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diff --git a/help/uk-tex-faq/faq-symbols.tex b/help/uk-tex-faq/faq-symbols.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000000..07050510f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/help/uk-tex-faq/faq-symbols.tex @@ -0,0 +1,613 @@ +% $Id: faq-symbols.tex,v 1.15 2014/01/28 18:17:36 rf10 Exp rf10 $ + +\section{Symbols, etc.} + +\Question[Q-usesymb]{Using symbols} + +Most symbol font sets come with a package that defines commands for +every symbol in the font. While this is convenient, it can lead to +difficulties, particularly with name clashes when you load packages +that cover fonts which duplicate symbols~--- an issue which is +discussed in +\begin{narrowversion} + \Qref[question]{}{Q-alreadydef}. +\end{narrowversion} +\begin{wideversion} + ``\Qref{symbol already defined}{Q-alreadydef}''. +\end{wideversion} +Some font sets (for example the related set: \FontName{FdSymbol}, +\FontName{MdSymbol} and \FontName{MnSymbol}) are huge, and the +accompanying macros cover so many symbols that name clashes are surely +a serious problem. + +The \Package{pifont} package (originally designed to use the Adobe +\FontName{Zapf Dingbats} font) avoids this sort of problem: it requires +you to know the font position of any symbol you want to use (the +documentation provides font tables). The basic command is +\cmdinvoke*{ding}{number} for a single symbol; there are commands for +other fancier uses. \Package{Pifont} also allows you to select other +fonts, for similar use. + +The \Package{yagusylo} describes itself as ``an extended version of +\Package{pifont}, gone technicolor''. It provides all the facilities +of \Package{pifont}, but allows you to create your own mnemonic names +for symbols. Thus, while you can say % ! line break +\cmdinvoke*{yagding}[family]{symbol number}[colour], you can also +define symbol names with \csx{defdingname}, and then use them +with \cmdinvoke*{yagding*}{symbol name} (the defined name carries the +font family and colour specified in the arguments of +\csx{defdingname}). + +\Package{Yagusylo} is somewhat complicated, but its documentation is +clear; it is probably the best tool to use for picking and choosing +symbols from a variety of font families. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[FdSymbol \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{fdsymbol} +\item[MdSymbol \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{mdsymbol} +\item[MnSymbol \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{mnsymbol} +\item[pifont.sty]Distributed as part of \CTANref{psnfss} +\item[yagusylo.sty]\CTANref{yagusylo} +\end{ctanrefs} + +\Question[Q-numbersets]{Symbols for the number sets} + +Mathematicians commonly use special lettering for the real numbers and +other standard number sets. Traditionally these were typeset in bold. +In the ordinary course of events, but mathematicians do not have +access to bold chalk, so they invented special symbols that are now +often used for the number sets. Such symbols are known as +``blackboard bold'' (or double-stroked) letters; in place of the heavier +strokes of a bold font, (some) strokes of the letters are doubled. +The minimum useful set is upper-case letters `I', `N', `R', `Q' and +`Z'; some fonts offer a figure `1' (for a unit matrix~--- not a number +set at all). + +A set of blackboard bold capitals is available in the \acro{AMS} +\FontName{msbm} fonts (\FontName{msbm} is available at a range of +design sizes, with names such as \FontName{msbm10}). The \acro{AMS} +actually provides a pair of font +families (the other is called \FontName{msam}), which offer a large number of +mathematical symbols to supplement those provided in Knuth's fonts. +The fonts are available in Type~1 format in +modern distributions. Support for using the fonts under +\LaTeX{} is available in packages \Package{amssymb} and +\Package{amsfonts}. The font shape is a rather +austere sans, which many people don't like (though it captures the +essence of quickly-chalked writing rather well). + +The \FontName{bbold} family is set of blackboard