Bug Report & Improvement Request: Space/Dash Menu Mapping and ZENKAKU Space

861475_VctSt

ver. 1.3.022
I hope you are doing well. I am writing to share some feedback and report an issue regarding the space and dash input menu in VectorStyler.

Currently, the characters inserted from this menu do not match their UI names, and the Unicode assignments need correction. Could you please check if there might be a mix-up somewhere? I suspect this issue stems from the following three factors:

Naming mix-up between "Quarter" and "Quad":
Could it be that you originally intended to implement "EM Quarter Space" (1/4 Em) and "EN Quarter Space" (1/4 En), but they were mistakenly labeled using the word "Quad" in the UI?
In typography, a "Quad" strictly means a full 1-Em or 1-En space. This wording mix-up likely caused the internal mapping to shift.
(Please note: "EM Quarter Space" and "EN Quarter Space" are essential for Japanese DTP. Please keep these items, but simply rename them from "Quad" to "Quarter" and assign the correct 1/4 widths).
EM and EN inversion:
In the background mapping, the values and concepts for EM (full-width) and EN (half-width) appear to be inverted.
Menu ordering:
The current list order is a bit difficult to navigate. Sorting the items strictly by character width would make it much more intuitive for DTP users and help organize the Unicode mapping properly.

Regarding the connection between "EM Space" and "ZENKAKU Space":
In Japanese typography, an "EM Space" is exactly the same width as the standard Japanese "ZENKAKU Space" (Ideographic Space: U+3000).
Currently, entering the ZENKAKU Space directly from a standard Japanese keyboard does not function in VectorStyler. Because of this keyboard issue, Japanese users rely heavily on the menu to insert full-width spaces. Therefore, ensuring the EM Space menu mapping is perfectly accurate is crucial for our workflow.

To resolve these issues and improve the overall UX, please update the mapping and menu order based on the correct values below:

[Correct Unicode and Suggested Menu Order]

Dashes (Short to Long) -

Figure Dash: U+2012
En Dash: U+2013
Em Dash: U+2014
Horizontal Bar: U+2015

Spaces (Wide to Narrow) -

EM Space: U+2003 (Width equivalent to ZENKAKU Space U+3000)
EN Space: U+2002
Three-Per-Em Space: U+2004
EM Quarter Space: U+2005
EN Quarter Space: (Please assign 1/8 EM width / half of EM Quarter)
Six-Per-Em Space: U+2006

Additionally, from what I can see, the following items currently appear to be mapped correctly, but please double-check them just to be sure:

Figure Dash
Horizontal Bar
Third Space (Three-Per-Em Space): U+2004
Quarter Space (Four-Per-Em Space): U+2005
Sixth Space (Six-Per-Em Space): U+2006

I believe adjusting these points will greatly enhance VectorStyler's accuracy as a professional layout tool. Thank you as always for your hard work!

Best regards,

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt Uploaded a fix for this, must be installed manually (no version increment)

861475_VctSt

@VectorStyler

Where was it uploaded?

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt It is the normal download page for version 1.3:
https://www.vectorstyler.com/updatepage/

861475_VctSt

@VectorStyler

Subject:
Confirmations and Improvement Suggestions for Update 1.3.022

Here are my confirmations and some suggestions for improvement regarding update 1.3.022.

"Quad" Naming and Japanese Localization Fixes
In my previous message, I shared my guess regarding the "Quad" naming in the menu, but I might have overthought it.

In the era of Japanese letterpress printing, a "Quad" was pronounced as "KUWATA". It referred to a spacing material used to fill gaps, which essentially meant a "ZENKAKU (full-width) space". However, this term is rarely used in modern Japanese printing environments today.

Given this background, I would like to propose the following corrections for the Japanese localization of the menu. Please also refer to the attached visual reference image

(menue.jpg).

(U+2000): "二分スペース"
(U+2001): "全角／クワタ"

Letterpress experts might have different opinions, but considering its practicality as a modern DTP tool, I believe the names proposed above (and shown in the image) are the most intuitive and optimal for current users.

