[R] pdf() Export Problem: Circles Interpreted as Fonts from ggplot2 Graphics

[David Winsemius]

I thought Hadley's response was more definitive, but I did go on to  
test my alternate character strategy in ggplot and it did succeed.  
Whether you could get coloring or sixing that was appropriate I cannot  
say, since I figured the non-dingbatting option was more general.

-- 
David
On Jan 1, 2011, at 8:59 AM, Adam Carr wrote:

> Neglected to reply to all. Sorry.
>
>
>
> ----- Forwarded Message ----
> From: Adam Carr <adamlcarr at yahoo.com>
> To: David Winsemius <dwinsemius at comcast.net>
> Sent: Sat, January 1, 2011 8:58:26 AM
> Subject: Re: [R] pdf() Export Problem: Circles Interpreted as Fonts  
> from ggplot2
> Graphics
>
>
> Hello David:
>
> Thanks for the reply and for the suggestion on an alternative  
> character. I will
> try this today and see what happens.
>
> As I searched for solutions to this a more experienced graphics editor
> recommended a package called Xara Photo and Graphic Designer 6. This  
> package,
> which has an open-source version for Linux, imported the PDF without  
> any font
> interpretation difficulties. The text editing process required about  
> thirty
> seconds.
>
> Happy New Year,
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: David Winsemius <dwinsemius at comcast.net>
>
> Cc: r-help at r-project.org
> Sent: Thu, December 30, 2010 7:07:30 PM
> Subject: Re: [R] pdf() Export Problem: Circles Interpreted as Fonts  
> from ggplot2
> Graphics
>
> You could try using the Symbol font's solid circle as pch ,  octmode  
> 267,  if I
> am reading the output from the TestChars function on the points help  
> page
> correctly.
>
> BTW, I opened your document in GIMP and it shows "q"'s as well.
>
> --david.
>
>
> On Dec 30, 2010, at 5:59 PM, Adam Carr wrote:
>
>> Good Evening:
>>
>> I am putting together a large report with plots created in R, V  
>> 2.12.0. Most
> of
>> the plots are created using ggplot2 V0.8.9. I use R's pdf() command  
>> to export
>> the plot to a pdf file. I am exporting the plots and attempting to  
>> edit the
>> title text in Inkscape primarily because ggplot2 does not support  
>> superscript
>> or
>> subscript formatting in the title text. For the report I am working  
>> on these
>> formats are essential.
>>
>>
>> I am running the R version mentioned above and Inkscape 0.48 on a  
>> Windows XP
>> machine with the following system details:
>>
>> OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
>> Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
>> System Type X86-based PC
>> Processor x86 Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 11 GenuineIntel ~1995 Mhz
>> BIOS Version/Date LENOVO 7LETB7WW (2.17 ), 4/25/2008
>> Total Physical Memory 4,096.00 MB
>> Available Physical Memory 1.62 GB
>> Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
>> Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
>> Page File Space 8.69 GB
>>
>> I do not think this is a ggplot2-specific problem.
>>
>> I use a simple version of the pdf() command to export the file that  
>> includes
>> the
>> file name and path only. The PDF looks fine actually, it is the  
>> restriction on
>> text editing caused by Adobe's intepretation of the graphic that is  
>> the
>> problem.
>>
>> I have attached two files to this email:
>>
>> 1. An R-exported pdf file exactly as it looks as opened in Adobe  
>> Reader V9.
>> This
>> file is named exportforinkscapeforum.pdf.
>>
>> 2. An example of the way the plot appears after I import it into  
>> Inkscape.
> This
>> file is named Example of How Imported File Appears in Inkscape.pdf.
>>
>> The problem I have is that when I import the pdf into Inkscape the  
>> solid,
>> filled
>> circles on the plot are converted to the lower case letter q. I  
>> read about
>> similar problems on R-help.org and other R-related sites, but the  
>> descriptions
>> I
>> found seemed to indicate that the lower case q was visible in the  
>> pdf file
> when
>> opened with Adobe or other viewers. This does not seem to be my  
>> problem.
>>
>>
>> I posted this problem to the Inkscape forum and received a reply  
>> suggesting
>> that
>> Adobe is interpreting the solid, filled circles not as solid,  
>> filled circles
>> but
>> as font objects. The user who replied suggested that I look for the  
>> Zpf
> Dingbat
>> font embedded in the PDF and it is in fact there. This is the font  
>> Adobe is
>> applying to my solid, filled circles. Apparently there are known  
>> issues with
>> Inkscape's ability to import fonts via PDF and the problem is  
>> documented on
>> their bug list.
>>
>> The Inkscape user asked if there was any way that R could be  
>> coerced to use
>> actual circles or paths for the points. I am not aware of a way to  
>> do this so
>> any input from anyone here would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> To briefly return to my main problem: if there is another way to  
>> edit the main
>> title text to include a superscripted character (in my particular  
>> case it is
>> Unicode character 00AE, the registered trademark sign) I would  
>> appreciate the
>> insight.
>>
>>
>> Any help on this issue would be appreciated.
>>
>> Adam
>>
>>
>> <Example of How Imported PDF Looks in
>> Inkscape 
>> .pdf 
>> > 
>> < 
>> exportforinkscapeforum 
>> .pdf>______________________________________________
>>
>> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
>> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
>> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
>> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.
>
> David Winsemius, MD
> West Hartford, CT
>
>
>
> 	[[alternative HTML version deleted]]
>
> ______________________________________________
> R-help at r-project.org mailing list
> https://stat.ethz.ch/mailman/listinfo/r-help
> PLEASE do read the posting guide http://www.R-project.org/posting-guide.html
> and provide commented, minimal, self-contained, reproducible code.

David Winsemius, MD
Heritage Laboratories
West Hartford, CT