X2Go Bug report logs - #538
Missing fonts in X application

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Message #5 received at submit@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Stephane Mutz <stephane.mutz@blinksight.com>

To: submit@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Missing fonts in X application

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 09:53:55 +0100

Package: x2goclient

Setup: X2go server on Ubuntu 12.10, client on Win7

Issue: One of our CAD application displays unreadable text. When trying
to select another font, only one is available. xlsfonts also reports only a
few fonts. The application works fine locallyor when using a Linux X2go 
client
and xlsfonts shows a long list of fonts.

How to solve: Install the 'font' directory from the VcXsrv mainline package.
After that, the application shows readable text and provides a large 
selection
of alternative fonts.

I think it would be good to bring the Windows and Linux client closer by 
shipping
a more complete VcXsrv with it or at least offering the option.

Message #10 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Stefan Baur <newsgroups.mail2@stefanbaur.de>

To: x2go-dev@lists.berlios.de, 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Missing fonts in X application

Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:09:02 +0100

Am 23.01.2013 09:53, schrieb Stephane Mutz:

> Issue: One of our CAD application displays unreadable text. When trying
> to select another font, only one is available. xlsfonts also reports only a
> few fonts. The application works fine locallyor when using a Linux X2go
> client
> and xlsfonts shows a long list of fonts.
>
> How to solve: Install the 'font' directory from the VcXsrv mainline
> package.
> After that, the application shows readable text and provides a large
> selection
> of alternative fonts.
>
> I think it would be good to bring the Windows and Linux client closer by
> shipping
> a more complete VcXsrv with it or at least offering the option.

This reminds me of an issue with NoMachine's NX Client.  I'm not sure if 
they still do so, but they used to offer separate font packages for 
download on the same page as their Windows client.  The note next to 
them said that you'd only need them for really old X applications that 
require client-side fonts; all modern applications would use server-side 
fonts and work fine without these extra packages.

Out of curiosity, how old is your application?  Maybe there is a way to 
make it work with server-side fonts?

-Stefan

Message #15 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Missing fonts in X application

Date: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 21:16:41 -0500

Hi Stephane, I'm the new Win32 package maintainer for X2Go Client.

I see that you worked around this issue by copying over VcXsrv's fonts folder:
https://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/x2go-user/2013-January/001253.html

I've experienced this bug too with ClearCase 8.0.0's "xclearcase" GUI.
It is a very old UNIX/Linux GUI and it uses motif.

My successful workaround was to both install a bunch of fonts packages
server-side (including international fonts,) and to copy over the
fonts directory.

Still, I believe that we should take the same approach that NX did and
provide a seperate setup.exe containing the extra fonts. Unless there
are any objections, that will officially be on my to do list as the
win32 package maintainer.

Note that I do not want to include the fonts in the main X2Go Client
setup.exe because:
1. They are 4,673 files, which would add a lot to the installation time
2. They are 32MB compressed with 7-zip, so they would add that much
space or more. (X2goclient 4.0.1.3's setup .exe is only 23MB).

For reference to others who need to copy fonts:
- X2Go Client 4.0.0.3 uses VcXsrv 1.12.0.1
- X2Go Client 4.0.1.2 and 4.0.1.3 use VcXsrv 1.14.2.1.

-Mike#2

Message #20 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>

To: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>, 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Bug#108: Missing fonts in X application

Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 09:14:42 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi Mike#2,

On  Mo 27 Jan 2014 03:16:41 CET, Michael DePaulo wrote:

> Hi Stephane, I'm the new Win32 package maintainer for X2Go Client.
>
> I see that you worked around this issue by copying over VcXsrv's  
> fonts folder:
> https://lists.berlios.de/pipermail/x2go-user/2013-January/001253.html
>
> I've experienced this bug too with ClearCase 8.0.0's "xclearcase" GUI.
> It is a very old UNIX/Linux GUI and it uses motif.
>
> My successful workaround was to both install a bunch of fonts packages
> server-side (including international fonts,) and to copy over the
> fonts directory.
>
> Still, I believe that we should take the same approach that NX did and
> provide a seperate setup.exe containing the extra fonts. Unless there
> are any objections, that will officially be on my to do list as the
> win32 package maintainer.
>
> Note that I do not want to include the fonts in the main X2Go Client
> setup.exe because:
> 1. They are 4,673 files, which would add a lot to the installation time
> 2. They are 32MB compressed with 7-zip, so they would add that much
> space or more. (X2goclient 4.0.1.3's setup .exe is only 23MB).
>
> For reference to others who need to copy fonts:
> - X2Go Client 4.0.0.3 uses VcXsrv 1.12.0.1
> - X2Go Client 4.0.1.2 and 4.0.1.3 use VcXsrv 1.14.2.1.
>
> -Mike#2

Wouldn't the best approach be a .git project on git.x2go.org that  
includes the fonts and two nsis scripts (one for PyHoca, one for X2Go  
Client)?

