Cns11643-font

Jul 20, 2023

Combine of Kai and Sung with CNS11643 TrueType Fonts

These fonts are Chinese Unicode fonts which include the CNS 11643 character set.


The CNS11643 font FreeBSD port is essential for Chinese language support and represents an essential part of the FreeBSD operating system’s internationalization capabilities. In this article, we will delve into how to use the CNS11643 port, its benefits, and a host of other practical information to get you started and maximize your experience using this versatile FreeBSD package.

What is CNS11643 Font?

The CNS11643 font, also known as the CNS 11643 character set, is an official character set of the Republic of China Taiwan. It is mainly meant for Chinese characters and is crucial in the broader context of Chinese computing. Its scope covers Traditional Chinese fonts, Simplified Chinese fonts, and more, thus offering a robust solution for Chinese language support in FreeBSD.

Installation of the CNS11643 Font Port

Firstly, we must install the CNS11643 font port in FreeBSD. Here’s how

cd /usr/ports/chinese/CNS11643-font/ && make install clean

As an alternative, you can install it as a binary package.

pkg install zh-cns11643-font

Configuring the CNS11643 Font

Next, it’s time to configure your port installation. If you want to start using the CNS11643 font, configure your terminal to use it as the default font.

The configuration method depends on your FreeBSD Desktop environment. For example, in Gnome-Terminal

  1. Open Terminal > Edit > Profile Preferences.
  2. Select the Font tab.
  3. Choose the CNS11643 font, then Save.

The Benefits of the CNS11643 Font

Now that we’ve covered how to use the CNS11643 font, let’s explore its benefits

  1. Full Chinese Language Support The font provides full support for simplified and traditional Chinese characters, enabling FreeBSD users to create, read, and interact with Chinese content.

  2. Improved Readability It provides clearer and sharper characters due to its design. This feature significantly improves readability, especially for long document reading or code editing.

  3. Standards Compliance The CNS11643 font aligns with the official government standard, ensuring compatibility and accurate representation of the Chinese characters.

Beyond the CNS11643 Font Optimizing FreeBSD for Chinese Computing

Beyond the CNS11643 font, other FreeBSD ports would make Chinese computing even more efficient. For example, the zh-scim port provides a convenient input method framework for Chinese characters, while zh-scim-table-based is a useful option if you prefer table-based methods to write Chinese. Both can be found here

  • [zh-scim]https//freebsdsoftware.org/chinese/scim.html
  • [zh-scim-table-based]https//freebsdsoftware.org/chinese/scim-table-based.html

Conclusion

To successfully compute in Chinese with FreeBSD, the CNS11643 font proves essential. This font not only provides a solution but also improves readability while adhering to official standards. With other FreeBSD ports like zh-scim and zh-scim-table-based, FreeBSD users can confidently navigate the world of Chinese Computing.


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