# Re: \[PATCH\]\[FBDEV\]: fb\_putcs() and fb\_setfont() methods

- From: Petr Vandrovec \<hidden\>
- Date: 2003-01-04 20:33:41 
- List: linux-fbdev
- Page: https://ratatoskr.run/linux-fbdev/2003/01/516981
- Thread: https://ratatoskr.run/lkml/2003/01/516885/t.md

```text
On Sat, Jan 04, 2003 at 05:25:14PM +0800, Antonino Daplas wrote:
> Attached is a patch against 2.5.54 in an attempt to add putcs() and
> setfont() methods for fbdev drivers that require them:

Looks good.
 
> ...
> struct fb_char {
> 	__u32 dx;               /* where to place chars, in pixels */
> 	__u32 dy;               /* where to place chars, in scanline */

These two are questionable. I do not know what DaveM will need, but
I'll be happier with character coordinates for text mode. So for me it is
just question whether I'll do divide by width/height stored from setfont
in text mode, or multiply when in graphics mode. So I must remember
character cell size in any case. But having multiply in matroxfb could 
save multiply here in generic code.

I have strong feeling that doing multiply in generic code, and then divide
in fbdev driver is waste of time, but if Dave is happier with pixel
coordinates, I can definitely live with it.

> 	__u32 len;              /* number of characters */
> 	__u32 fg_color;
> 	__u32 bg_color;        
> 	__u32 *data;            /* array of indices to fontdata */
> };
> 
> struct fb_fontdata {
> 	__u32 width;            /* font width */
> 	__u32 height;           /* font height */
> 	__u32 len;              /* number of characters */
> 	__u8  *data;            /* character map */
> };
> 
> ...
> 
>     /* upload character map */
>     int (*fb_setfont)(struct fb_info *info, const struct fb_fontdata
> *font);
>     /* write characters */
>     int (*fb_putcs)(struct fb_info *info, const struct fb_char *chars);
> 

It would be nice to have old accel_putcs() available for modules, so driver 
could decide on case-by-case basis whether it will use its own code or 
generic without touching pointer (without modifying potentially constant
fb_ops structure common to all fbdev instances).
						Thanks,
							Petr Vandrovec
							vandrove@vc.cvut.cz
```