bold fonts written in +\MF{}. This set offers blackboard bold forms of lower-case letters; +the font source directory also contains sources for a \LaTeX{} package +that enables use of the fonts. The fonts are not available in Type~1 format. + +The \FontName{bbm} family claims to provide +`blackboard' versions of most of the \FontName{cm} fonts~\dots{} including +the bold and bold-extended series. Again, the fonts are designed in +\MF{} and are not available in Type~1 format. \LaTeX{} macro support +comes from a package by Torsten Hilbrich. + +The \FontName{doublestroke} family comes in just roman +and sans shapes, at a single weight, and is available both as \MF{} +sources and as Type~1; the font covers the uppercase latin letters, +lowercase `h' and 'k', and the digit `1'. + +A document that shows the \FontName{bbm}, \FontName{bbold}, +\FontName{doublestroke} and \FontName{msbm} fonts, so that you can get +a feel for their appearance, is available (\acro{CTAN} package +\Package{blackboard}). + +The \Package{boondox} font set consists of Type~1 versions of the +\acro{STIX} mathematics set (the originals are distributed in +\acro{OTF} format). The set contains a font +`BOONDOXDoubleStruck-Regular' (blackboard bold) (as well as a `bold' +version of that. + +An alternative source of Type~1 fonts with blackboard bold characters +may be found in the steadily increasing set of complete families, both +commercial and free, that have been prepared for use with \AllTeX{} +(see % beware line break +\htmlonly{``}\Qref[question]{choice of outline fonts}{Q-psfchoice}\htmlonly{''}). +Of the free sets, the \FontName{txfonts} and \FontName{pxfonts} families +both come with replicas of \FontName{msam} and \FontName{msbm}, but +(as noted elsewhere, there are other reasons not to use these fonts); +revised versions of the fonts, \FontName{newtx} and \FontName{newpx} +are better adjusted. The \FontName{mathpazo} family includes a +``mathematically significant'' choice of blackboard bold characters, and the +\FontName{fourier} fonts contain blackboard bold upper-case letters, +the digit `1', and lower-case `k'. + +The ``lazy person's'' blackboard bold macros: +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +\newcommand{\R}{{\textsf{R}\hspace*{-0.9ex}% + \rule{0.15ex}{1.5ex}\hspace*{0.9ex}}} +\newcommand{\N}{{\textsf{N}\hspace*{-1.0ex}% + \rule{0.15ex}{1.3ex}\hspace*{1.0ex}}} +\newcommand{\Q}{{\textsf{Q}\hspace*{-1.1ex}% + \rule{0.15ex}{1.5ex}\hspace*{1.1ex}}} +\newcommand{\C}{{\textsf{C}\hspace*{-0.9ex}% + \rule{0.15ex}{1.3ex}\hspace*{0.9ex}}} +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} +are almost acceptable at normal size if the surrounding text is +\FontName{cmr10} (the position of the vertical bar can be affected by +the surrounding font). However, they are not part of a proper maths font, +and do not work in sub- and superscripts. As we've seen, there are +plenty of alternatives: that mythical ``lazy'' person can inevitably +do better than the macros, or anything similar using capital `I' +(which looks even worse!). Voluntary \AllTeX{} effort has redefined +the meaning of laziness (in this respect!). +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[AMS support files]Distributed as part of \CTANref{amsfonts} +\item[AMS symbol fonts]Distributed as part of \CTANref{amsfonts} +\item[bbm fonts]\CTANref{bbm} +\item[bbm macros]\CTANref{bbm-macros} +\item[bbold fonts]\CTANref{bbold} +\item[blackboard \nothtml{\rmfamily}evaluation set]\CTANref{blackboard} +\item[doublestroke fonts]\CTANref{doublestroke} +\item[fourier fonts]\CTANref{fourier} +\item[mathpazo fonts]\CTANref{mathpazo} +\item[newpx]\CTANref{newpx} +\item[newtx]\CTANref{newtx} +\item[pxfonts]\CTANref{pxfonts} +\item[txfonts]\CTANref{txfonts} +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2013-12-04} + +\Question[Q-scriptfonts]{Better script fonts for maths} + +The font selected by \csx{mathcal} is the only script font `built +in'. However, there are other useful calligraphic fonts included with +modern \TeX{} distributions. +\begin{description} +\item[Euler] The \Package{eucal} package (part