Hi, I have a fixed-width font and I want to make it a non-fixed-width font (with varying widths depending on each character). I searched the boards and I eventually came up with a method:
Tools->Glyth Transformer
and then I selected:
Range: All
Script: Width(1500) Both Sides, Center Glyth
Now first of all, I have no clue what width (default was 1500) I should use in order to get results that look like the regular Times New Roman, Arial, etc. for example.
Secondly, I tried this on Courier New and unfortunately, I went to test it and it still appears fixed-width.
At this point, I’m stuck. I don’t know if my method is going in the right direction or if I need to do something else to make my fixed-width font non-fixed-width.
If I understand your need, it’s VERY simple – use AutoMetrics. Save a backup copy of your font – it will be destructive of your current advance width values.
Do Test Font (F5) before to see what it looks like.
Go to Tools/Autometrics. Select all glyphs >> Go to Next page to define the amount of white space (try the default 40/40 for starters).
See Test Font (F5) to how it changed. Adjust the amount of white space untl you get what you’re after.
It shouldn’t be too hard to recover that fixed-width font. Go to AutoMetrics and select all (>>) Next and select Fixed. Check “Change Left Side Bearing” to 0 and Check “Advanced Width” to 1500. Click Finish.
This puts the glyphs on the left side of the space, so go to Glyph Transformer and select Metrics/Center Glyph. This will move the characters to the center of the space.
This should restore the font to its original design.
Thanks again Dick Pape. The first method you stated I tried and what happened was the English part of the font reverted back to non-fixed width and that was great…all except the space character " " was so small that there wasn’t even any spaces left between words.
I also tried the second method but unfortunately, everything remains fixed width.
BTW I am using osaka_unicode, the font I was writing about in my earlier questions . The font is actually available for download here: http://osakattf.hp.infoseek.co.jp/ (osaka.unicode.ttf.bz2)
Glad you got it to become a variable width font. Yes, you would have to manually adjust the size of all space glyphs (or any other strange shapes).
The second reply (which I directed to myself as my original reply wasn’t quite right!) was to describe a way to restore a variable width font to a fixed width font (so you didn’t have to save the original advance width values) – you were to start with a variable and end up with a fixed width. Starting with a fixed width you should have ended up with a fixed width!
In my copies of those Osaka fonts, the third glyph (glyph #2) is labeled “space”. Check Format/Mappings. “Space” is shown for all 3 platforms.
At the main window, right click on the glyph to bring up Properties menu. The Glyph Metrics will show the Left Side Bearing and Advance Width values. Changing Advance Width will change the size of the glyph. The Space glyph gives word spacing by and large.
Alright, everything works now EXCEPT for one thing . I’ve successfully converted the fixed-width font to non-fixed width. I’ve also successfully modified the space glyth so the spacing looks normal now when inserting the space character. The only problem is, the chinese characters in the font (Kanji) are all clumped together. What I mean is, there appears to be no “padding” (spacing in front and behind the characters) so all the characters stick to each other. Now, this doesn’t happen with the other characters of the font and it doesn’t happen to the Kanji in the original font either. In short, somehow when I converted my font from fixed-width to non-fixed-width, it must have affected these Kanji characters.
I tried to select all the Kanji characters with AutoMetrics and insert 40/40 spacing but that didn’t make any difference. I tried to use AutoMetrics again and convert these characters to fixed-width 0/1500 and center them with Glyth Transformer but that made absolutely no difference once again.
Now I’m really lost. How can I insert spacing in front and after these characters so they don’t clump together?
The Average Character Width (Format → Settings → Ranges) should be set to the Advance Width of the glyphs mapped to Kanji characters. Those glyphs should all have the same advance width (In your case somewhere near 1000).
Also make sure before saving the font you have unchecked “Recalc average char width” (Tools → Options → Font).
. The font is actually available for download here: 
. I’ve successfully converted the fixed-width font to non-fixed width. I’ve also successfully modified the space glyth so the spacing looks normal now when inserting the space character. The only problem is, the chinese characters in the font (Kanji) are all clumped together. What I mean is, there appears to be no “padding” (spacing in front and behind the characters) so all the characters stick to each other. Now, this doesn’t happen with the other characters of the font and it doesn’t happen to the Kanji in the original font either. In short, somehow when I converted my font from fixed-width to non-fixed-width, it must have affected these Kanji characters.