A better \definesymbol sought

[Rik Kabel <context@rik.users.panix.com>]

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ConTeXters,

I have been using \definesymbol for a while, and for most purposes it 
suffices. However, there is one thing that it does not do that perhaps 
it should.

What it does not do is offer the option to center one glyph over another 
(horizontally and/or vertically) when it should be centered. Rather, it 
leaves the work to a process of tuning the horizontal and vertical 
levers (kern and raise here) to get something that is close, but rarely 
perfect.

I also see some problems with the horizontal spacing around the new 
symbol, but that may be a function of the underlying glyphs here.

The following example shows what I mean

    \definefont
       [Inits]
       [dejavusans]
    \usesymbols[mvs]
    \define\SqSteel{%
       \tfc
       \symbol[martinvogel 2][SquareSteel]
    }
    \define\RedSansA{%
       \tfx
       \Inits{\red A}
    }
    \definesymbol
       [MyMark]
       [\SqSteel\kern-.87em{\raise.38ex\hbox{\RedSansA}}]
    \define\Test{Some text \symbol[MyMark] some more text.\par}

    \starttext
    \Test
    \setupbodyfont[8pt]
    \Test
    \setupbodyfont[18pt]
    \Test
    \scale[factor=40]{\Test}
    \stoptext

Can anyone suggest a better way to compose such symbols than using the 
raw TeX commands used here? Is there a more ConTeXt-ish way to do this?

Is it possible to get options to center the glyphs from which the symbol 
is assembled (separate horizontal and vertical, with the ability to 
offset them)?

Is there a ConTeXt way other than \definesymbol to create such combined 
symbols?

-- 
Rik


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