912159 - [DUPE BUGS HERE] Layout of some web sites breaks if fonts are enlarged because of "minimum font size" or text zoom-in [font size increased/made bigger/larger; sites for full-page zoom only]

Status: NEW

(Firefox :: Disability Access, defect)

Description

[[:Aleksej]]

There are many bugs being filed about the layout of a website breaking (usually various elements overlapping) if the browser forces some text on the website to be larger than that with which the website has been tested, usually either when
* a minimum font size is set in Preferences/Options → Content → Advanced; or
* the user has increased it on the particular page using Text-only zoom.

These bugs are considered Tech Evangelism bugs, but as most browsers use Full-page zoom now, and text-only zoom and minimum font size are "advanced" settings, they are often just resolved INVALID.

I propose that, instead of resolving such bugs INVALID, or just leaving them untriaged, we mark them DUPLICATE of this bug.  If a bug is decided to be a valid standalone bug, it can be reopened.  The rest will point here, where the explanation and links (depends/blocks) to bugs that propose solutions are.

Comment 2

[[:Aleksej]]

As a workaround, the "NoSquint" extension https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/nosquint/ can help somewhat.

Comment 6

[Peter J. Sloetjes]

Users probably select a minimum font size depending on the largely constant quality of their eyes and screens. They would hence like the pixel unit to be interpreted physically, independent of OS, page or text zoom. Implementing this interpretation would enable users to remedy most layout errors by increasing page zoom, as suggested in Bug 535639, with the minor(?) drawback of repeated font re-scaling. I would welcome this solution.

Comment 8

[George R. Goffe]

I am having this problem as well. mail.yahoo.com is just one of many. I force the fonts to be size 17 and get overlays AND button sizes too big for the page. When I tell FF to use my font size instead of letting the site pick their sizes things get worse.

Comment 9

[George R. Goffe]

Hi,

I just started using Chrome (Google). They seem to get it right. Perhaps the FireFox team can do so as well?

George...

Comment 10

[edwinratnam911]

Attachment: new attachment

Thank you guys for helping me out

Comment 13

[BugBot [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The severity field for this bug is relatively low, S3. However, the bug has 6 duplicates.
:asa, could you consider increasing the bug severity?

For more information, please visit auto_nag documentation.

Comment 14

[BugBot (nomail) [:suhaib / :marco/ :calixte]]

The last needinfo from me was triggered in error by recent activity on the bug. I'm clearing the needinfo since this is a very old bug and I don't know if it's still relevant.