How to get access alternate glyphs from open type fonts in..

"Character" <Char RemoveThis @cters.bold.italic> wrote in message
news:fu1Wk.333383$5p1.236390@en-nntp-06.dc1.easynews.com...
> Tom Ferguson wrote:
>
>> In later Word versions, the usual access is to open the Insert Symbol
>> dialogue, assure that the appropriate font is selected in the Font
>> slot, that Unicode is selected in the second slot of
>> Character code from .
>> Within that dialogue, you can initiate the AutoCorrect dialogue
>> to automate the process.
>
> [Aside:] Was something supposed to be there where there are large gaps
> above? If it was something like smart quotes, somewhere between your
> keyboard and my screen they got replaced with spaces. [End of aside]

The spaces were deliberate and intended as an alternate way to set aside
that text which corresponded to the text appearing in the dialogue box. I
could have used quotes.


>
> That works fine (as does Charmap) for glyphs that have assigned unicode
> values, as most of Adobe's opentype fonts do. It doesn't work for glyphs
> that have no unicode value assigned, and these are what Stargate Fan is
> looking for. For example, Adobe's Arno Pro-Regular includes hundreds of
> non-unicoded glyphs. For example, ligatures for ch and ct, which simply
> can't be found in the insert symbol table or in Charmap.

True. But I usually concentrate on explaining what is possible rather than
what is not. If one were to include details on everything not possible,
posts get very long indeed.

>
>> If the font were Postscript rather than OpenType or TrueType, you would
>> use Alt + keypad numerals together with a character code chart from Adobe
>> to insert symbols.
>
> Tom, you lost me there. What does Adobe have to do with it (unless it's a
> font from Adobe)? OpenType (.otf) fonts ARE 'Postscript' fonts. Once
> you're in the opentype world, the only signficant difference between Type
> 1 flavor ot and truetype flavor ot (.ttf) is the way that the glyph
> outlines are drawn. (Yes, there are some subtle other differences such as
> hinting methods and table requirements.)

There were Posrtscript fonts before there was Opentype, usually a PFM/PFB
file pair. These can be installed and used in Windows XP and Vista without
installing any ancilliary program (such as ATM). It was to those I was
referring. Many of those fonts have been provided with a "wrapper" to make
them OpenType. Those that were not so-'converted' have glyphs in
non-standard positions. It is those for which Adobe provides character maps.
The information was intended as a logical extension flowing from the OP's
question simply because I felt like it and thought it might be useful to
some who might read the thread.

>> I know it is neither the most intuitive nor most easy of method that
>> could have been devised.
>
> That may be true, but try to develop something substantially better. I
> know I can't!

I was referring to the Alt +keypad method. Insert Symbol and Charmap are two
attempts at easing that burden. As you no doubt know, there are
'fontmap-type' tools out there that attempt do "do better". I did not write
any of them

>
>> However, Microsoft, to date, has shown more interest in implementing
>> support for a wide range of languages
>
> And MS does that quite well.
>
>> than supporting typographic niceties.
>
> > Perhaps soon we shall see the hopes
>> and plans of many in Microsoft Typography begin realization. Windows 7
>> will soon enter beta testing. I don't know what, if anything, has been
>> done there but I have hope.
>
> The rumours I've heard would tend to drown that hope From a
> cost-benefit viewpoint, I can't see that MS implementing typography would
> significantly increase sales of either the operating system or MS Office,
> and a higher-priced niche product would only compete with the established
> leader.

Alas, quite true. ( What gives me hope is the knoledge that the will
exists in the typography department. )))

>
>> While font support is primarily an operating system function in Windows,
>> Adobe's In Design application has implemented broader support.
>
> - Character



--

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007