Suggestion for Menu Grouping
Regarding the menu structure, I recommend inserting a separator line to group the items inherited from the letterpress era (such as U+2001) separately from the items of the digital era (such as U+2002). (Please refer to the suggested layout on the right side of menue.jpg). This visual separation will make the menu much easier for users to understand.
Chronic Issue with Space Character Input via Japanese Keyboard
There is a chronic bug regarding space input from the keyboard when using the Japanese input method (Kana-Kanji conversion / IME). Normally, the following standard codes should be inputted depending on the key operation, but currently, VectorStyler inputs a completely different space character.

When typing a Half-width space key: U+0020 (U+100001 false)
When typing a Full-width space key: U+3000 (U+100001 false)

Resolving this keyboard input issue will drastically improve the usability for Japanese users. Thank you as always for your great work!

Best regards,

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt I added this to the backlog

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt said in Bug Report & Improvement Request: Space/Dash Menu Mapping and ZENKAKU Space:

Chronic Issue with Space Character Input via Japanese Keyboard
There is a chronic bug regarding space input from the keyboard when using the Japanese input method (Kana-Kanji conversion / IME). Normally, the following standard codes should be inputted depending on the key operation, but currently, VectorStyler inputs a completely different space character.

When typing a Half-width space key: U+0020 (U+100001 false)
When typing a Full-width space key: U+3000 (U+100001 false)

What font is selected when typing these with the IME input method?

861475_VctSt

@VectorStyler

I used "Hiragino Sans GB" hoping it would be a versatile choice to easily share the test results, but as you rightly suspected, it is an OS system font. I apologize for overcomplicating the matter.

I have run the test again using other standard fonts typically used in Japanese DTP.
As a result, the inputted code was U+0020, and it successfully displayed as a HANKAKU (half-width) space on the screen.

To be honest, this space-related behavior is a chronic issue in VectorStyler. I have actually mentioned it in another post in the past.
However, out of concern that it might be a complex issue affecting the core architecture of the software, I have refrained from pressing the matter too strongly, treating it as a niche request specific to East Asian users.

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt said in Bug Report & Improvement Request: Space/Dash Menu Mapping and ZENKAKU Space:

However, out of concern that it might be a complex issue affecting the core architecture of the software,

It is not a complex issue: the only thing needed is that the font has the half width space and that I know how to input that.
The technical part is easy, I just need help with the Japanese part

861475_VctSt

@VectorStyler

I have put together a summary of the most basic typing operations that every Japanese user does naturally.
Here are the fundamental rules for how Japanese Mac users differentiate between typing a "Half-width space (U+0020)" and a "ZENKAKU (Full-width) space (U+3000)":

To input a Half-width space:
First, press the "英数 (Alphanumeric)" key, and then press the "Space" key.
As a result, a "Half-width space (U+0020)" is inputted.
To input a ZENKAKU (Full-width) space:
First, press the "カナ (KANA)" key, and then press the "Space" key.
As a result, a "ZENKAKU space (U+3000)" is inputted.

Currently in VectorStyler, it seems that when we perform these key operations, the software does not correctly receive the U+3000 or U+0020 sent by the OS, and instead converts it into a different, unintended space character. I believe this is the root of the problem.

Does this explanation help solve the puzzle for the implementation? Please let me know if you need any other information about the Japanese environment!

Best regards,

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt said in Bug Report & Improvement Request: Space/Dash Menu Mapping and ZENKAKU Space:

Does this explanation help solve the puzzle for the implementation?

Yes, this helps a lot!

Please let me know if you need any other information about the Japanese environment!

What input method is selected in the MacOS menu (right side of the screen), when using Japanese input with your keyboard?

I only have international physical keyboard, and I try to replicate this with the "Japanese - Kana" input method:
With regular "Space" key I get U+0020
With regular "Option+Space" key I get U+3000

I will try to find a Japanese keyboard

VectorStyler

@861475_VctSt

And one more thing:

Create a vstyler file with the following:

a shape text with some text and the "Half-width space (U+0020)" as VectorStyler inputs it
other shape text with some text and the "ZENKAKU space (U+3000)" as VectorStyler inputs it

and send me the file.

I want to check what action character codes are input