of most sensible \TeX{} + distributions; the fonts are part of the \acro{AMS} font set) gives + a slightly curlier font than the default. The package changes the + font that is selected by \csx{mathcal}. + + Type 1 versions of the fonts are available in the \acro{AMS} fonts + distribution. +\item[mathabx] The \FontName{mathabx} bundle provides calligraphic + letters (in both upper and lower case); the fonts were developed in + MetaFont, but a version in Adobe Type 1 format is available. The + bundle's documentation offers a series of comparisons of its + calligraphic set with Computer Modern's (both regular mathematical + and calligraphic letters); the difference are not large. +\item[mnsymbol] The \FontName{mnsymbol} bundle provides (among many + other symbols) a set of calligraphic letters, though (again) they're + rather similar to the default Computer Modern set. +\item[RSFS] The \Package{mathrsfs} package uses a really fancy script + font (the name stands for ``Ralph Smith's Formal Script'') which is + already part of most modern \TeX{} distributions (Type~1 versions of + the font are also provided, courtesy of Taco Hoekwater). The package + creates a new command \csx{mathscr}. +\item[RSFSO] The bundle \Package{rsfso} provides a less dramatically + oblique version of the \acro{RSFS} fonts; the result proves quite + pleasing~--- similar to the effect of the the (commercial) script + font in the Adobe Mathematical Pi collection. +\item[Zapf Chancery] is the standard \PS{} calligraphic font. There + is no package but you can easily make it available by means of the + command +\begin{quote} +\begin{narrowversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathscr}{OT1}{pzc}% + {m}{it} +\end{verbatim} +\end{narrowversion} +\begin{wideversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathscr}{OT1}{pzc}{m}{it} +\end{verbatim} +\end{wideversion} +\end{quote} + in your preamble. You may find the font rather too big; if so, you + can use a scaled version of it like this: +\begin{quote} +\begin{narrowversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\DeclareFontFamily{OT1}{pzc}{} +\DeclareFontShape{OT1}{pzc}{m}{it}% + {<-> s * [0.900] pzcmi7t}{} +\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathscr}{OT1}{pzc}% + {m}{it} +\end{verbatim} +\end{narrowversion} +\begin{wideversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\DeclareFontFamily{OT1}{pzc}{} +\DeclareFontShape{OT1}{pzc}{m}{it}{<-> s * [0.900] pzcmi7t}{} +\DeclareMathAlphabet{\mathscr}{OT1}{pzc}{m}{it} +\end{verbatim} +\end{wideversion} +\end{quote} + Adobe Zapf Chancery (which the above examples use) is distributed in + any but the most basic \PS{} printers. A substantially identical + font (to the extent that the same metrics may be used) is + available from \acro{URW}, called URW Chancery L: it is distributed + as part of the ``URW base35'' bundle; the + \Package{urwchancal} package (which includes virtual fonts to tweak + appearance) provides for its use as a calligraphic font. + + The TeX Gyre font family also includes a Chancery replacement, + \FontName{Chorus}; use it with \Package{tgchorus} (and ignore the + complaints about needing to change font shape). +\end{description} +Examples of the available styles are linked from the packages' +catalogue entries. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[eucal.sty]Distributed as part of \CTANref{amsfonts} +\item[euler fonts]Distributed as part of \CTANref{amsfonts} +\item[mathabx \nothtml{\rmfamily}as \MF{}]\CTANref{mathabx} +\item[mathabx \nothtml{\rmfamily}in Type 1 format]\CTANref{mathabx-type1} +\item[mathrsfs.sty]Distributed as part of \CTANref{jknappen-macros}[mathrsfs] +\item[mnsymbol \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{mnsymbol} +\item[rsfs \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{rsfs} +\item[rsfso \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{rsfso} +\item[Script font examples]\CTANref{mathscript} +\item[TeX Gyre Chorus font family]Distributed as part of \CTANref{tex-gyre}[tex-gyre-chorus] +\item[urwchancal]\CTANref{urwchancal}[urwchancal] +\item[URW Chancery