Re: how update the website for the complex layout

[suzuki toshiya]

Dear Werner, Lawrence,

As a quick fix, I want to propose the additional item to FAQ.

Q: How to implement Asian vertical writing text by FreeType 2? I heard it had 
been available before OpenType.
A: FreeType 2 does not support it. Before OpenType, the text renderers did many 
non-systematic hacks, like the detection of the writing mode by using the 
modified font name, the renderer-side glyph rotation for the vertical writing 
mode, or digging the pre-rotated glyphs at the PUA codepoints in the font, etc 
etc. The modern operating systems and font developers switched to the OpenType 
or TrueTypeGX, and the fonts designed for such legacy technologies are no 
longer widely distributed. So, FreeType 2 is not going to support them, if no 
new patches are proposed by the volunteers.

BTW, I wonder whether current last answer referring Pango should be improved by 
referring HarfBuzz. Yes, Pango is still essential part of GTK+, but HarfBuzz is 
becoming more general framework broader than GTK+. How do you feel?

--

I would consider the additional text to add the vertical metrics discussion in 
later.


Regards,
mpsuzuki