Mike

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Message #25 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>

Cc: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Bug#108: Missing fonts in X application

Date: Mon, 27 Jan 2014 10:06:54 -0500

On Mon, Jan 27, 2014 at 4:14 AM, Mike Gabriel
<mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de> wrote:
>> Still, I believe that we should take the same approach that NX did and
>> provide a seperate setup.exe containing the extra fonts. Unless there
>> are any objections, that will officially be on my to do list as the
>> win32 package maintainer.
>
> Wouldn't the best approach be a .git project on git.x2go.org that includes
> the fonts and two nsis scripts (one for PyHoca, one for X2Go Client)?
>

Yes, I agree. But as long as PyHoca and X2Go Client use separate
VcXsrv versions, I will use 2 fonts directories. Note that the fonts
dirs do actually differ between VcXsrv releases.

Message #30 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Question

Date: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 09:05:14 -0400

I intend to fix this bug soon, but 1st I am hoping someone knows the
answer to this question:

How does VcXsrv even work when there are no fonts installed?

I read this in a user review of VcXsrv on sf.net by user ausback:
VcXsrv comes with fonts that render the screen exactly as it is
rendered by the native Xorg server. Xming used Windows XP fonts which
looked pretty good but weren't the right size. Overall, I rate VcXsrv
vastly superior to Xming.

So presumably, VcXsrv uses the Windows XP/vista/7/etc fonts when its
own fonts are not installed.

Message #35 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Workaround builds for X2Go Client 4.0.2.0

Date: Thu, 5 Jun 2014 09:25:14 -0400

I forgot to mention this earlier.

I created separate builds of X2Go Client 4.0.2.0 with the fonts:
http://wiki.x2go.org/doku.php/doc:release-notes-mswin:x2goclient-4.0.2.0#available_builds

This is probably just going to be a temporary measure, so I am not
marking this bug resolved yet.

-Mike#2

Message #40 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Can we close #108?

Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 19:23:30 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi Mike#2,

can we close bug #108 meanwhile? There are these X2Go Client builds  
with the misc fonts included.

How is the exact status of that nowadays?

Thanks for feedback!
Mike
-- 

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fon: +49 (1520) 1976 148

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Message #45 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>, 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Can we close #108?

Date: Sun, 29 Jun 2014 23:49:56 -0400

Hi Mike#2,

I have not had much time to work on this. I have been thinking about it though.

1. Regardless of the rest of what we decide, do not close this bug
until is is more obvious about the different builds being available.
Please provide feedback to the email thread: "How to handle the
different Windows builds"
http://comments.gmane.org/gmane.linux.terminal-server.x2go.devel/7158
And notice that I created a "non-default-builds" subfolder for 4.0.2.1 previews:
http://code.x2go.org/releases/binary-win32/x2goclient/previews/4.0.2.1/
And I think the home page should be updated to link to the latest
stable folder (.e.g, releases/4.0.2.1/, not
releases/4.0.2.1/non-default-builds/) . And this will solve the
problem of people reporting to us that they installed
"X2GoClient_latest_mswin32-setup.exe"

2. The separate X2Go builds are a temporary fix. Having 3 separate
builds (before factoring in the debug build) are adding a lot more
work for me. I never intended to close this bug with only them
available.

3. I supposed we could close this bug and open a new bug report for a
better/permanent fix. Or clone this bug for a better/permanent fix.
I'll leave which approach to take to your judgment.

4. When I get more free time, I'll do the following for a better/permanent fix:

a. Determine why the fonts are needed by some Linux applications, but
not others.
b. Determine what the default should be (I am leaning towards the
"misc" set. Empirically, it solves the compatibility problems for most
people, if not everyone. The "full" set makes the installer take much
longer and adds lots more files to the filesystem, so I'd rather not
make that the default.)
c. I'll probably integrate them into the regular installer as an
optional component, instead of putting them in a separate installer.
This means that the installer will be 48.5 MB in size with solid lzma
compression (compared to 56.0 MB with zlib compression.) However, in
2014, I think that 48.5 MB is reasonable.

Do not expect the permanent fix to arrive in time for 4.0.2.1.

-Mike

Message #50 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>

To: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

Cc: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Can we close #108?

Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:13:26 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Hi Michael,

On  Mo 30 Jun 2014 05:49:56 CEST, Michael DePaulo wrote:

> a. Determine why the fonts are needed by some Linux applications, but
> not others.
> b. Determine what the default should be (I am leaning towards the
> "misc" set. Empirically, it solves the compatibility problems for most
> people, if not everyone. The "full" set makes the installer take much
> longer and adds lots more files to the filesystem, so I'd rather not
> make that the default.)
> c. I'll probably integrate them into the regular installer as an
> optional component, instead of putting them in a separate installer.
> This means that the installer will be 48.5 MB in size with solid lzma
> compression (compared to 56.0 MB with zlib compression.) However, in
> 2014, I think that 48.5 MB is reasonable.