L]Distributed as part of \CTANref{urw-base35} +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2011-08-17} + +\Question[Q-boldgreek]{Setting bold Greek letters in \LaTeX{} maths} + +The issue here is complicated by the fact that \csx{mathbf} (the +command for setting bold \emph{text} in \TeX{} maths) affects a select +few mathematical `symbols' (the uppercase Greek letters). + +In the default configuration, lower-case Greek letters behave +differently from upper-case Greek letters (the lower-case greek +letters are in the maths fonts, while the upper-case letters are in +the original (OT1-encoded) text fonts). + +The \plaintex{} solution \emph{does} work, in a limited way; you set a +maths \emph{style}, before you start an equation; thus +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +{\boldmath$\theta$} +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} +does the job, but \csx{boldmath} may not be used in maths mode. As a +result, this solution requires that you embed single bold characters +in a text box: +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +$... \mbox{\boldmath$\theta$} ...$ +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} +which then causes problems in superscripts, etc. With +\Package{amsmath} loaded, +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +$... \text{\boldmath$\theta$} ...$ +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} +does the trick (and is less bad in regard to superscripts, etc), but +is an unsatisfactory solution, too. + +These problems may be addressed by using a bold mathematics package. +\begin{itemize} +\item The \Package{bm} package, which is part of the \LaTeX{} tools + distribution, defines a command \csx{bm} which may be used anywhere + in maths mode. +\item The \Package{amsbsy} package (which is part of \AMSLaTeX{}) + defines a command \csx{boldsymbol}, which (though slightly less + comprehensive than \csx{bm}) covers almost all common cases. +\end{itemize} + +All these solutions apply to all mathematical symbols, not merely +Greek letters. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[bm.sty]Distributed as part of \CTANref{2etools}[bm] +\item[amsbsy.sty]Distributed as part of \AMSLaTeX{} \CTANref{amslatex}[amsbsy] +\item[amsmath.sty]Distributed as part of \AMSLaTeX{} + \CTANref{amslatex}[amsmath] +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2013-06-12} + +\Question[Q-prinvalint]{The Principal Value Integral symbol} + +This symbol (an integral sign, `crossed') does not appear in any of +the fonts ordinarily available to \AllTeX{} users, but it can be +created by use of the following macros: +\begin{quote} +\begin{wideversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Xint#1{\mathchoice + {\XXint\displaystyle\textstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\textstyle\scriptstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\scriptstyle\scriptscriptstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\scriptscriptstyle\scriptscriptstyle{#1}}% + \!\int} +\def\XXint#1#2#3{{\setbox0=\hbox{$#1{#2#3}{\int}$} + \vcenter{\hbox{$#2#3$}}\kern-.5\wd0}} +\def\ddashint{\Xint=} +\def\dashint{\Xint-} +\end{verbatim} +\end{wideversion} +\begin{narrowversion} +\begin{verbatim} +\def\Xint#1{\mathchoice + {\XXint\displaystyle\textstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\textstyle\scriptstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\scriptstyle\scriptscriptstyle{#1}}% + {\XXint\scriptscriptstyle + \scriptscriptstyle{#1}}% + \!