Use free fonts instead of msttcorefonts

[Tom Hoffman]

I can't remember why we don't do this by default. I think it is just inertia. Is there a real reason? It isn't like we don't have a lot of dependencies already...

[Ignas Mikalajūnas (ignas)]

Reportlab *is* being installed with schooltool, though msttcorefonts are not which is why reports are disabled by default.

One of the reasons might be that it's a multiverse package or something like that. So if we will add it to our dependencies, we probably should update the instructions.

[Tom Hoffman (tom-hoffman)]

Yes, I think it is the unfree software part -- it is in universe, iirc. I guess I can only call SchoolTool 99 44/100% pure now.

[Gediminas Paulauskas (menesis)]

I will add Suggests: msttcorefonts to the next python-schooltool release, but that will not automatically install those fonts. The suggestion to install these fonts is documented in README.txt, but that should be added to The Book, Installation section as well.

[Gediminas Paulauskas (menesis)]

Another option is to use different fonts, for example ttf-liberation, that are compatible with Arial and Times New Roman, but free. This would need changes both to the source and configuration file, and testing that the resulting pdf files look good (should be identical) with various languages, readers, and platforms. So not for 2009.4.12

[Tom Hoffman (tom-hoffman)]

OK, I'll update the book, but definitely I'd like to do ttf-liberation sooner rather than later. It isn't like we have a lot of reports to update, so now is the time to do it.

[Gediminas Paulauskas (menesis)]

You have to edit the schooltool.conf (or main.conf) file and change "msttcorefonts" to "ttf-liberation". You also have to install the fonts:

$ sudo apt-get install ttf-liberation

Until you do that, report generation will be disabled.

[Tom Hoffman (tom-hoffman)]

Why isn't this by default? is ttf-liberation in multiverse?

[Gediminas Paulauskas (menesis)]

2011/4/6 Tom Hoffman <email address hidden>:
> Why isn't this by default?  is ttf-liberation in multiverse?

The new schooltool package in Natty has reports enabled by default.

But existing instances running from source have to be modified
manually, and the package installed. make ubuntu-environment has been
updated, but still one has to remember to run it.