Hoi, Using a font that is not based on UTF-8 is something that should be a conscious one. For all the languages that we currently support the script is supported in UTF-8. This means that there is imho no good argument to support non-UTF-8 fonts for any of our current projects. Thanks, GerardM
2009/7/17 Tei oscar.vives@gmail.com
PSEUDO OFF-TOPIC.
I work for a service for multicultural education. Something I notice, is that often the traductor uses a custom font. Theres a hebrew custom font, a urdu custom font, etc... using these fonts, you can write in these languages using unicode-unaware word processors. The text is not really in unicode. If you copy&paste the code from one of these word / pdf files to a unicode aware text editor, you get gibberish, like "xfdLnfO{ yfxf 5 ;a} dfG5] leGgleGg :jefj / k|j[lQsf x'G5g\ t/ klg zflGt /" (thats was a real text from a nepali document).
So, If you speak wolof, or urdu, or nepali, or continental chinois, or hebrew... I bet you have already have these fonts installed on your system. Like ...hum.... you already have a system, and the graphics, for these chara/H/H.. scripts.
The feature that embedded fonts add, is visual quality (and maybe some math symbols?). Embedded fonts is not a i18n technology for all.. but a very few countries. Everybody else just need "Arial Unicode" font.
IF there where a system to detect If a guy have a particular Hebrew or Urdu font. That would open the door to.. just.. use ..that..font..that...is ..already installed. The "Arial Unicode" font, or the "DavidD" (hebrew) font, etc..
I don't think this is possible. But since most people on this mail list have more expertise than myself, maybe someone can see what I can't see, how to detect a installed font, and redirect to a "real" page.
A "Feature Bonus" is that, If theres people in nepal / israel / africa already using these fonts / systems, It would be easier for these people to copy text from his word processor to the edit textarea of wikipedia... Wait...wait.. wait... If you want people to write something using font XYZ, the edit page sould use the font XYZ.. or will not see the graphics..... uh...oh.... troubles.
note: sorry about my horrible broken english.
note2: I am a UTF8 fanboy. I hate that people use something else, no idea why, maybe lack of support from some text processor?
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