\int} +\def\XXint#1#2#3{{% + \setbox0=\hbox{$#1{#2#3}{\int}$} + \vcenter{\hbox{$#2#3$}}\kern-.5\wd0}} +\def\ddashint{\Xint=} +\def\dashint{\Xint-} +\end{verbatim} +\end{narrowversion} +\end{quote} +\csx{dashint} gives a single-dashed integral sign, \csx{ddashint} a +double-dashed one. + +\Question[Q-underscore]{How to typeset an underscore character} + +The underscore character `\texttt{\_}' is ordinarily used in \TeX{} to +indicate a subscript in maths mode; if you type \texttt{\_}, on its +own, in the course of ordinary text, \TeX{} will complain. The +``proper'' \latex{} command for underscore is \csx{textunderscore}, +but the \latexo{} command \csx{\_} is an established alias. Even so, +if you're writing a document which will contain a large number of +underscore characters, the prospect of typing \csx{\_} for every one +of them will daunt most ordinary people. + +Moderately skilled macro programmers can readily generate a quick hack +to permit typing `\texttt{\_}' to mean `text underscore' (the answer in +\begin{hyperversion} + ``\Qref{defining characters as macros}{Q-activechars}'' +\end{hyperversion} +\begin{flatversion} + \Qref[question]{}{Q-activechars} +\end{flatversion} +uses this example to illustrate its techniques). +However, the code \emph{is} somewhat tricky, and more importantly +there are significant points where it's easy to get it wrong. There +is therefore a package \Package{underscore} which provides a general +solution to this requirement. + +There is a problem, though: \acro{OT}1 text fonts don't contain an +underscore character, unless they're in the typewriter version of the +encoding (used by fixed-width fonts such as \texttt{cmtt}). In place +of such a character, \latex{} (in \acro{OT}1 encoding) uses a short rule +for the command \csx{textunderscore}, but this poses problems +for systems that interpret \acro{PDF}~--- for example those +\acro{PDF}-to-voice systems used by those who find reading difficult. + +So either you must ensure that your underscore characters only occur +in text set in a typewriter font, or you must use a more modern +encoding, such as \acro{T}1, which has the same layout for every font, +and thus an underscore in every font. + +A stable procedure to achieve this is: +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +% (1) choose a font that is available as T1 +% for example: +\usepackage{lmodern} + +% (2) specify encoding +\usepackage[T1]{fontenc} + +% (3) load symbol definitions +\usepackage{textcomp} +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} +which will provide a command \csx{textunderscore} which robustly +selects the right character. The \Package{underscore} package, +mentioned above, will use this command. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[underscore.sty]\CTANref{underscore} +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2011-08-17} + +\Question[Q-atsign]{How to type an `@' sign?} + +Long ago, some packages used to use the `@' sign as a special +character, so that special measures were needed to type it. While +those packages are still in principle available, few people use them, +and those that do use them have ready access to rather good +documentation. + +Ordinary people (such as the author of this \acro{FAQ}) need only type +`@'. +\LastEdit{2011-08-16} + +\Question[Q-euro]{Typesetting the Euro sign} + +The European currency ``Euro'' (\texteuro {}) is represented by a symbol +of somewhat dubious design, but it's an important currency and +\AllTeX{} users need to typeset it. When the currency first appeared, +typesetting it was a serious problem for \AllTeX{} users; things are +easier now (most fonts have some way of providing a Euro sign), but +this answer provides a summary of methods ``just in case''. + +Note that the Commission of the European Community at first deemed +that the Euro symbol should always be set in a sans-serif font; +fortunately, this eccentric ruling has now been rescinded, and one may +apply best typesetting efforts to making it appear at least slightly +``respectable'' (typographically). + +The \acro{TS}1-encoded \acro{TC} fonts provided as part of the \acro{EC} font +distribution provide Euro glyphs. The fonts are called Text Companion +(\acro{TC}) fonts, and offer the same range +of faces as do the \acro{EC} fonts themselves. The +\Package{textcomp} package provides a \csx{texteuro} command for +accessing the symbol, which selects a symbol to match the surrounding +text. The design of the symbol in the \acro{TC} fonts is not +universally loved\dots{} +Nevertheless, use the \acro{TC} font version of the symbol if you are +producing documents using Knuth's Computer Modern Fonts. + +The each of the \Package{latin9} and \Package{latin10} input