[Libreoffice-bugs] [Bug 127423] Font feature dialog: handle OTF features that are enabled by default (liga, calt, kern)

[bugzilla-daemon at bugs.documentfoundation.org]

https://bugs.documentfoundation.org/show_bug.cgi?id=127423

LibreTraining <libretraining.tutorials at gmail.com> changed:

           What    |Removed                     |Added
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                 CC|                            |libretraining.tutorials at gma
                   |                            |il.com

--- Comment #13 from LibreTraining <libretraining.tutorials at gmail.com> ---
Certain OpenType features are On by default.
This is apart of the OpenType specifications not a font setting or a
prorgamming choice in the text shaping engine.

For example OpenType Standard Ligatures (liga) are On by default.
So having a checkbox which adds ":liga" the font name makes no sense.
If Standard Ligatures exist, users only option is to disable them.
The interface should show that Standard ligatures are On by default.
And have a toggle to turn them Off.
That toggle to Off should add "-liga" to the font name.

Same with OpenType Kerning (kern) - it is On by default.
The interface should show that Kerning is On by default.
And have a toggle to turn it Off.
That toggle to Off should add "-kern" to the font name.

Contextual Alternates is On by default.
A checkbox to add ":calt" to the font name makes no sense.
Being able to turn-off calt makes sense ":-calt"
I use that all the time to show the before text for OpenType features.
The interface should show that Contextual Alternates is On by default.

The same for all other OpenType features which are On by default.

Many OpenType features are mutually exclusive.
Having multiple check boxes which enables selecting multiple mutually exclusive
OpenType features at the same time makes no sense.
That is confusing to users.
Those mutually exclusive settings should be grouped together and have buttons
for each, but only allow selecting one of the group.

For example these are mutually exclusive:
- Denominators (dnom)
- Numerators (numr)
- Subscript (subs)
- Superscript (sups)
- Scientific Inferiors (sinf)
Being able to check all these at once makes no sense.

Also mutually exclusive:
- Tabular Figures (tnum) vs. Proportional Figures (pnum)
- Lining Figures (lnum) vs. Oldstyle Figures
- Small Capitals (smcp) vs. Petite Capitals (pcap)
- etc. etc. ... there are many more
Being able to check all these at once makes no sense.

Similar settings should be grouped together.
Numbers settings, case settings, ligatures (liga, dlig, hlig, rlig, etc.).

Access All Alternates (aalt) enabled as a checkbox makes no sense.
No user checking that box is going to have any idea of what is happening.
The OpenType spec recommends a select list as the interface - which most apps
do as it is the only one that makes sense.
It is possible to use something like ":aalt=5" but the average user has no idea
of what the options are for each character. Unless you look at the actual
OpenType code inside the font you have no idea what is possible for that
particular font. Not something the average user is going to do.
That is confusing to users.
The best option is to simply remove it.
A very knowledgeable user is going to add it manually anyway.

The Fractions style selector does not make sense.
Nut fractions do not exist in most fonts and this allows selecting it anyway.
That is confusing to users.
I don't know if this is some holdover from the Graphite stuff or what.
In OpenType ...
- Fractions (frac) is for diagonal fractions
- Alternative Fractions (afrc) is for stacked or nut fractions

The AutoCorrect rules for the legacy Unicode ligatures and fractions can create
some confusing interactions with the OpenType ligatures and fractions. 
Probably good to have a warning somewhere to prevent user confusion.
Some fonts have simply removed them to prevent confusion.
But many of the fonts included with LO still have the issues.
And there are a few other AutoCorrect rules which affect OpenType features.

The OpenType specs recommend that certain features not be exposed to users.
Users really do not need to see stuff like MarkPositioning (which is hidden).
But some features may be useful to turn-off - such as calt.
Some of those features may be appropriate to put in a More or Advanced reveal
which simplifies the interface to include only the features normally used.
Most users should never touch calt so why put it in their face?

And on and on and on ... 
OpenType is complex and this interface could be improved greatly to add some
clarity.

I offered to help create a better OpenType interface over two years ago.
And was met with ignorance combined with arrogance and condescension.
So I dropped it.
I know a lot about OpenType features and could help improve this LO feature.
If a developer would like to work together on this I would be happy to help.

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