DPI (Standard 7 Package Reference)

7/8/2014

The DPI setting specifies what size to show text and other items on the screen.

We recommend that you use the automatic DPI configuration in Windows Embedded Standard 7 to calculate an appropriate size. To do this, leave the DPI value empty.

If you manually set DPI:

  • Choose a supported Windows DPI value that is close to the physical DPI.
    The physical DPI of a display is the measurement of the dots per inch that display is capable of. For example, for a display 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).
  • Standard 7 requires a minimum effective vertical resolution of 600. To avoid application compatibility issues, we recommend using a minimum effective resolution of 1024 x 768.
    The effective resolution is the available visible resolution when the text and graphics are enlarged.

This setting appears in the Display item in Control Panel. For more information, see the MSDN topic: High DPI.

Values

Windows DPI value

Specifies what size to show text and other items on the screen. Windows DPI value is an integer between 96 and 480. Supported values include 96, 120, and 144.

By default, Windows uses automatic DPI configuration.

Windows Automatic DPI Configuration

The following table shows the relationship between a monitor's physical DPI and the resulting default size:

Less than 116

96

116 to 138

120*

More than 138

144*

Note

  • If enlarging the screen would create an effective resolution of less than 1024 x 768, Windows chooses a smaller Windows DPI value.

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. For information on EDID, see the VESA E-EDID Implementation Guide .

The following table shows Standard 7 automatic configuration values for sample monitors:

12.1-inch WXGA

1280

13.3-inch WXGA

1280

13.3-inch WXGA+

1440

14.1-inch WXGA

1280

14.1-inch WXGA+

1440

15.4-inch WXGA

1280

15.4-inch WXGA+

1440

15.4-inch WSXGA+

1680

15.4-inch WUXGA

1920

17-inch WXGA+

1440

17-inch WSXGA+

1680

17-inch WUXGA

1920

Note

  • For these sample monitors, Windows uses a smaller DPI value to avoid application-compatibility issues.

Manually Selecting a Windows DPI Value

You can override automatic DPI configuration. This is useful for special displays, such as small displays or touch-enabled displays.

Use a Supported Size so that Graphics are Displayed Clearly

We recommend using one of the following three values: 96, 120, or 144. The Windows user interface is optimized for these values. Non-supported values may make fonts and graphics appear blurry.

Windows DPI value

Scale level

Effect

96

100%

Displays text and graphics at a smaller size.

120

125%

Displays text and graphics at a medium size.

144

150%

Displays text and graphics at a larger size.

Use a Size that is Legible

Use a supported Windows DPI value that is close to the physical DPI. For guidance in choosing a Windows DPI value, see the table in the Windows Automatic DPI Configuration section earlier in this topic.

  • Calculation:
    For example, on a 17-inch WUXGA monitor, with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200:
    17-inch WUXGA = 14.4 inches x 9 inches.
    1920 horizontal pixels ÷ 14.4 horizontal inches = 133 physical DPI.
    Consider using the supported Windows DPI value of 120 (125% scale level), because the physical DPI is between 116 and 138.

Use a Size that Avoids Application-Compatibility Issues

Use a supported Windows DPI value that creates a resolution that is at least as large as the minimum recommended and required Windows resolutions.

Standard 7 requires a minimum effective vertical resolution of 600. We recommend using a minimum effective resolution of 1024 x 768.

  • Calculation:
    For example, on a 17-inch WUXGA monitor, with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200, using a Windows DPI value of 144 (150% scale level):
    Effective horizontal resolution = 1920 ÷ 150% = 1280.
    Effective vertical resolution = 1200 ÷ 150% = 800.
    These values exceed the recommended minimum and required Windows resolutions.

Valid Passes

auditSystem

auditUser

oobeSystem

specialize

See Also

Concepts

Display
TouchUISize