encoding +definitions for the \Package{inputenc} package has a euro character +defined (character position 164, occupied in other \acro{ISO} Latin +character sets by the ``currency symbol'' \textcurrency {}, which +ordinary people seldom see except in character-set listings\dots{}). +The \acro{TC} encoding file offers the command \csx{texteuro} for the +character; that command is (probably) \emph{only} available from the +\Package{textcomp} package. + +Use of the \acro{TC} encoding character may therefore made via +\csx{texteuro} or via the Latin-9 or Latin-10 character in ordinary +text. + +Note that there is a Microsoft code page position (128), too, and that has +been added to \Package{inputenc} tables for \acro{CP}1252 and +\acro{CP}1257. (There's another position in \acro{CP}858, which has +it in place of ``dotless i'' in \acro{CP850}; the standardisation of +these things remains within Microsoft, so one can never tell what will +come next\dots{}) + +Outline fonts which contain nothing but Euro symbols are available +(free) from +\href{ftp://ftp.adobe.com/pub/adobe/type/win/all/eurofont.exe}{Adobe}\nobreakspace--- +the file is packaged as a \ProgName{Windows} self-extracting +executable, but it may be decoded as a \extension{zip} format archive +on other operating systems. +The \Package{euro} bundle contains metrics, \ProgName{dvips} map +files, and macros (for \plaintex{} and \LaTeX{}), for using these +fonts in documents. \LaTeX{} users will find two packages in the +bundle: \Package{eurosans} only offers the sans-serif version (to +conform with the obsolete ruling about sans-serif-only symbols; the +package provides the +command \csx{euro}), whereas \Package{europs} matches the Euro symbol +with the surrounding text (providing the command \csx{EUR}). To use +either package +with the \Package{latin9} encoding, you need to define \csx{texteuro} +as an alias for the euro command the package defines. + +The Adobe fonts are probably the best bet for use in non-Computer +Modern environments. They are apparently designed to fit with Adobe +Times, Helvetica and Courier, but can probably fit with a wider range +of modern fonts. + +The \Package{eurofont} package provides a compendious analysis of the +``problem of the euro symbol'' in its documentation, and offers macros +for configuring the source of the glyphs to be used; however, it seems +rather large for everyday use. + +The \Package{euro-ce} bundle is a rather pleasing \MF{}-only design +providing Euro symbols in a number of shapes. The file +\File{euro-ce.tex}, in the distribution, offers hints as to how a +\plaintex{} user might make use of the fonts. + +Euro symbols are found in several other places, which we list here for +completeness. + +The \Package{marvosym} font contains a Euro symbol (in a number of +typographic styles), among many other good things; the font is +available in both Adobe Type 1 and TrueType formats. + +Other \MF{}-based bundles containing Euro symbols are to be found in +\Package{china2e} (whose primary aim is Chinese dates and suchlike +matters) and the \Package{eurosym} fonts. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[china2e bundle]\CTANref{china2e} +\item[EC fonts]\CTANref{ec} +\item[euro fonts]\CTANref{euro-fonts} +\item[euro-ce fonts]\CTANref{euro-ce} +\item[eurofont.sty]\CTANref{eurofont} +\item[eurosym fonts]\CTANref{eurosym} +\item[marvosym fonts]\CTANref{marvosym-fonts} +\item[textcomp.sty]Part of the \LaTeX{} distribution. +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2011-11-21} + +\Question[Q-tradesyms]{How to get copyright, trademark, etc.