Re: ACS font (was: Way to programmatically determine whether 32-bit or 64-bit Client Access is installed?)

----- Message from Dan <dan27649@xxxxxxxxx> on Thu, 3 Aug 2017 12:
33:25 -0400 -----

To:

Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Subject:

Re: Way to programmatically determine whether 32-bit or 64-bit
Client Access is installed?

On Thu, Aug 3, 2017 at 11:47 AM, <MichaelQuigley@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Until ACS has what I consider significantly better font rendering, I
will never warm to ACS. I'm not just being ornery. I really want to
like ACS, but I can't stand how the text looks - it's simply not

very

readable to me, and feels like I've stepped back into the '90s.

Well if you're talking about the default ACS font (IBM3270) it *IS*

from

the 90s (or before). Just switch to a legible font. I'm using Monaco

which

I personally find very easy to read.

I'm not saying this is Dan's problem at all. I'm just pointing out

one

area in which ACS is handily trounced by its Windows-native
predecessors, at least in the eyes (literally!) of a small but
vehement minority. For most folks, the appearance and legibility of
ACS is just fine.

I don't know. I never cared that much for the default fonts in iSeries
Access either--maybe I'm in a small minority.

I will probably age myself ...

I resemble that remark, too.

... by saying that I use (and like) the IBM3270 font
in both the Windows and Java version. I have found that certain window
sizes greatly affect the appearance of the font. The Windows client
changes the window size when switching between 24x80 and 27x132 screens,
and the setting I have makes it very readable in either mode. However,

the

Java client does not change the window size, and the font is only decent

in

one of the modes, depending on how the window is sized.

I think that's the problem I had, it looked okay with certain sizes--but
others left a lot to be desired.

I use the Inconsolata-bold-10 font in RDi, and I just tried it in the

Java

Access client, and I find this to be much better than IBM3270 for both

the

24x80 and 27x132 screens.

I have that one, too. I like it, but I found that Monaco fills the screen
better.

Michael, I googled the Monaco font, but results are sketchy. It looks

like

it was developed for Apple eons ago and was never "ported" to Windows.

If

you are using Monaco in Windows, can you provide the link from where you
obtained it?

It's been a while, but this looks like it should work for you:
http://www.fonts101.com/fonts/view/Uncategorized/51239/Monaco.aspx

I believe you are correct that it's origin was for Apple. But they are
known for aesthetics.

ALSO, REFERENCING MY OP: Is anyone aware of a way to programmatically
determine whether the 32-bit or 64-bit version of i Access for
***Windows*** is installed?

- Dan

I no longer have i Access installed so I can't verify this. There have
been posts specifically related to the new ACS client where you can test
if a directory is present. IIRC, I think the same logic applies to i
Access.

Michael Quigley
Computer Services
The Way International
www.TheWay.org