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Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
On my old system (win98, yes believe it or not), I used Xara Xtreme exclusively to create all my graphics. For instance, I created my company logo, which incorporates Scriptina Font for a tag line. I then used this logo in all kinds of graphic design templates. Well, by old system was on it's last legs, so I bought a new one (Win XP Pro), and transfered all my files over. Now when I open any of my old files (for instance. the ones with the logo), the spacing (kerning/tracking) is not honoured. This is very evident in the Scriptina example, as it is cursive, and so the text extends greatly beyond the old boundaries.
edit: I just noticed that the Scriptina text is Bold now as well, which was not the case in the original file.
I hope this makes sense.
Is there anything that I can do to maintain all my old file text spacing settings when I open them in Xara Xtreme on my new system? Why is this happening?
Cheers!
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
I do not recall hearing of this happening before.
Do you have a file you would be willing to post so we can try to determine the cause of the problem?
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3 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Sure,
I have attached a gif (text then.gif) of the graphic the way it looked in one of my old templates.
And the xara file (text now.xar) the way it opens it now. I am also attaching a gif of how it looks now (text now.gif), in case it opens properly in your xara application.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
I had to find and download the scriptina font as .xar files don't include them. I did note that by default your file loaded with the text attribute set to Bold on the info bar. I undid the Bold and now the fonts resembles your earlier picture.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Could you post a .xar file that has the original kerning/tracking?
The file you posted before does not have the kerning/tracking as shown in your text before screen shot. Not on any of my systems in any version of Xara X(treme).
What I see on my systems is the default for the font. Is it possible you did not save the file after you adjusted the tracking?
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
....well apart from the kerning that is :o
NOTE: I had to convert to editable shapes, ungroup twice and do some nudging in order to match the kerning you show in the 'before' shot. Perhaps this is what you did originally?
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2 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
By adjusting the Tracking the attached .xar has what appears to be the same as your before image.
Select the g in digital and change the tracking to -210.
Select the i after the g and change the tracking to -100.
Select the t in digital and change the tracking to -390.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Yes Bills method will allow you to edit the text, though if you did, the kerning will change.
I see we have both missed the spacing with the 'es' in services. :(
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Sorry for the delay. I am not getting email updates of posts, although i have my Control Panel set for it?
It's a bit tricky, partly because of the fact that my old files were all created on another system, and because (as noted) the scriptina font is not readily available. So I appreciate people trying to help, regardless.
I know HOW to adjust the tracking (which is what I used originally, not kerning) to make the text look close to what it used to. But you have to understand, I have hundreds of different templates in all kinds of configurations, and it will take me forever to fix them all, and even then they will not be perfect.
I am trying to figure out why this has happened in the first place.
When I open the files on my old system (win98), they display properly. But those same files, when opened on my new system (win XP), lose all the text properties, or more accurately, change them (add bold, lose tracking settings). How is this info stored by Xara?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Soquili
Could you post a .xar file that has the original kerning/tracking?
The file you posted before does not have the kerning/tracking as shown in your text before screen shot. Not on any of my systems in any version of Xara X(treme).
What I see on my systems is the default for the font. Is it possible you did not save the file after you adjusted the tracking?
When I click "open", and highlight a graphic, the preview graphic shows the tracking as it should me. But when I open the file, it changes the Scriptina to 50 tracking and bolds it.
I will try to find some time to hook my old system back up and upload an xar file from there.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mvpdigital
Sorry for the delay. I am not getting email updates of posts, although i have my Control Panel set for it?
If you have set the Default Subscription to "instant Email Notification' in your CP, then you should be getting email alerts.
Also, when you reply check that the 'Thread Subscription' says 'Instant Email Notification' - to be certain :)
Quote:
When I click "open", and highlight a graphic, the preview graphic shows the tracking as it should me.
That due to embedded bitmap for the thumbnail, which would have be saved when created on the Win98 system?
Quote:
I am trying to figure out why this has happened in the first place. Is it possible that the Post Script fonts are the issue?
Are they 'exactly' the same fonts (taken from your Win98 Fonts folder)? Or did you just download them again from the internet for your newer machine?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Are you using the same Post Script font on WinXP as you did on Win98?
Win98 required a post script font manager are you using the same on WinXP?
I installed a Type1 Scriptina font on my system but still see the same tracking as I did with the TrueType font.
Have you contacted Xara Support? http://support/xara.com
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
If you have set the Default Subscription to "instant Email Notification' in your CP, then you should be getting email alerts.
Also, when you reply check that the 'Thread Subscription' says 'Instant Email Notification' - to be certain :)
That due to embedded bitmap for the thumbnail, which would have be saved when created on the Win98 system?
Are they 'exactly' the same fonts (taken from your Win98 Fonts folder)? Or did you just download them again from the internet for your newer machine?
I had it set in CP, but didn't check in the thread options, below. Now I have changed it to Instant.
