DPI (Standard 8 Module Reference)
7/8/2014
Review the applicable Embedded Core modules and any examples for the DPI setting in Windows Embedded 8 Standard (Standard 8).
This setting contains an integer between 96 and 480 that specifies what size to display text and other items on the screen.
Supported values include 96, 120, and 144; if you use a value that is not supported text and graphics may appear blurry. By default, this value is empty, which means Windows Embedded 8 Standard (Standard 8) automatically calculates the appropriate size. We recommend that you use the default setting.
This setting appears in in Control Panel under Display. For more information, see High DPI on MSDN.
Automatic DPI Configuration
The physical DPI of a screen is the measurement of the dots per inch that it is capable of displaying. For example, for a screen with a native resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels, and a physical display size of 14.4 inches x 9 inches, the physical DPI is 100 (1440 horizontal pixels ÷ 14.4 horizontal inches = 100 DPI).
The monitor’s physical DPI is calculated by using data in the Extended Display Identification Data (EDID) on applicable systems. When using automatic configuration, confirm that the EDID for the display is correct.
The following table shows the relationship between a monitor's physical DPI and the resulting default size. If enlarging the screen would create application incompatibilities or an effective resolution of less than 1024 x 768, Standard 8 chooses a smaller DPI value.
Monitor’s physical DPI |
Automatically selected DPI value |
Scale |
|---|---|---|
Less than 116 |
96 |
100% |
116 to 138 |
120 |
125% |
More than 138 |
144 |
150% |
The following table shows Standard 8 automatic configuration values for sample monitors:
Monitor |
Horizontal x vertical (pixels) |
Width (inches) |
Physical DPI |
Standard 8 DPI value |
Scale level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
12.1-inch WXGA |
1280 x 768 |
10.4 |
123* |
96* |
100% |
13.3-inch WXGA |
1280 x 768 |
11.4 |
112 |
96* |
100% |
13.3-inch WXGA+ |
1440 x 900 |
11.13 |
127* |
96* |
100% |
14.1-inch WXGA |
1280 x 768 |
12.1 |
106 |
96 |
100% |
14.1-inch WXGA+ |
1440 x 900 |
12 |
120* |
96* |
100% |
15.4-inch WXGA |
1280 x 768 |
13.2 |
97 |
96 |
100% |
15.4-inch WXGA+ |
1440 x 900 |
13.1 |
110 |
96 |
100% |
15.4-inch WSXGA+ |
1680 x 1050 |
13.1 |
129 |
120 |
125% |
15.4-inch WUXGA |
1920 x 1200 |
13.1 |
147 |
144 |
150% |
17-inch WXGA+ |
1440 x 900 |
14.4 |
100 |
96 |
100% |
17-inch WSXGA+ |
1680 x 1050 |
14.4 |
117 |
120 |
125% |
17-inch WUXGA |
1920 x 1200 |
14.4 |
133 |
120 |
125% |
Note
- For these sample monitors, Standard 8 uses a smaller DPI value to avoid application-compatibility issues.
Manual DPI Configuration
You can override automatic DPI configuration. This is useful for special displays, such as small displays or touch-enabled displays.
If you choose to manually set the DPI, we recommend that you do the following:
- Use a minimum effective resolution of 1024 x 768
Standard 8 requires an effective vertical resolution of at least 600. To avoid application compatibility issues, we recommend using a minimum effective resolution of 1024 x 768. - Use a supported DPI value that is close to the physical DPI
The Standard 8 user interface is optimized for DPI values of 96, 120, or 144. Non-supported values or values far from the physical DPI may make fonts and graphics appear blurry.
Modules
The following table shows the modules that you can apply this setting to. In Image Configuration Editor (ICE), you can follow the corresponding path to set this setting for a module.
Module |
Path |
|---|---|
Products/Embedded Core/Shell-Setup/Display/DPI |
XML Example
The following XML example shows how to set the display resolution to 1024x768, with 32-bit color depth, a refresh rate of 72 hertz, and 120 dpi.
<Display>
<ColorDepth>32</ColorDepth>
<DPI>120</DPI>
<HorizontalResolution>1024</HorizontalResolution>
<RefreshRate>72</RefreshRate>
<VerticalResolution>768</VerticalResolution>
</Display>
The following XML example sets the display resolution to 1920 x 1200, and does not set a value for DPI. As a result, Standard 8 automatically adjusts the text and graphics to appear at a medium size (120 DPI) on a 17-inch WUXGA+ monitor, and at a larger size (144 DPI) on a 15.4-inch WSXGA+ monitor.
<Display>
<HorizontalResolution>1920</HorizontalResolution>
<VerticalResolution>1200</VerticalResolution>
<!-- Note: DPI is not set. The system will use automatic configuration. -->
</Display>
The following XML example sets the display resolution to 1280 x 1024, and adjusts the text and graphics to appear at a medium size (120 DPI). This results in an effective resolution of 1024 x 819.
<Display>
<HorizontalResolution>1280</HorizontalResolution>
<VerticalResolution>1024</VerticalResolution>
<DPI>120</DPI>
</Display>
The following XML example sets the display resolution to 1900 x 1200, and adjusts the text and graphics to appear at a larger size (144 DPI). This results in an effective resolution of 1266 x 800.
<Display>
<HorizontalResolution>1900</HorizontalResolution>
<VerticalResolution>1200</VerticalResolution>
<DPI>144</DPI>
</Display>