"Peter B. West" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> schrieb am 28.05.2004 17:16:08:

> Thanks Arnd.  My argument is that the renderer must tell the layout 
> engine about font metrics.  I have always regarded PDF and PS (with 
> obligatory fonts) as stable targets in this respect.

They are. PostScript files and PDF should not be created with specifics
of an output device in mind. The only thing that may happen is that
you directly add job-control features to PostScript file - for example
paper try switching. Please be aware that the difficulties I mention are
in the chain Acrobat->printer and PSFile->printer, NOT in the chain
formatter->renderer.

> It's reassuring to find that there are so many ways in which variations
> will creep in to the output of even such a heavily standardised
> format as PDF.  To get the output point-perfect then, the renderer
> needs to know the peculiarities of the output device.

My take on this is - as I hopefully have been able to communicate -
that the renderer should tell the formatter what it *can* do. This
includes but is not restricted to fonts or font metrics. The *holder*
(I deliberately do not say owner here) of this kind of information
should be the formatter (or a separate centralized entity that
the formatter can access). The formatter can also hold information
of its own - like for example a repository of TTF or Type 1 fonts
that all renderers wo are able to handle this type of font can
subsequently make use of. 

Like in a federalistic political system, this structure makes sure
that everyone can give his input into the decision process.
You just have to make sure that there is just *one* entity
responsible for the final decision - otherwise, you're in Germany.. 8-)

More on this later - I still owe Victor an answer.

Arnd
-- 
Arnd Beißner
Cappelino Informationstechnologie GmbH

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