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Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
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Arantor

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Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« on March 27th, 2013, 11:40 PM »
Forum use is inherently a reading activity and different people prefer different font sizes and styles.

Kindle allows people to choose different themes and font sizes, the iBooks app allows people to choose different themes, font sizes and has a choice of fonts.

The idea of presenting different fonts as a choice to users intrigues me.

Now before anyone goes off and says crazy things like 'well users can have their own style sheet' or 'people can pick different skins if they want different fonts', let me say that you're missing the point. Yes, users can have their own style sheet. They can pick different skins if they want. But if they can pick different skins, why shouldn't they be able to pick a choice of fonts that works better for them than what a skin necessarily mandates?

I'm not saying this has to be a core feature, nor am I saying it has to be a plugin, or anything of the sort. I just want people to consider the idea of having font choices :)
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godboko71

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #1, on March 27th, 2013, 11:52 PM »
I love the idea. When I have my cluster migraines some default fonts and sizes are murder on my head. The only font that "needs" preferences is the body/content text of posts. Anyway I like the idea!
Thank you,
Boko

MultiformeIngegno

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #2, on March 28th, 2013, 12:16 AM »
Uhm, dunno. I'm not conviced. 90% of the cases admins want just THAT style and that font.. anyway if it's useful for someone it can be a plugin... nothing against it. :)

Asgard

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Hristo

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Arantor

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #5, on March 28th, 2013, 02:14 AM »
Quote from Asgard on March 28th, 2013, 01:55 AM
Hmm, can't I control that in my browser prefs already?
Yes... but...
Quote from Arantor on March 27th, 2013, 11:40 PM
Now before anyone goes off and says crazy things like 'well users can have their own style sheet' or 'people can pick different skins if they want different fonts', let me say that you're missing the point. Yes, users can have their own style sheet. They can pick different skins if they want. But if they can pick different skins, why shouldn't they be able to pick a choice of fonts that works better for them than what a skin necessarily mandates?
Most users are not up to the task of having custom style sheets, not even most site owners. If one were provided for them, that's another matter entirely.
Quote from Hristo on March 28th, 2013, 02:02 AM
IMO an easy way to change font size is a must, and I do not think there is a need to explain why. As for font type it's rarely a problem for me, but this post:
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=490658
...made me realize that font type could be very important for some people. And maybe it's of big importance not only for the people with dyslexia.
Oh, it's certainly not just dyslexia at all. Font size I'm a bit more iffy about seeing how easy it is to change font size in a browser (ctrl + scroll mouse)

spoogs

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Hristo

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #7, on March 28th, 2013, 03:22 AM »
Quote from Arantor on March 28th, 2013, 02:14 AM
Font size I'm a bit more iffy about seeing how easy it is to change font size in a browser (ctrl + scroll mouse)
Of course, but there are 2 problems:
- Way too many people do not know about this, not only about the hot keys, but even the options in the View menu. In Opera it's much easier/visible though.
- After all this is a zoom function, so it resizes not only the text.

Arantor

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #8, on March 28th, 2013, 03:27 AM »
Quote
- Way too many people do not know about this, not only about the hot keys, but even the options in the View menu. In Opera it's much easier/visible though.
Oh, no disagreement. I'm just saying that compared to changing fonts for user preference, changing size is an order of magnitude simpler for users.
Quote
- After all this is a zoom function, so it resizes not only the text.
If you need to scale the text up to see it better, you probably need to do the same with images. Browsers never used to scale up everything, they only used to scale up the text, but manufacturers realised that in the end they should do it for all content (IIRC Opera was the first to do that, it took a long time for everyone else to adhere to it)

Drunken Clam

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #9, on March 28th, 2013, 08:57 AM »
I think this is a great idea.

I use a Kindle and, depending on how tired I am whilst reading, often adjust the font size to allow my aging eyes to cope. :cool:

Nao

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #10, on March 28th, 2013, 10:47 AM »
I'm not sure I'm following...

In order to offer different font choices to the user:
- create a new folder in your skins folder.
- create a new file called skin.xml

Code: [Select]
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<skin>
<name>Weaving (Open Sans)</name>
<css include="http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,400italic,700,700italic"></css>
</skin>

- create a common.css file

Code: [Select]
$main_font = Open Sans
$main_font_size = 85%/130%
$menu_font = $main_font
$subject_font = $main_font

I haven't tested, but it should be enough... Repeat as needed for other fonts.
If you're just worried about the size, just reduce the common.css file's content to the second line... Play with the numbers. And/or play with the $post_font_size size, for post bodies.

You may want to do a tutorial out of this (once tested.)

If you want an "a A" duo of buttons somewhere in the header to allow people to change their font size on the fly (e.g. here), it's very doable in JavaScript, but I'd see it more as plugin material... (Heck, I could even write it :P)
Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #11, on March 28th, 2013, 12:23 PM »
I feel if the user or member has the ability to set certain looks and feel that they like, from their profile, is a great idea, to and extent. and they should also be aware of this option, not everyone has the same eyes and vision, and I would how ever limit the font styles to the standard type fonts, so they don't come back complaining theta things are out of or overflowing their vision window, Or post window. Arantor is on to something here because it about user friendly! I would have at least 5 or 6 choices. but no crazy fonts.

Maxx

Arantor

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #12, on March 28th, 2013, 03:40 PM »
Quote
In order to offer different font choices to the user:
I explicitly said it was nothing to do with changing skins ;)

I'm thinking a single dedicated option in the profile area. Or even in the sidebar. And then along with it a change-of-font-size menu. This would be a nightmare to do with skins since you'd need to have multiple variations of each skin.

live627

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #13, on March 29th, 2013, 12:19 AM »
@Nao: Please  explain that css include tag. Can I reference local fonts? Does it replace @font-face (which no longer works, btw)?
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Pentaxian

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Re: Crazy idea: fonts as a preference
« Reply #14, on March 30th, 2013, 01:45 PM »
With my 65 years of age I really like the idea of setting sizes for the whole forum. The fonts belong imho in the skin.
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