Fonts ok as root, but bad as user

BroX · 10-26-2004, 08:30 AM

Hi all,

When using either Gnome or KDE in Debian unstable, the fonts look horrible! Been reading all the tips about font-deuglification without result. Then, when I accidently logged in as root, I found out that all fonts looked perfect!

So it's probably to do with permissions somewhere for something?

Please note: all fonts are there, as checked with xfontsel. It's just that they're not smooth (not at all). The font configuration is set at LCD (laptop) with full sub-pixel smoothing (or something like that; I booted Slackware now so I can't check it)

Here is /etc/X11/XFree86config-4:

Code:

Section "Files"
        FontPath        "unix/:7100"                    # local font server
        # if the local font server has problems, we can fall back on these
        FontPath        "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
        #FontPath       "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
        #FontPath       "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/CID"
        #FontPath       "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
        FontPath        "/usr/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
EndSection

Here is font-stuff in /var/log/Xfree86.0.log:

Code:

Warning: font renderer for ".pcf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pcf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".snf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.Z" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".bdf.gz" already registered at priority 0
Warning: font renderer for ".pmf" already registered at priority 0
Could not init font path element unix/:7100, removing from list!

Could it have anything to do with the unix:/7100 font server not working well?

Any suggestions more than welcome!!

Cheers, Leon.

Space_Balls · 10-26-2004, 02:10 PM

I have the same error messages in my XFree86 log file.
I also notices that fonts appeared different after reboots without changing any settings...very weird

haimeltjnfg · 10-26-2004, 06:34 PM

#apt-get install xfs-xtt

and change
"unix:/7100" to "unix:/7110"

see if that helps

BroX · 10-27-2004, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by haimeltjnfg
#apt-get install xfs-xtt
and change
"unix:/7100" to "unix:/7110"
see if that helps

No change in font quality, and I get the same warnings in /var/log/Xfree86.0.log (except now it's unix:/7110)

Any other thoughts?

michapma · 10-27-2004, 06:09 AM

If you look at the last post on the first page of this thread (a sticky on this forum):
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...hreadid=224547
you'll notice some differences to what is listed in your config file. For one thing, #FontPath "unix/:7100" is commented out, and there are some statements about truetype that are not present in your document. I don't know why they're not there. I also notice that you've commented out CID and Speedo; I don't know what these do but maybe that has an impact. Of course this assumes that you installed the x-window-system.

Follow it up by looking at the 13th post on the second page of the thread. You will also find a few hints about how to get a faster Gnome. Hope this helps, I don't know exactly what's wrong, just wanted to point you to some of the previously suggested tips.

michapma · 10-27-2004, 06:12 AM

Something else just occured to me. Since the fonts look fine as root but not as a normal user, then you should compare the configuration files between root and the normal user. This could very well have something to do with the vast array of Gnome configuration files. The font configuration in /etc/X11/XF86Config-4 are for everyone who uses the X server, so there must be something adding or overriding declarations in the respective user configurations.

Plus, you shouldn't be starting up the X server as root, it's supposed to be a security risk.

BroX · 10-27-2004, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by michapma
Plus, you shouldn't be starting up the X server as root, it's supposed to be a security risk.

I know, it was after an 'accidental' login as root

About the XF86config: I can of course comment the 'unix/:7100' and prevent the errors, but I guess if it's working it must do something good. Then again, as commented in the config file, if it doesn't the system falls back on the font file locations given next. CID and Speedo are commented out because they're not installed. And true, TrueType isn't listed, but as the root login looked ok, they can't be necessary.

Your other suggestion, to check the Gnome config files, won't tell me what's wrong since the same occurs in KDE.

I guess it has something to do with permissions.

In short: still stuck with this...

haimeltjnfg · 10-27-2004, 05:15 PM

did you install xfs-xtt?

michapma · 10-27-2004, 05:25 PM

Hmm, maybe it's got nothing to do with Gnome and KDE config files and something in another config file. What else might make declarations affecting the fonts? .bashrc?

BroX · 10-28-2004, 02:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by haimeltjnfg
did you install xfs-xtt?

Yes, and changed unix:/7100 to unix:/7110, without effect. Do I have to start xfs-xtt a service (rc.something) or will it run automatically once installed?

Thanks for all the input so far!

haimeltjnfg · 10-28-2004, 04:57 PM

it should run automatically,
but try it anyway:

#/etc/init.d/xfs-xtt start

i don't understand why you'd get an error if it is installed and running, unless you have a custom compiled kernel lacking unix socket network support.

BroX · 11-01-2004, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by haimeltjnfg
it should run automatically,
but try it anyway:

#/etc/init.d/xfs-xtt start

i don't understand why you'd get an error if it is installed and running, unless you have a custom compiled kernel lacking unix socket network support.

xfs-xtt does start correctly, but in /var/log/syslog I fond the following:

Code:

Nov  1 14:05:27 localhost xfs-xtt: Warning: font renderer for ".TTF" already registered at priority 10 
Nov  1 14:05:27 localhost xfs-xtt: Warning: font renderer for ".TTC" already registered at priority 10 
Nov  1 14:05:27 localhost xfs-xtt: ignoring font path element /var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID (unreadable) 
Nov  1 14:05:27 localhost xfs-xtt: ignoring font path element /usr/lib/X11/fonts/cyrillic/:unscaled (unreadable)

Does that tell us anything?

Also found the following log, which seems ok to me?
/var/log/fontconfig.log

Code:

leon-fyg:/home/leon# cat /var/log/fontconfig.log 
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts": caching, 0 fonts, 2 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/type1": caching, 0 fonts, 1 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/type1/gsfonts": caching, 35 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/truetype": caching, 0 fonts, 3 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/freefont": caching, 12 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/ttf-bitstream-vera": caching, 10 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/share/fonts/truetype/openoffice": caching, 1 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1": caching, 9 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/local/share/fonts": caching, 0 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/root/.fonts": skipping, no such directory
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d": caching, 0 fonts, 7 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/B": caching, 10 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/C": caching, 4 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/D": caching, 1 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/F": caching, 12 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/N": caching, 16 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/S": caching, 1 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/var/lib/defoma/fontconfig.d/U": caching, 13 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi": caching, 397 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi": caching, 397 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc": caching, 74 fonts, 0 dirs
fc-cache: succeeded

Ayy suggestions?

Cheers, Leon.