prompts don't display utf text

[GoogleCodeExporter]

"However, I'm still getting an issue when trying to display the forms on my 
ODKCollect client - the characters encoding only seems to be partially working. 
I can confirm the the form is downloaded and stored on the phone correctly 
(looking at the downloaded file in sdcard/odk/ forms - for info the form I'm 
using is: https://hew-datacollect.appspot.com/formXml?formId=Amharic_3).

When I go through the questions on the form - the questions with the Amharic 
characters do not display (just the 'missing character square'). *However*, if 
I save a form then return to it by going to 'continue saved forms' and then I 
can view the summary of the form questions and data entered so far (the page 
which asks if I want to go to the start or end of the form), then on this page 
the Amharic characters in the question will display fine, but not when I return 
to the proper data entry page."
-- alex

Original issue reported on code.google.com by yanokwa on 16 Aug 2011 at 2:44

Attachments:

• [Testing Amharic Scripts.xml](https://storage.googleapis.com/google-code-attachments/opendatakit/issue-303/comment-0/Testing Amharic Scripts.xml)

[GoogleCodeExporter]

What device are you using?  I only get the 'missing character square' on 
everything I've tried, which apparently don't have Amharic as a supported 
language.

Original comment by carlhart...@gmail.com on 29 Sep 2011 at 11:24

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hi, we're using the HTC Hero phone. Most ROMs don't include the Amharic font so 
it needs to be installed separately - I have some instructions on how to 
install an Amharic (Ge'ez) font and keyboard here... 
http://alexlittle.net/blog/2011/06/03/installing-geez-virtual-keyboard-on-other-
android-devices/ - for testing this you'll only need the font installed.
Hope that helps,
Alex

Original comment by a...@alexlittle.net on 2 Oct 2011 at 12:03

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Original comment by yanokwa on 4 Oct 2011 at 8:55

• Added labels: Priority-Low
• Removed labels: Priority-Medium

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I've just been testing this again now that I'm using Collect RC2. It still 
displays the square symbol on the form prompt for amharic - but, as before, on 
the continue saved forms page if I view the submission, I can read the question 
fine. For info, if the question prompt includes cyrillic then this will display 
(not sure if that helps or makes things more confusing!).
Cheers,
Alex

Original comment by AlextLit...@gmail.com on 10 Oct 2011 at 3:10

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Think I've figured out the issue now... it's the bold typeface setting on the 
prompt that is causing the Amharic characters not to be displayed.
In org.collect.android.widgets.QuestionWidget.java if I comment out the line 
"mQuestionText.setTypeface(null, Typeface.BOLD);" then the question text 
appears fine in Amharic font. Seems for the Amharic font file we're using only 
normal and italic typefaces are available.
You can mark this issue as closed now as it's not a problem with ODK Collect.
Cheers,
Alex

Original comment by AlextLit...@gmail.com on 10 Oct 2011 at 4:14

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Thanks for continuing to look into this.  Interesting bit to know in case a 
similar issue pops up in the future.

Original comment by carlhart...@gmail.com on 10 Oct 2011 at 4:24

• Changed state: WontFix

[GoogleCodeExporter]

I now that google have Amharic in computer but I don't now why it didn't work 
on googles phones

Original comment by samuelal...@gmail.com on 5 Jan 2012 at 2:06

[GoogleCodeExporter]

Hi - see here for how to install the Ge'ez font on an Android phone; 
http://alexlittle.net/blog/2011/06/03/installing-geez-virtual-keyboard-on-androi
d-devices/ - if you have problem - post a comment on that page, this probably 
isn't right forum for discussing these sorts of issues.
Cheers,

Alex

Original comment by AlextLit...@gmail.com on 5 Jan 2012 at 9:53