error in OT feature file using FOG 5

[siggy]

I'm trying to test a simple feature file to generate an OT font in FOG 5. I want the SPACE and NBSPACE characters to be replaced by the GRAVE character whenever they occur in text. This substitution works fine in VOLT-generated OT TTF fonts.

When I try to generate an OpenType PS font in FOG 5 using the feature file, I get the message that there's an error in the feature-definition file, and the font cannot be generated. I've also tried generating a TTF font, which does not give an error message, but the substitution still doesn't work.

Here's the feature file code. I don't really know what to name the 'feature' since this is not a standard substitution like LIGA or SMCP or CALT. I've tried a few different names. What am I missing???

Code:

languagesystem DFLT dflt;
languagesystem latn dflt;

feature test {
sub space by grave;
sub nbspace by grave;
} test;

[Arno Enslin]

There is everything correct with your feature file.

The only explanations, that I have, is, that either one or more of the three characters are missing in the font, or, that the compiler reports an error because of anything else, that is contained in the feature file. But if your feature file only consists of the code, that you have posted here, it should work.

I've also tried generating a TTF font, which does not give an error message, but the substitution still doesn't work.

How should that unregistered feature be activated? There you can find all registered features, which still does not mean, that the applications know all of them: "http://www.microsoft.com/typography/otspec/featurelist.htm".

Also have a look on this, although it probably is not up to date: "http://www.typotheque.com/fonts/opentype_feature_support".

[siggy]

Thanks, Arno. All characters involved are present in the font. Also, as stated previously, that substitution works in TTF fonts when I use VOLT to create the OT layout features. I have created functioning OT TTF fonts using VOLT and FOG 4.7.3.

I've done more testing, and found that FOG 5 handles the "non-breaking space" character differently from FOG 4.7.3. It used to be named "nbspace" in older versions of FOG, but now it's named "uni00A0" instead. Renaming it to "nbspace" causes problems in FOG 5.

I removed the "nbspace" substitution from the feature file, and then was able to generate an OT font successfully. I then added the substitution back in, and got the error. Next, I changed the substitution to use the "uni00A0" character, and also changed the character name in the font file, and successfully generated an OT font.

So, the glyph names in FOG 5 can't be changed from the default names, apparently. Makes me wonder if I can use custom names for characters beyond the first 256 glyphs -- I've got some fonts with a lot of custom names in FOG 4.7.3. Ugh.

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