} + +The ``\nothtml{Comprehensive symbol list'' (}% beware line break +\Qref{Comprehensive symbol list}{Q-symbols}\latexhtml{)}{''}, lists +the symbol commands \csx{textcopyright}, +\csx{textregistered} and \csx{texttrademark}, which are available in +\acro{TS}1-encoded fonts, and which are enabled using the +\Package{textcomp} package. + +In fact, all three commands are enabled in default \LaTeX{}, but the +glyphs you get aren't terribly beautiful. In particular, +\csx{textregistered} behaves oddly when included in bold text (for +example, in a section heading), since it is composed of a small-caps +letter, which typically degrades to a regular shape letter when asked +to set in a bold font. This means that the glyph becomes a circled +``r'', whereas the proper symbol is a circled ``R''. + +This effect is of course avoided by use of \Package{textcomp}. + +Another problem arises if you want \csx{textregistered} in a +superscript position (to look similar to \csx{texttrademark}). +Using a maths-mode superscript to do this provokes lots of pointless +errors: you \emph{must} use +\begin{quote} +\begin{verbatim} +\textsuperscript{\textregistered} +\end{verbatim} +\end{quote} + +\Question[Q-osf]{Using ``old-style'' figures} + +These numbers are also called medieval or lowercase figures and their +use is mostly font-specific. Terminology is confusing since the +lining figures (which are now the default) are a relatively recent +development (19th century) and before they arrived, oldstyle figures +were the norm, even when setting mathematics. (An example is Thomas +Harriot's \emph{Artis Analyticae Praxis} published in 1631). In a +typical old style 3, 4, 5, 7 and 9 have descenders and 6 and 8 ascend +above the x-height; sometimes 2 will also ascend (this last seems to +be a variation associated with French typography). + +\LaTeX{} provides a command \cmdinvoke*{oldstylenums}{digits}, which +by default uses an old-style set embedded in Knuth's `math italic' +font. The command is only sensitive to `bold' of the font style of +surrounding text: glyphs (for this command) are only available to +match the normal medium and bold (i.e., bold-extended) weights of the +Computer Modern Roman fonts. + +The \Package{textcomp} package changes \csx{oldstylenums} to use the +glyphs in the Text Companion fonts (\LaTeX{} \acro{TS}1 encoding) when +in text mode, and also makes them available using the macros of the +form \csx{text<number>oldstyle}, e.g., \csx{textzerooldstyle}. +(Of course, not all font families can provide this facility.) + +Some font packages (e.g., \Package{mathpazo}) make old-style figures +available and provide explicit support for making them the default: +\cmdinvoke{usepackage}[osf]{mathpazo} selects a form where digits are +always old-style in text. The \Package{fontinst} package will +automatically generate ``old-style versions'' of commercial Adobe Type +1 font families for which ``expert'' sets are available. + +It's also possible to make virtual fonts, that offer old-style digits, +from existing font packages. The \FontName{cmolddig} bundle provides +a such a virtual version of Knuth's originals, and the \FontName{eco} +or \FontName{hfoldsty} bundles both provide versions of the \acro{EC} +fonts. The \FontName{lm} family offers old-style figures to OpenType +users (see below), but we have no stable mapping for \FontName{lm} +with old-style digits from the Adobe Type 1 versions of the fonts. + +Originally, oldstyle figures were only to be found the expert sets of +commercial fonts, but now they are increasingly widely available. An +example is Matthew Carter's Georgia font, which has old-style figures +as its normal form (the font was created for inclusion with certain +Microsoft products and is intended for on-screen viewing). + +OpenType fonts have a pair of axes for number variations~--- +proportional/tabular and lining/oldstyle selections are commonly +available. ``Full feature access'' to OpenType fonts, making such +options available to the \AllTeX{} user, is already supported by +\Qref*{\xetex{}}{Q-xetex} using, for example, the \Package{fontspec} +package. Similar support is also in the works for +\Qref*{\LuaTeX{}}{Q-luatex}. +\begin{ctanrefs} +\item[boondox \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{boondox} +\item[cmolddig \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{cmolddig} +\item[eco \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{eco} +\item[fontinst]\CTANref{fontinst} +\item[fontspec.sty]\CTANref{fontspec} +\item[mathpazo \nothtml{\rmfamily}fonts]\CTANref{mathpazo} +\end{ctanrefs} +\LastEdit{2013-12-04} |