Posted by Beauregard T. Shagnasty on 06/18/06 17:43

In alt.html, Peter Olcott wrote:

> "Beauregard T. Shagnasty" <a.nony.mous@example.invalid> wrote:
>> In alt.html, Peter Olcott wrote:
>>
>>> What is a method or set of methods that can determine all of the
>>> font characteristics of any web page?
>>
>> Use CSS. Do you know what this is at this point?
>>
> I am not writing webpages I am parsing websites. I have no choice in
> how any of these websites are written.

OK, you did not make that clear at all.

>>> By font characteristics I mean typeface name, point size, foreground
>>> color, background color, bold, underline, et cetera.
>>
>> Forget about 'point size'. Points are for printing. Use percentages
>> for font sizing (discussed almost daily in these groups). Don't use
>> pixels, either, for the oft-stated reasons.
>
> I must know the point size. Imagine that I am writing a browser, and
> must display any webpage.

Then, as I see it, you are doomed before you start. What will your
parser do when it comes to a site - with no HTML presentation - that has
"font-size: smaller" in the CSS file? The actual size of the appearance
of the text in my browser is entirely dependant on my local settings.

Points are still for printing.

--
-bts
-Warning: I brake for lawn deer

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