I am implementing OpenType fonts for the Tifinagh script. Its default directionality is left-to-right, but it can be written right-to-left, or top-to-bottom like Japanese, for example. I am trying to get these alternative directions working with OpenOffice.org 3.2 Writer.
When I enable CTL and Asian language support (I assume this enables OpenType feature processing and vertical directionality options on menus, respectively), I can get Latin, Georgian, Nepali or Tifinagh script text running top to bottom by setting page format, but the letters in the text are all rotated. Since a Latin font doesn't have substitutions defined for this rotation, OpenOffice must be doing it, and the rotation (correctly) doesn't happen for Japanese text. (On Linux I am simply changing the keyboard layout in order to type all these scripts, not setting language for the text explicitly). So how does OpenOffice tell what to do with vertical text? Does it detect the script by looking at the Unicode code points, then rotate letters in Latin script text only? Or rotate text by default, if the script is not listed in OpenOffice's code as a 'vertical' one like Japanese? Or perhaps if the default directionality in the characters' Unicode properties is not vertical? How can I convince OpenOffice that my Tifinagh text should behave like Japanese, with the letters running downwards but not rotated? (I know some substitutions will be needed in the OpenType font, such as for parentheses). Note: There's no locale for my script/language combination yet in Linux or Windows, so it's usually typed as if it were French. Thanks Paul --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
