Printer character width

[Jack Kramer]

Using XP/PBCC 4.04/HP LaserJet 1200/600 dpi, each is functioning just fine.

Consider: XPRINT FONT ("Arial",12)
The characters: 0,1,2,...,8,9 are 56 points in length
- is 33 points in length
+ is 58 points in length

The above was determined with hardcopy/ruler/pencil/arithmetic. Using these values with some PBCC code, right justifying a column numbers works perfect. The effort to determine the length of each character/font/size is way too labor intensive.

Someplace/somewhere the width of each character must be stored, like a formula/table.

Given Arial, 12, how will PBCC determine the character width?

Sample code/suggestions/referral/push in the right direction is most appreciated. Past assistance/help have been very helpful.

Thanks, Jack

[Richard Angell]

Jack,

For any font, but especially a proportional font, you could create your own table, or just use the return from XPRINT TEXT SIZE. The following code snip shows the same numbers here on a LaserJet 8000, as you said you measured.

#COMPILE EXE
#DIM ALL

FUNCTION PBMAIN () AS LONG
    LOCAL  nWidth!, nHeight!, i&
    XPRINT ATTACH DEFAULT
    XPRINT FONT "Arial",12,0
    FOR i& = 0 TO 9
        XPRINT TEXT SIZE FORMAT$(i&) TO nWidth!, nHeight!
        XPRINT FORMAT$(i&) + "  " + FORMAT$(nWidth!) + "  " + FORMAT$(nHeight!)
    NEXT i&
    XPRINT TEXT SIZE "-" TO nWidth!, nHeight!
    XPRINT "-" + "  " + FORMAT$(nWidth!) + "  " + FORMAT$(nHeight!)
    XPRINT TEXT SIZE "+" TO nWidth!, nHeight!
    XPRINT "+" + "  " + FORMAT$(nWidth!) + "  " + FORMAT$(nHeight!)
    
    XPRINT FORMFEED
    XPRINT CLOSE

END FUNCTION

Note that XPRINT CHR SIZE is not going to help for proportional fonts, so the above XPRINT TEXT SIZE is what you are looking for.

If you want right alligned columns, then format the numbers accordingly, use XPRINT TEXT SIZE 's returned nWidth to find the adjused location form the columns right margin where you will ant to print the number, something like:

PrintLocationX = ColumnRightMagin - nWidth


Does this help?

[Jack Kramer]

This is exactly what I've been looking for. It functions just great.

These PB forums are loaded with talented folks and their responses are FREE. What a deal!

Thank You, Jack