Yes, I hooked the hard drive from my old system to the new system. Then transferred all files, including fonts from the old system. Then I put the drive back in the old system.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
I was editing my last post while you were replying to Sledger.
Did you install the fonts you brought over to the XP system?
Are you using a Post script font manager in XP?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Soquili
Are you using the same Post Script font on WinXP as you did on Win98?
Win98 required a post script font manager are you using the same on WinXP?
I installed a Type1 Scriptina font on my system but still see the same tracking as I did with the TrueType font.
Have you contacted Xara Support?
http://support/xara.com
Sorry for the confusion, the Scriptina font I have it TTF, not post script. Although I did bring Post script fonts into WinXP, and have no problem using them. I did install a fix from Adobe, since I had installed Adobe Type Manager, and then uninstalled it. But that's another story on the riverbank.
I have not contacted Xara support. I always find the best support here. I guess that is the next step.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Soquili
I was editing my last post while you were replying to Sledger.
Did you install the fonts you brought over to the XP system?
Are you using a Post script font manager in XP?
I installed all the fonts from my old system, that weren't already on my new system, Scriptina being one of them.
I don't think I am using a Post Script manager. I just use post script fonts in programs, and have no problems.
The Scriptina font I use is TTF.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
It is odd that the tracking is changing on the old files.
Have you tried using the ExpandXar.exe utility? It does an uncompress on a .xar file and can fix some errors.
I'm thinking that possible uncompressing the .xar and then opening the output file in Xtreme may correct what ever is causing the problem.
You can download ExpandXar.exe from the Xara Xone http://www.xaraxone.com/html/shareware.html
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Bill the scriptina.ttf font is displayed the same in CoredDraw X3 on XP and Vista Ult in the same way that Xara does. Also Wordpad shows the same 'tracking' ?
It appears not to be a .xar file problem at all.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Soquili
It is odd that the tracking is changing on the old files.
Have you tried using the ExpandXar.exe utility? It does an uncompress on a .xar file and can fix some errors.
I'm thinking that possible uncompressing the .xar and then opening the output file in Xtreme may correct what ever is causing the problem.
You can download ExpandXar.exe from the Xara Xone
http://www.xaraxone.com/html/shareware.html
I downloaded ExpandXar and it didn't fix the problem. But thanks, for the resource. I'll keep it on hand.
I've opened a ticket with Xara support.
I am just starting to realize how huge this issue is for me. I just checked a bunch of client biz cards, and the formatting is off on many of them. This is scary.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
Bill the scriptina.ttf font is displayed the same in CoredDraw X3 on XP and Vista Ult in the same way that Xara does. Also Wordpad shows the same 'tracking' ?
It appears not to be a .xar file problem at all.
I don't mean to be rude, but I think you're missing the point of my post, and problem.
I have created tons of graphics over the past several years in Xara (Xara Xtreme), many using the Scriptina font (and other cursive fonts). When I created them, I adjusted the tracking to the desired spacing look, and saved the files. I have then opened these files thousands of time over the years and they have always maintained the tracking adjustments that I set. It is only now, when I open these same files on my new system, that the tracking has gone back to what you see (I am guessing default).
I'm trying to find out why, and find a way to open the files maintaining the proper text attributes.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
It's as though Xara Xtreme running on XP doesn't recognize text attributes set with Xara Xtreme in Win 98. Is this possible?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
You're right - my apologies.. :)
The 'text now.xar' shows it was created with Xara Xtreme 3.0 0.4480
Is this the exact same same version used on both Win98 and WinXP?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
That's weird, how/where do you see the version it was created with?
I only have Xara Xtreme 2.0f CD
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Drop your .xar file into Notepad. You will see the file header there.
You will also see GIF87a, which is the header for the embedded thumbnail image I spoke of in post 11
As you say - wierd :confused:
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
I'm really confused now. When I drop any of my xara files into notepad (I just created a new file and tested it), I get the version you said. But when I look in Xara under Help/About it says version 2.0f CD.
How is that?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
Drop your .xar file into Notepad. You will see the file header there.
You will also see GIF87a, which is the header for the embedded thumbnail image I spoke of in post 11
As you say - wierd :confused:
Every file I open in notepad has GIF87a. Is that what it always is? Or should there be different headers for every file?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
GIF87a is the thumbnail image only, this is what you see in Windows Explorer and the preview when you browse to open a .xar file from XaraXtreme. It's embedded in all .xar files as far as I'm aware.
With the version difference, not sure what's happening there I'm afraid. I think it would be better answered by Xara Support.. ?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Would you mind doing a test on your system to see if the notepad version matches your xara help/about version?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Yes the header in my .xar files match the version I have installed:
Xara Xtreme Pro 3.2.4 3.2.4.3017 CD
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
The following GIF Signature identifies the data following as a
valid GIF image stream. It consists of the following six characters:
G I F 8 7 a
The last three characters '87a' may be viewed as a version number
for this particular GIF definition and will be used in general as a
reference in documents regarding GIF that address any version
dependencies.
