title: AS3 / Flash - How to space characters at a defined distance from each other?
body: <p>I need to create a 'rolling' percentage text field, the only problem is as the size of the characters changes, the text jolts a little from right to left and back.</p>
  
  <p><strong>How can this be overcome for a smoother effect?</strong></p>
  
  <pre><code>private function init(e:Event = null):void 
      {
          removeEventListener(Event.ADDED_TO_STAGE, init);
          // entry point
  
          _label = new TextField();
          _label.width = 140
  
          _format = new TextFormat();
          _format.align = TextFormatAlign.RIGHT;
          _format.size = 48;
          _format.font = "Gotham";
          _format.color = 0x000000;
          _label.defaultTextFormat = _format;
          addChild(_label);
  
          _timer = new Timer(20,100);
          _timer.addEventListener(TimerEvent.TIMER, update);
          _timer.start();
      }
  
      private function update(e:TimerEvent):void
      {
          _count += 1;
          _label.text = _count.toString() + "%";
      }
  </code></pre>