Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

thebombsite · 2005-12-21 22:38:16

Do small font sizes like 8px, 9px and 10px give you younger lot orgasms or something? I’ve noticed far too much use of these stupid font sizes for IMPORTANT text just lately. Then you all go into ecstatic eulogies about accessibility. Ha! What a contradiction. Font sizes and accessibility are part of the same thing.

Can I suggest that this forum use a base text size of 12px please?

As for Textpattern’s admin I would like to suggest the same thing but whilst we are at it I notice that the worst parts as far as legibility is concerned are the “textareas” and it would seem that they use in-line CSS, so could we also have that taken out and placed in the textpattern.css file where it belongs. At least that way, if you don’t agree with my suggested font size I can adjust it myself without having to hack the code.

Jeremie · 2005-12-21 23:16:38

The thing is, pixel size are bad for Internet Explorer users. Well that could be ok for the forums, but not for the admin. In relative size (for the admin), it’s a much more complicated way. Iirc the best way is to set the base size to 76~80% then express the details in em. There was some huge study about this (with screenshots of various sizes in various browsers, including the smallsmallsmall Opera) if I can get my hand on that damned URL…

marknumberm · 2005-12-21 23:18:43

I agree about the accessibility issue. I think the assumption must be that if you’re not flat out blind you must have microscopes for eyes.

At least FireFox makes it very easy to adjust font size on one’s own; I think other browsers that aren’t crappy IE have that feature as well.

Jeremie · 2005-12-21 23:27:16

All browsers can resize. Opera resize it all (images included). MSIE only resize to a small selection of sizes, and only if the size is not fixed (aka use %, em, or something similar).

thebombsite · 2005-12-22 03:37:32

IE can resize but that’s not my point and it’s not a good way to go about things. I currently set FF with a minimum font size of 12px mainly because I can’t read the textareas in TXP admin very well. It’s not that I need glasses. It’s just too small for comfort. The problem is though, that by setting a minimum in my browser I find that it quite often breaks some lovely web sites because someone has used a small font in their top nav or footer or whatever. I shouldn’t have to do it and they shouldn’t use such a small font.

I agree with your method Jeremie. I simply wish that a font-size roughly equivalent to 12px be attained. However if all the inline CSS contained within TXP were moved to the textpattern.css file I could set the fonts to my own preference. I should mention that the TXP fonts are set to “px” values.

I know you can’t see it Jeremie, but thebombsite.com uses px values and I cannot see any problems in IE6, and let’s remember that IE5.* is no longer going to be supported by MS and I think that will apply to Win as well as Mac particularly when IE7 is “officially” released.

Last edited by thebombsite (2005-12-22 03:42:20)

hcgtv · 2005-12-22 04:01:51

I would also like to see larger text sizes in the TXP admin area if possible.

On the forum, I’m kind of used to it since I also follow the PunBB forums.

Mary · 2005-12-22 05:39:07

The font size is via the stylesheets provided by PunBB; the font size stuff is in the main stylesheet (not base.css or _whatever__cs.css)

You could do a site stylesheet, even in IE.

#forum-textpattern-com {
font-size: 12px;
}

(Pixels are a relative font size, only IE was retarded enough to make it render fixed. But yes, the other units work well.)

As for the Txp admin…

Jeremie · 2005-12-22 12:03:26

thebombsite wrote:
I currently set FF with a minimum font size of 12px mainly because I can’t read the textareas in TXP admin very well.

You’re not the only one. This was corrected several times with several patches and countless posts, but never implemented. I don’t know why.

The problem is though, that by setting a minimum in my browser I find that it quite often breaks some lovely web sites because someone has used a small font in their top nav or footer or whatever. I shouldn’t have to do it and they shouldn’t use such a small font.

“Lovely” maybe, but ill-coded (and I’m staying nice here). It’s a basic webmaster job to ensure anyone can read its websites, that include people with small vision problem, and being unable to read very small characters (in particular when one is using a big screen, like 1600×1200 and over) is perhaps the most common problem worldwide.

I know you can’t see it Jeremie, but thebombsite.com uses px values and I cannot see any problems in IE6, and let’s remember that IE5.* is no longer going to be supported by MS and I think that will apply to Win as well as Mac particularly when IE7 is “officially” released.

I believe IE6 still can’t, and even if IE9 was going public tomorrow it will take a while (read years) to get rid of it.

I agree with your intent, I increase the admin size too and it’s pretty annoying. But there are other way than a pixel fixed size to do it, cleaners way. That’s just my point :)

thebombsite · 2005-12-22 15:44:52

I agree with your point Jeremie, we just need something doing about it. :)

Jeff_K · 2005-12-22 18:35:13

The thing I have found with em sizing is that if you have your default set smaller then 12pt (say 10pt), on screen type quickly goes microscopic. Its too bad there is no way to impliment em sizing with a minimum pixel size as a backup.

I actually find the type size in the forumns just fine, and the admin panel size a bit large. The font used in the admin panel (especially the code font and size) seems like a personal preference that should be customizable through a style sheet that allows for user enterable information (php variables perhaps?). I always code with 9pt monaco, and find anything else really annoying. Changing the TXP CSS file is fairly easy, but maybe not for a user without CSS experience.

my two cents, Jeff.

thebombsite · 2005-12-22 20:42:13

The TXP CSS file isn’t the problem. It’s the in-line CSS for the textareas that should be in the TXP CSS file that is the problem. 10pt isn’t too bad which I think is roughly where this forum is at but 12pt would be a whole lot more comfortable and it’s what I’m seeing anyway because of setting my minimum in FF.

I just want to be able to read stuff without straining my eyes and I shouldn’t have to be setting minimum fonts in my browser or creating special CSS files for this site or that site. I shouldn’t have to do this. This is called “inaccessibility”. :(

Mary · 2005-12-23 19:48:26

“Accessibility” is an exercise in semantics: “accessible” to me is different than “accessible” to you, or “accessible” to my father, whom has cataracts.

I actually use the following myself, in userChrome.css:

/* use my font for code */
textarea, pre, code, .code {
font: 12pt ProggyCleanTTSZ !important;
}

It doesn’t matter what font size is, I always see my text just like I see it in my text editor. I’ll be pleased as punch when FF gets proper user stylesheet ability.

12px.

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#1 2005-12-21 22:38:16

Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#2 2005-12-21 23:16:38

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#3 2005-12-21 23:18:43

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#4 2005-12-21 23:27:16

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#5 2005-12-22 03:37:32

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#6 2005-12-22 04:01:51

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#7 2005-12-22 05:39:07

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#8 2005-12-22 12:03:26

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#9 2005-12-22 15:44:52

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#10 2005-12-22 18:35:13

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#11 2005-12-22 20:42:13

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

#12 2005-12-23 19:48:26

Re: Textpattern and Forum Font Sizes

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