.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
Yes the header in my .xar files match the version I have installed:
Xara Xtreme Pro 3.2.4 3.2.4.3017 CD
Can anyone explain, why mine do not.
Is there even such a thing as Xara Xtreme 3?
I see Pro 3, but no Xtreme 3.
I am going to put my old system back together today, and check things out there.
I did notice somthing interesting. When I check the properties of the Xtreme.exe in C:\Program Files, and click compatibility, there is an option to "Run this program in compatibility mode for: Win 95, win98/ME" etc.
I tried doing this and I get an error (cxatm932(127). Wishful thinking I guess.
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2 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Tracking) Settings not maintained
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
You're right - my apologies.. :)
The 'text now.xar' shows it was created with Xara Xtreme 3.0 0.4480
Is this the exact same same version used on both Win98 and WinXP?
Okay. I am now up on my old Win98 machine. All my xar files open and display properly. I am running version 2.0f CD (the same as on WinXP). When I open a xar file in notepad here, it shows the same Xara Xtreme 3.0 0.4480 header. So I don't think that has anything to do with my issue.
I am going to attached a xar and gif export from here, and see if it displays the tracking properly on your systsems.
I appreciate the help.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
It seems to be a Window XP thing ........
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ss-kalm
It seems to be a Window XP thing ........
That's my deduction as well. Or more to the point, Xara in XP.
I'm now back on my new (WinXP) system and see that my test xar file doesn't maintain the text attributes.
So I am thinking maybe I should try exporting them from Xara (on win98 system) as a different type of xara file. Anyone have a suggestion?
I can't believe this hasn't come up before. Didn't anyone else create on win98, and then upgrade to winXP???
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
You can try exporting form XaraXtreme on win98 as PDF making sure (under the objects tab of the export dialogue) you haven't checked 'Convert fonts to shapes'
Then import the PDF in XaraXtreme running on WindowsXP - it's likely to be the same as it appears to be an OS font management difference.
Having never installed Xara on Windows98, I personally have no files created under '98.
If you have the time and desire, you can install Windows98 on you new XP machine as a 'VirtualPC', also installing XaraXtreme into this virtual environment also. It may save a bit of time when going from one operating environment to another and give you the opportunity for further experimentation?
Microsoft Virtual PC software (free)
As for XaraXtreme version 3, yes Xara Xtreme is at version 3.2 at this moment.
Finally, out of curiosity, go back to your Xtreme.exe in :\program Files\xara etc, right-click and choose properties. Look through the tabs and find the version there. No matter what it might say on the CD or Box, the file version shown in the executable properties sheet is the one you have :)
*My screenshot is from the Vista properties sheet, and will look slightly different on your XP system.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
No, it's not just Xara, Word shows the same problems, with this font.
I suspect that something about the ligatures and swashes in this font is contributing to the problem.
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1 Attachment(s)
Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sledger
You can try exporting form XaraXtreme on win98 as PDF making sure (under the objects tab of the export dialogue) you haven't checked 'Convert fonts to shapes'
Then import the PDF in XaraXtreme running on WindowsXP - it's likely to be the same as it appears to be an OS font management difference.
Having never installed Xara on Windows98, I personally have no files created under '98.
If you have the time and desire, you can install Windows98 on you new XP machine as a 'VirtualPC', also installing XaraXtreme into this virtual environment also. It may save a bit of time when going from one operating environment to another and give you the opportunity for further experimentation?
Microsoft Virtual PC software (free)
As for XaraXtreme version 3, yes
Xara Xtreme is at version 3.2 at this moment.
Finally, out of curiosity, go back to your Xtreme.exe in :\program Files\xara etc, right-click and choose properties. Look through the tabs and find the version there. No matter what it might say on the CD or Box, the file version shown in the executable properties sheet is the one you have :)
*My screenshot is from the Vista properties sheet, and will look slightly different on your XP system.
I will try anything at this point. I have attached my properties. So I guess I have version 0.0.0.480... huh?!
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ss-kalm
No, it's not just Xara, Word shows the same problems, with this font.
I suspect that something about the ligatures and swashes in this font is contributing to the problem.
I've been over this before, but it's not a problem with the way Xara or any other program displays the Scriptina font. It's the fact that after I save a file (in Win98), where I have adjusted the tracking to correct the spacing, that Xara resorts back to the default spacing when the file is opened in Xara on winXP.
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
Reading the thread, I hadn't realised that you had to correct the spacing originally, I thought that it was just happening when you updated to XP.
I agree Xara should not be reverting to the original kerning. Have you sent a support e-mail to Xara?
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Re: Text Spacing (Kerning/Tracking) Settings Lost
I agree - you need Xara support on this one...