How about this:

We set up a new X2Go subproject called

  x2go-xfonts.git

This subproject contains _all_ extra fonts and mainly is an NSIS installer.

This installer can be used to install those extra fonts into the  
correct directory for X2Go Client _and_ for PyHoca-GUI.

The user/admin can install if he/she wants to install the fonts at  
both locations (%ProgramFiles%\x2golient, %ProgramFiles%\PyHoca-GUI)  
or only at one of them.

The X2Go Client setup.exe should remain rather minimal IMHO.

> Do not expect the permanent fix to arrive in time for 4.0.2.1.

Absolutely fine!

Mike

-- 

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Message #55 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Re: [X2Go-Dev] Bug#108: Can we close #108?

Date: Mon, 30 Jun 2014 08:39:49 -0400

On Mon, Jun 30, 2014 at 4:13 AM, Mike Gabriel
<mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de> wrote:
> Hi Michael,
>
>
> On  Mo 30 Jun 2014 05:49:56 CEST, Michael DePaulo wrote:
>
>> a. Determine why the fonts are needed by some Linux applications, but
>> not others.
>> b. Determine what the default should be (I am leaning towards the
>> "misc" set. Empirically, it solves the compatibility problems for most
>> people, if not everyone. The "full" set makes the installer take much
>> longer and adds lots more files to the filesystem, so I'd rather not
>> make that the default.)
>> c. I'll probably integrate them into the regular installer as an
>> optional component, instead of putting them in a separate installer.
>> This means that the installer will be 48.5 MB in size with solid lzma
>> compression (compared to 56.0 MB with zlib compression.) However, in
>> 2014, I think that 48.5 MB is reasonable.
>
>
> How about this:
>
> We set up a new X2Go subproject called
>
>   x2go-xfonts.git
>
> This subproject contains _all_ extra fonts and mainly is an NSIS installer.
>
> This installer can be used to install those extra fonts into the correct
> directory for X2Go Client _and_ for PyHoca-GUI.
>
> The user/admin can install if he/she wants to install the fonts at both
> locations (%ProgramFiles%\x2golient, %ProgramFiles%\PyHoca-GUI) or only at
> one of them.
>
> The X2Go Client setup.exe should remain rather minimal IMHO.
>
>
>> Do not expect the permanent fix to arrive in time for 4.0.2.1.
>
>
> Absolutely fine!
>
>
[...]

As Mike#1 and agreed on IRC, I will put the fonts in the X2Go Client
installer as an optional component. These are the reasons:

1. Windows does not have a proper dependency system. So you can remove
x2goclient or pyhoca-gui without removing the fonts.
2. I have to maintain the mapping between x2goclient/pyhoca-gui
versions and the font package versions. This is because the fonts do
change with different VcXsrv releases
3. Users expect "all the dependencies and optional components" to be
in 1 installer on Windows. In fact, that is the recommendation for
Windows.

Also, we will close this bug once the fonts are in the X2Go Client installer.

-Mike#2

Message #60 received at 108@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Michael DePaulo <mikedep333@gmail.com>

To: 108@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: Info on why some apps need the fonts but others don't

Date: Mon, 7 Jul 2014 20:03:27 -0400

I've determined why the fonts are needed by some Linux applications, but
not others.

Jon TURNEY from the Cygwin X11 project gave a very good overview:
https://cygwin.com/ml/cygwin-xfree/2014-07/threads.html#00002

Nomachine also had a very good explanation:
http://web.archive.org/web/20100323142457/http://www.nomachine.com/download-client-windows.php

The question is then what should the default be? misc only? or 75dpi,
100dpi, and misc?

misc is 412 files at 6.80 MB (7.94 MB on disk)
75dpi is 1,897 files at 10.7 MB (15.6 MB on disk)
100dpi is 1,897 files at 12.3 MB (16.8 MB on disk)
everything else is 466 files at 12.8MB (13.8 MB on disk)

I am leaning towards default to only misc, and then having separate
options for 75dpi, 100dpi, and for everything else.

Message #69 received at 538@bugs.x2go.org (full text, mbox, reply):

From: Mike Gabriel <mike.gabriel@das-netzwerkteam.de>

To: 538@bugs.x2go.org, 539@bugs.x2go.org

Subject: fixed in Windows build of PyHoca-GUI 0.5.0.4

Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2015 12:52:15 +0000

[Message part 1 (text/plain, inline)]

Control: tag -1 build-win32
Control: close -1

In the PyHoca-GUI changelog, Mike#2 closed bug#108 (which is for X2Go  
component X2Go Client).

I herewith close the clones of #108 (#538: pyhoca-gui, #539: pyhoca-contrib).

@Mike#2: please correct me if I am mistaken and reopen these bugs (or  
one of them).

Greets,
Mike

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