[Pidgin] #9985: It's difficult to using various Unicode characters in current Pidgin IM.

[Pidgin]

#9985: It's difficult to using various Unicode characters in current Pidgin IM.
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Reporter:  yes0song  |        Type:  enhancement                        
  Status:  new       |   Component:  pidgin (gtk)                       
 Version:  2.6.1     |    Keywords:  font,rendering,unicode,multilingual
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 Pidgin IM support Unicode, but most of system default fonts doesn't
 contain various characters using in different languages.

 In generally, it doesn't matter for users who only use European languages
 because those languages share same characters and the characters are
 contained in a single font including system default ones like Tahoma.

 However, it matters for users like me who use languages that don't share
 each others' characters. I am using Korean version of Windows XP, and I
 use instant messengers in Korean, English, Chinese (in both traditional
 and simplified version) and Japanese. To render Korean and English in
 Pidgin IM has no problem in computers I use, but to render Chinese and
 Japanese has a problem. Many characters in Chinese and Japanese are not
 rendered correctly. Instead of it, they are rendered as UTF codes wrote in
 a square.

 Such trouble does not happened in the most of programs which use Windows
 XP's font rendering method. For example,  Windows Live Messenger (MSN
 Messenger) exactly renders characters used in Japanese and Chinese using
 other fonts. In major web browsers like Internet Explorer or Mozilla
 Firefox, the rendering is similar to WLM although they are not IM
 softwares.

 Of course, I know solutions of this trouble, but they also has problems.

 Solution #1. Edit GTK+ configuration file to set Pidgin uses font
 containing the characters I need.

 -> Problem: GTK+ config is only effected in instant message pages not in
 the full interface of Pidgin IM.

 Solution #2. Change the system default font of Windows with font
 containing the characters I need (such as Arial Unicode MS).

 -> Problems: Unicode fonts like Arial Unicode MS or Code2000 usually
 contains characters not beautiful and clear.
 It isn't acceptable to change the system default font because of the only
 one application (Pidgin IM).
 To change every computer's configuration is difficult.
 To change system configuration of computers in workplaces or internet
 cafes can causes other users' unconvinience and unpleasant feeling.
 Besides, changing of system configuration is sometimes blocked in some
 public computers.

 Therefore, I think Pidgin IM's font rendering have to be changed.

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Ticket URL: <http://developer.pidgin.im/ticket/9985>
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