topic sketchText Object in Fusion API and Scripts Forum

sketchText Object

MichaelT_123 — Thu, 15 May 2025 11:41:06 GMT

Hi TF360,

What is the mechanism of setting up the Line Spacing (for each given font) in the sketchText Object?

Typically, the LS parameter is not a direct font attribute (apart of "lineGap") but gets an external and somehow arbitrary value related to font size. I would appreciate the clarity stance on the matter … how F360 handles it?

On the side …

I have noticed that the ‘Courier New’ font, as listed in the textObject dialoge box, returns:

fontName = sketchText.fontName = ‘Courier’

The surname ‘New’ is missing! Although it is essential in the reliable process of identifying font resources.

I have not checked other fonts listing responses.

Regards

MichaelT

Re: sketchText Object

BrianEkins — Mon, 19 May 2025 04:25:43 GMT

I don't know how the line spacing is calculated. As far as I know, there isn't any user control over this, and you get whatever Fusion calculates to use. Maybe someone in the general design forum might have better information.

As far as the font name, I can't reproduce it. When I set the text using the dialog to "Courier New" and then use the fontName property, it returns "Courier New". Interestingly, it lets me set the font to "Courier" using the API, but then the text disappears. If I enter some name that I know doesn't exist, it fails with a non-existent font error, so there's something strange about "Courier".

Re: sketchText Object

MichaelT_123 — Sat, 24 May 2025 10:56:07 GMT

Hi Mr. Brian Ekins,

Regarding ‘Courier’ (and other specific fonts), I would not pull my hair out … even if I have found some. Historically and logistically, fonts are messy, particularly when considering various OSs, vendors. The ‘Courier’ might be a specific font name, but also a font family name … used in the case of an emergency.

Regarding line spacing (LS) …

LS should be an essential parameter in a multiline text object that controls the text layout; the font size alone and other entries in the current dialogue box are insufficient.

Can this deficiency in TextObject_MultiLineTextDefinition be corrected?

LS itself is not strictly a part of a font specification. The external to a font text layout procedures specifies the LS parameter, although they still refer to a font size.

Nevertheless, one can calculate the ‘minimal anticipated’ LSs based on a font definition itself.

"layoutMetrics":{"unitsPerEm":"boundingBox":{“yMin,"yMax”},"ascent","descent","lineGap"},

Three (mostly different) values can be devised here … which normally are post-processed by the external ‘forces’ (Adobe, Microsoft,…) … in a secretive manner.

Well, I should add to this prominent list … Fusion_360_Ultimate … and with complete confidence!

F360 makes the situation even more cryptic, redefining typography's well-established font size (FS) concept.

Could you please decipher how F360’s FS is defined in terms of its classical typographic meaning?

As you pointed out, the above questions might be challenging to answer/address by you, Mr. Ekins, directly, but …

“ Maybe someone in the general design forum might have better information.”

Regards

MichaelT