In opentype fonts, proportional figures are enabled by default. For columns containing data (ie, file size), I would prefer lining figures. Most fonts contain both sets, but I haven't found a way to enable. Is it possible to do so? If not, it would be a nice feature to have in a future release.
I'm not sure what "lining figures" are sorry, does it mean "fixed-width" ?
Old Style, Lining, Proportional, and Tabular Figures
Lining Figures are usually the default figures you’d find in a typeface. The numbers sit on the same baseline as the rest of the characters. These figures look great next to capital letters because the height tends to be similar if not the same.
Source: The Ultimate Guide to Typography Basics | Envato Tuts+
Numbers seem to sit on the same baseline already? At least with the default font.
@jamie73 Correct me if I'm wrong, but as I understand you, you would like to see the option (when using OpenType fonts when customizing DOpus) to display Lining figures Tabular figures (same width) for better vertical alignment of figures, as opposed to the currently displayed by default (?) Proportional figures (varying widths).
Hello,
Yes, tabular figures. Fixed width, so that columns of numbers all align, regardless of the number. In the image Jon posted, the font is using lining tabular figures; the figures all occupy the same width and line up.
Really, what I'm inquiring about is this: most modern fonts offer multiple styles, and opentype-capable applications allow the user to specify which style to use, and I was just curious if opus had/will have the capability to do so. Given the confusion generated by my question, I think I can guess the answer 
The font I'd prefer to use has both styles, but proportional figures are enabled by default, so my data columns look like this, if I use it:
Obviously, it's not the end of the world to use another font. I was just curious. It would be nice to have the capability, someday.
AFAIK there's no way to request that in Windows, at least with the normal font APIs. The font chooses how the numbers look, and there isn't a way to ask for alternative numbers, that I know (unless it's done by changing the actual Unicode characters or something).
But most UI fonts already have fixed-width numbers, like in Jon's screenshot.
Thanks for answering. It also occurs to me to ask, would it ever be feasible to assign different fonts to different columns?
It's something we could investigate, I'll add it to the ideas list.
Incidentally, which font are you using that exhibits this problem?
Oh, it's not any single font, it's just that defaulting to proportional figures is a common feature among opentype fonts, and several of my preferred fonts are such.
In response to your earlier comment, it's not the unicode that changes when you enable alternate sets in opentype fonts; what changes is the instructions the font uses to render the character on your screen. As opposed to truetype (.ttf) fonts, opentype (.otf) fonts can contain multiple sets of rendering instructions, and opentype-capable applications allow you to specify which set to use.
Anyhow, my question is answered, thank you.