixed. People read these documents, take the false data as fact carved in stone, and then repeat it in books and articles that are read for years.
Speaking of CSS specs I'm always surprised that the spec authors don't get called out for the nonsense they put in them. A specification should tell an author (a programmer) what is required. It should not tell them how to do it or explain computer fundamentals, unless there is a really special need to do so. You shouldn't expect to have to explain to a programmer how to do their job any more than you would ask a skilled carpenter to make a cabinet and then insist on telling them what a tape measure is and how to use it.
We have this in the "CSS Fonts Module Level 3 3.7 Relative sizing: the ‘font-size-adjust’ property" "Authors can calculate the aspect value for a given font by comparing spans with the same content but different font-size-adjust properties. If the same font-size is used, the spans will match when the font-size-adjust value is accurate for the given font." True? Possibly. But no competent programmer in their right mind would get values this way when the Operating System API's will give them the answer directly.
-- Richard Mason http://www.emdpi.com ______________________________________________________________________ css-discuss [cs...@lists.css-discuss.org] http://www.css-discuss.org/mailman/listinfo/css-d List wiki/FAQ -- http://css-discuss.incutio.com/ List policies -- http://css-discuss.org/policies.html Supported by evolt.org -- http://www.evolt.org/help_support_evolt/
