font too large in design view

W

Wally S

So I switched my font to Verdana from Times. Thanks to the folks who gave
the suggestion. The problem now is that the font looks much larger in design
view than in preview or preview in browser. I can't find any way to fix it.

Also, I am using CSS, and the font is a property of the body tag. For
setting the size, which is best? Medium, smaller, etc, or to use a point
size? I set it for 10 point, and on the web it looks about right compared to
other web sites, but would it have been better to set it to "smaller", which
would give about the same effect?

Thanks,
Wally S
 
R

Ronx

Point sizes are for print, screens use pixels or relative sizes like
%, em, smaller.
Setting the font size to smaller or to 80% will give a size equivalent
to 10pt text, if the browser font size is set to normal.

A large difference in size between design and preview may be your
browser setting. In IE, View->Text Size.
 
W

Wally S

Hi Ron,

Thanks for the answer. One problem is that the FP formatting toolbar always
gives the font size in points. If I am trying out different effects, when I
finally get what I like, the formatting toolbar will give me the font size
in points and in an integer (3 for 12 pt for example).

The text size on my browser, IE6, is set to "medium." The difference in font
size between design view and preview only happens with Vedana. All other
fonts stay the same. Here is the statement on my style sheet:

body {font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;
font-size: 10pt; background-color: White;}

The problem is the same whether I say "10 pt" or "smaller." I have tried
both. In design view, if I select a piece of the supposed 10pt text, the
formatting toolbar shows it as 12 pt. But again, it only happens with
Verdana, so I am wondering if the problem may be with that particular font.
It looks good, but it may be too problematic to deal with. Or maybe I'll
just have to live with it.

Wally S
 
W

Wally S

The solution is the following statement in my style sheet:
p {font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:
10pt}

It doesn't seem to interfere with paragraphs formatted with classes. In this
way, I get the same size in design view and preview. It seems to be
something specific to the Verdana font. Has anyone else had this problem?

Ron, you mention that point size is for print, but what is the disadvantage
of using it on a web page? It's more convenient since FP always gives the
font size in points on the formatting toolbar.

Thanks,

Wally S
 
R

Ronx

A point (pt) is always 1/72nd of an inch - how do you measure inches
on a screen? Does the inch change if you change resolution or screen
size? If you use points on a web page, you are giving the word a new
meaning.
A Pixel is the smallest dot size available on a screen - this is
consistent with all types of screen, at all resolutions.
 
W

Wally S

Hi Ron,

Thanks for taking the time. What you say makes perfect sense. The problem is
that FP always gives the font size in points, so when I get the layout I
want, after trying this and that, FP shows me the font size in points. What
would be the best way to convert it to a more suitable unit of measure?

A percentage is a percentage of what? Supposedly the parent element, but if
the font size of the parent element is also a percentage, where do you go
from there?

When you get the layout you want, how can you find the font size in pixels?
If the font size is in pixels, will that deprive the viewer of the option of
enlarging or shrinking the font on his own screen?

I've been trying to find the answers through Google search, but I have not
found a clear explanation.

Wally S
 
W

Wally S

Ron,

I seem to be finally getting it together, after lots of Google research and
fudging around. Many thanks for your time.

Wally
 
R

Ronx

I use CSS to define font size in %.

I set the <body> tag to 100% - this is the default font size specified
by the browser - in most browsers equivalent to 12pt.
The the tags <p>, <td>, <th>, <li> etc are set to 80%, which gives
approx. 10pt text displayed on the screen, and headings <h1> set to
120% = 14pt approx. Changing the font size in the browser will alter
the displayed fonts proportionately.

Nesting the elements (<p> within <td>) for example, can give odd
effects, but these are countered using CSS classes.

Setting the font size in pixels will stop IE users changing the size
in their browsers, unless they use the Accessibility options. Other
browsers are not affected.

I have never actually used pixels to size fonts, went from points to
%s many years ago.
 

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