Tahoma Font Width on Mac vs. PC

[Marco]

I have a template that I created for work using Excel 2004 for Mac
which uses the Tahoma font. When PC users open the template, the font
displays text slightly wider and therefore some text goes beyond the
intended cells. You'd think that since Tahoma is a Microsoft developed
font, there would not be an issue. I like the look of my template, and
would like to avoid trying other fonts.

Any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Hi Marco,

Some fonts are identical across platforms and others are not. A lot
depends upon the specific versions.

Even within just Windows there are differences in even the most common
fonts. For example, Arial in Office 97 is different in width from Arial
in Office 2003.

The subject is known as typography and is quite intricate. You can learn
about the subject from a wide variety of sources. Here's one:
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/default.mspx

Adobe is probably the world's largest font factory and is an excellent
resource for learning about fonts. You might find this link helpful:
http://store.adobe.com/type/opentype/main.html

Quoting Paul Berkowitz:
"Mac MS Unicode fonts are Times New Roman, Verdana, Trebuchet MS, and
one of the Asian fonts"

If you stick with the Unicode fonts Paul lists then chances are you
won't have compatibility problems between Office 2003 and Office 2004
(assuming that the other people didn't deactivate or remove these fonts).

-Jim

 

[CyberTaz]

Hi Marco-

Seems your expectation should be valid... A font designed by any respectable
foundry should present the same dimensions regardless of platform, but that
only pertains to printed matter. Could what you are experiencing be related
to differences in displays (resolution, screen size, dot pitch)?

Regards |:>)


On 6/15/05 9:37 AM, in article

I have a template that I created for work using Excel 2004 for Mac
which uses the Tahoma font. When PC users open the template, the font
displays text slightly wider and therefore some text goes beyond the
intended cells. You'd think that since Tahoma is a Microsoft developed
font, there would not be an issue. I like the look of my template, and
would like to avoid trying other fonts.

Any ideas?

Thanks

-- (e-mail address removed)

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

You would think so. I know I did until I investiaged the complex world
of fonts and typefaces. Many of the folks who get deeply into making
fonts and typfaces are in a separate world.

-Jim