In-Reply-To: <di0kc7$6th$1@sea.gmane.org> joel@boost-consulting.com (Joel de Guzman) wrote (abridged):
IMO, we should choose one representation and one unit. In my mind, that would be float and millimeter (in addition to percentages).
Why float rather than double? Generally picking float is an optimisation, and often a premature one. Sooner or later I think you will need the extra precision of double, and then you'll have an unnecessary conversion - possibly two, if the native device uses ints. Double => float => int. Why millimeter rather than inch or point? For text, there is a strong argument for using imperial rather than metric units. A point is 1/72th of an inch, so it converts nicely. Points don't convert so well to millimeters. Also, PDF and Postscript are points-oriented. I wouldn't buck the trend without a good reason. -- Dave Harris, Nottingham, UK.