ksbolduan@amherst.bitnet (04/03/90)
In article <9292.260ffb37@amherst.bitnet>, ksbolduan@amherst.bitnet writes: > Recently I've seen discussion about Fractional Widths, ATM, and > Microsoft Word 4.0. I've noticed that under ATM, Word does some rather horrible > kerning. Doesn't fractional widths, or lack of same, have something to do with > this? If so, is it fixable? I've heard of an INIT out there that can do the > trick, or maybe I just need to get around to updating ATM. Does the newest > version take care of this? I noticed that Word was a Fractional Widths command, > but it doesn't seem to do anything noticable. > > Could someone please clear up this situation for me. Basically, I'm confused as > to what Fractional widths are, whether they are desirable, whether they exist > in Word, (or, for that matter, ANY program), and whether, in the end, they (or > lack of them) are the culprit of the horrible kerning in Word 4.0 running ATM. > > If it makes a difference, I'm running a SE/30, 5 megs, tons of inits, and > System 6.0.4. > > Thanks. Please e-mail and I'll summarize for the net. > > Kevin Bolduan '91 Amherst College > KSBOLDUAN@AMHERST Bitnet Address I never got any response to this, and am still looking for an answer. Anyone?
mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) (04/09/90)
I don't believe that Word uses fractional character widths, but don't
hold me to it (I prefer MacWrite II myself)...
Here's one for you: I was using the LinkSaver "printer" driver to capture
an image of an Excel worksheet. I then copied it into a Persuasion
presentation. No problem, unless I turn the fractional widths on (using
some meu option of Persuasion that I don't remember). Then, the character
spacing in the Excel image changes. This wouldn't be bad, except that
Excel apparently draws column-by-column. This shows up when you have some
text in one cell that carries over to the next. Before it looks something like:
Income Statement for 1990
After, it looks something like this:
Income State ment for 1990
The 'm' in "statement" is still in the same position (the start of the
second column), and the "I" in "Income" is as well (start of the first column).
So, fractional widths are out. Why doesn't Excel go ahead and draw out the
entire cell? (Microsoft's programmers wouldn't be lazy, now, would they? :-)
I really wish that I could copy a section of a spreadsheet directly to the
clipboard, complete with formatting, styles, colors, etc. Then I wouldn't
have to go through this whole process.
-Michael
p.s. This is my last posting from a Mac. It's been sold, and is shipping
out tomorrow. Of course, I'm ordering a IIcx, but it won't be in until
after I graduate. I guess I'm going to have to live with VT320
terminals for a while.
--
Michael Niehaus UUCP: <backbones>!{iuvax,pur-ee}!bsu-cs!mithomas
Apple Student Rep ARPA: mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu
Ball State University AppleLink: ST0374 (from UUCP: st0374@applelink.apple.com)ksbolduan@amherst.bitnet (04/10/90)
In article <11054@bsu-cs.bsu.edu>, mithomas@bsu-cs.bsu.edu (Michael Thomas Niehaus) writes: > I don't believe that Word uses fractional character widths, but don't > hold me to it (I prefer MacWrite II myself)... After some e-mail and exploring, I figured out what's going on with Fractional Widths, at least Word 4.0. Fractional Widths is a feature in Word that, **__if you're printing to the Laserwriter__** can make the output look a little nicer-especially when you're using ATM. Especially at large point sizes, ATM kinda screws the kerning all up, and your te xt lo oksl ike thi s. So, if you turn on Fractional Widths (in the Laserwriter Page Setup) things look a lot nicer. However, the Imagewriter doesn't support this feature. If all you're interested in is screen display, choose the Laserwriter and turn FW on. It makes things look a lot nicer. But, when it comes to printing, there's nothing ATM can do to make things look nice on your Imagewriter. (as far as kerning goes, anyway...) Now the question: Doesn't the Imagewriter basically _dump_ what's on the screen to the printer (same resolution and all...) ?? If so, why doesn't the Imagewriter driver have the FW option? Could it be added? The Laserprinter itself is not necessary to make things look nice on the screen. So, why can't the Imagewriter handle it? It seems that if you could somehow _fool_ word into using the Laserwriter Page Setup, but _then print to the Imagewriter_ everything would work out just fine. Is this possible? Any printer gurus out there who would know how to fool the Mac so? Kevin Bolduan '91 Amherst College KSBOLDUAN@AMHERST P.S. If you're using something _other_ than Word (which has the FW option in the Laserwrite page setup window) then you can get the AlwaysFract init from Sumex. While I've not really tested it, it supposedly turns on FW for those programs that don't have the option. But again, only for screen and Laserwriter output.