[XeTeX] wrong kerning and slow processing with xelatex in texlive 2010

[Vadim Radionov]

Hi, Vladimir,

Thank you for your assistance.

> Ok. you could check if this problem of engine or driver (xdvipdfmx) in
> following way:
> 1. Make pdf with xetex from TL2009:
>  $ xetex test.tex
> Save pdf as, for example, test_2009.pdf
>
> 2. Make pdf with xetex from TL2010:
>  $ xetex test.tex
> Save pdf as, for example, test_2010.pdf
>
> 3. Run xetex from TL2009
>  $ xetex -no-pdf test.tex
> this will give you test.xdv. Then run xdvipdfmx from TL2010
>  $ xdvipdfmx test.xdv
> Save pdf as test_xpdf2010.pdf
>
> 4. Run xetex from TL2010 (!)
>  $ xdvipdfmx test.xdv
> and xdvipdfmx from TL2009 (!)
> Save pdf as test_xpdf2009.pdf
>

#1 and #3 are good, #2 and #4 are bad

> Compare the resulted pdfs. In either case ensure that you have only _ONE_
> OTF/TTF file, even if you think that that particular one (for example in
> $HOME/.fonts) will be accessed firstly than other, drop that idea.

I'm not sure where xetex searches for otf files.  At least when i
remove this font from ~/.fonts, xetex substitutes bold version, not
other medium one.

> Yes, now I have seen you files. But this is rather strange. You're
> saying that you use TL2009 and TL2010 but according to pdfinfo both your
> files  produced by the same xdvipdfmx.

This is strange, too. Here is my pdfinfo output :

(old xetex, directly or through -no-pdf and xdvipdfmx)
Creator:         XeTeX output 2010.10.12:1600
Producer:       xdvipdfmx (0.6)
CreationDate:   Tue Oct 12 16:00:47 2010
Tagged:         no
Pages:          1
Encrypted:      no
Page size:      595.27 x 841.82 pts (A4)
File size:      4628 bytes
Optimized:      no
PDF version:    1.4

(TL2010, directly or through -no-pdf and xdvipdfmx)
Creator:         XeTeX output 2010.10.12:1602
Producer:       xdvipdfmx (0.7.8)
CreationDate:   Tue Oct 12 16:02:02 2010
Tagged:         no
Pages:          1
Encrypted:      no
Page size:      595.28 x 841.89 pts (A4)
File size:      3419 bytes
Optimized:      no
PDF version:    1.5


So it is xetex interaction with the font that causes wrong kerning.
What could be the next step?

Vadim

PS. There's also strange difference in A4 paper size.