Dynamically switch font

[sebpra]

Hi all,

I generate reports where data might be in different languages. Until now I was OK using single Dejavu Sans font, but now I need to support Chinese language as well and Dejavu Sans font fails to represent Chinese glyphs.

Is there a way dynamically switch font to a different one if default one cannot represent text correctly?

I don't think 'locale' feature will help me as data for PDF report to fill comes from same internal system in different languages. P.S. I use XML as data source.

I use jasper reports 5.5.1 and if I am right font subset feature was introduced only in 6.2.2. I would prefer avoiding upgrade if possible. 

To make sure PDF layout looks the same across the platforms I embed font to PDF.

 

I would really appreciate any help or ideas how to solve this. I tried to go through the community but unfortunately couldn't find suitable solution. If I missed any, please excuse me for that.

At the moment I have one possible option in my mind. Which is to check if field content glyph numbers(char converted to int) falls into font supported range and if not switch font. I haven't tested this idea yet but I have a feeling that this will increase generation time and load a lot if it is possible at all.

By the way I tested MS Arial unicode font and this font does the job, unfotunately it is really expensive. Maybe you know good substitute for it?

[peter.w]

Hi

Not sure if you know about this or if it helps or not but I have used a font from here.

http://www.unifont.org/fontguide/