----Original Message---- From: Joel de Guzman [mailto:joel@boost-consulting.com] Sent: 06 October 2005 02:59 To: boost@lists.boost.org Subject: Re: [boost] GUI coordinate units (Was: GUI foundations)

Stefan Seefeld wrote:

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Dave Harris wrote:

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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.

A point is simply 0.35277777777777777777777777777778 millimeters :-)

So should we use boost::rational to store the positions? Then a point is 254/720 millimetres. Incidentally, the UK changed the legal definition of an inch to 25.4mm in (I think) the 50's. Does the US use the same definition, or a subtly different one? -- Martin Bonner Martin.Bonner@Pitechnology.com Pi Technology, Milton Hall, Ely Road, Milton, Cambridge, CB4 6WZ, ENGLAND Tel: +44 (0)1223 441434