In Windows (NT/200/XP at least) screen fonts seem not to be scaled
properly. The default font size (12pt) is rendered like 9pt fonts in
native Windows applications.
The nasty effect is that similar characters (numeral '1' vs. lowercase
'l' and numeral '0' vs. uppercase 'O') are undistinguishable in the
default monospace font (apparently Courier New).
Perhaps my experience is just another Murphy's Law anecdote, but the
fact is that I found an (apparently) duplicate in a list of
abbreviations ('lst' for 'listing' and '1st' for 'first') in some
document, deleted one of them, found my data wrong, and spent a lot of
time figuring out what I did wrong, and diagnosing the problem.
Probably the discrepancy in scaling is due to a discrepancy in the
assumed screen resolution. The Windows default is 96 dpi. XXE perhaps
assumes 72-75 dpi.
A suggestion would be to assume 96 dpi as the default screen resolution
(and reduce the default font size to 10pt to preserve appearance) or to
increase the default font size to 13pt (that is rendered like 10pt in
native Windows applications). A 10pt Courier New scaled to 96 dpi is the
smallest size that gives a (minimum) visual distinction between the
mentioned similar character pairs.
Please find attached sample files to test the fonts appearance.
Hope this would help others.
--
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Manuel Collado Machuca | Facultad de Informatica UPM
Universidad Politecnica de Madrid | Campus de Montegancedo
Dep. LSIIS | Boadilla del Monte
Tel.+34-91-336.74.57 Fax.+34-91-336.74.12 | 28660 MADRID - SPAIN
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