Re: [typo] Especes d'espaces...

[Robert Keeble <rkeeble@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Now that I've had the time to read through all the emails again, here's 
a summary and a few more questions.

Spaces required:

1. non-justifying word space, breaking and non-breaking types. (TB - 
for bullets, dialogues as in a play, etc. AH would use a fine space 
here)

2. justifying word space, breaking and non-breaking types. Breaking by 
default. The "normal" word space.
In fact, it makes sense to allow any space to be marked non-breaking.

3. semi-justifying. Increases width more slowly than the justifying 
word space, but decreases its width at the same rate. (TB)
This one is problematic. AH points out a problem when using this type 
of space with matched punctuation that spans lines of text. The result 
is jarring to the eye because the white space between say, the open 
quote and the quoted text will rarely match the white space between the 
quoted text and the close quote. Because of this problem, there would 
have to be other uses for this space than matched punctuation, 
otherwise, it would not be worth the (considerable) effort to implement 
it. Is there a real justification for this space? (pun intended :)  
This issue is really an echo of one I asked some time back: are there 
places one can add additional white space in small amounts to stretch a 
short line? The idea being that the extra space in these places would 
not be noticeable to most readers.

4. fine space (non-justifying) (AH)

5. micro-fine (non-justifying) (AH)
I still believe all your needs for other spaces could be met by using 
the Unicode typography spaces, particularly if one could adjust their 
widths.

-Robert Keeble

On Aug 10, 2004, at 2:22 PM, Robert Keeble wrote:

> Bonjour à tous,
>
> I started to go through this entire thread to write a summary, but was 
> a little overwhelmed by the quantity of emails. Instead, I'll suggest 
> some possible solutions and wait for the fireworks...
>
> How many of the problems discussed would be solved by some combination 
> of the following:
>
> - all typographic spaces added by Unicode (all relative spaces, I 
> believe) are treated as non-justifying.
>
> - an additional justifying space is allowed, which allows a different 
> min/max range than the existing word space. There are at least two 
> ways this might work: 1) The user can choose which type is used first 
> when justifying text. The first type is used to its maximum range 
> before using the second type; or  2) The two types of spaces are used 
> together when expanding or contracting a line, but at a different 
> rate, as defined by a proportion.
>
> - an additional user-defined space is added with whatever width is 
> needed. One could, I suppose, allow a user to control the width of the 
> Unicode typographic spaces, but this like it might go against the 
> intent of these spaces. The definition of them is so vague, I think an 
> application could vary them and still comply with the Unicode 
> standard.  ;)
>
> It would also be nice to have the language-specific uses of fine 
> spaces done automatically, but I suppose that is another discussion. 
> (A rule set that is applied like a style sheet? Or should these 
> changes be performed on request?)
>
> -Rob Keeble