Fonts     | Definitions | Files formats | Transfering documents |
 Fonts     | Mac/PC transfers | Windows | Fonts required by Windows |
 Fonts     | The fonts folder | Problem with Fonts folder |
Here follow some basic informations about fonts.
Definitions
A font is a set of characters bearing a specific style of drawing (alphabetical characters, figures, punctuation marks) as well as such information on kerning and leading, for instance.

Each language uses a specific character set: West-European languages use the Latin alphabet and various characters specific to each language. Other languages such as Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Russian or Asian languages use completely different signs.

One font can include several character sets, which are coded, but it can as well be made of symbols or logos.

There are different categories of fonts. This classification being very complex, we will not go into details. For now, let us just distinguish between serif fonts (cf. Times), sans-serif fonts (cf. Arial) and script fonts.

One font can include several styles: after the basic font, called 'regular', the most commonly used variations are 'bold', 'italic' and 'bold-italic'. The 'extra-bold', 'thin', 'condensed' and 'outline' are more rarely used styles.

The size of characters is given in points, one point being equivalent to 0.35 millimeters.

In computer science, each font is a program included in one or several files, each variant being in a different file.

From a legal point of view, a font is protected by an intellectual property right. Before using it, one has to get a license, unless its author allows its free use.
Files formats
To create a font, one can use the bitmap mode or the vector mode. The bitmap mode gives you access to few sizes, whereas the vector mode allows you to use almost any size with a perfect result.

In the Windows world, bitmap fonts have the FON extension. Vector fonts use the True-Type format (TTF extension) or the Adobe® Type 1 format. Two files are then required: one, bearing the PFB extension, is used for the outlines, and the other, bearing the same name as the PFB file, but with the PFM extension, is used for metrics. The latter is to be found together with the PFB file or in a subfolder called \PFM.

A new format of vector fonts, called Open Type (OTF extension) is appearing.
Transfering documents
To secure the quality of the result when transferring a document onto another machine, you must install the font used by that document, except when using files which use the font embedding function.

You have to be very cautious when using fonts of different versions: whether they come from the same founder or not, their characteristics are different.

For a perfect faithfulness to the document, as needed by DTP, it is necessary to install on the new system the font files which were originally used by the document.
Mac/PC transfers
Many users have to transfer document between those two platforms.

Most recent applications have compatible file formats.

The transfer of files is easily done, and the Mac world can receive Pc mediums, whereas the reverse is not true.

The transfer of fonts is much trickier, even though both platforms have the True-Type format.

The user has to go through a stage of conversion, which does not guarantee a perfect faithfulness to the original, as both systems do not work in perfectly identical ways.

You will find appropriate utilities on the useful links page.
Font management in the Windows world
A font is system resource, i.e. it is loaded when the computer starts up and it occupies some memory space, therefore a good font management should allow you to save memory.

Bitmap and True-Type fonts are directly supported by Windows, whereas you will need to install Adobe Type Manager® to use Type 1 fonts. You may download the free ATM® version from Adobe's site.

If you do not have a type manager, such as Typo, bitmap and True-Type fonts are managed by the 'fonts' folder of the Windows 'Configuration panel' and Type 1 fonts by Atm®. Typo manages both True-Type and Type 1 fonts.

As soon a font is activated on the system, it can be used by any application.
Fonts required by Windows
The operating system requires some fonts: their deletion can result in a disastrous display.

You must never delete the bitmap fonts, which appears with the: icon.

Never delete Marlett.

It advisable to keep the default installed fonts: Arial, Courrier New, Symbol, Times New Roman et Windings.

Some programs (like MS Office or MS Internet Explorer) install fonts, either directly or optionally. Their deletion may disrupt their functioning.
The fonts folder
By default, the folder in which Windows install the fonts is called: fonts.

Its default path is: c:\windows\fonts, assuming that Windows is installed in: c:\windows.

The fonts folder allows to install or to delete fonts: if you open it and copy into this folder a True-Type font file, the font will be activated; it is also possible to create in the fonts folder a link to a True-Type font file; deleting an element in the fonts folder is the same that removing the corresponding font; it is better to move the font file to another folder than deleting it, for a future use.

If a font already exists in the fonts folder, this one will refuse to install it twice. To replace a font version by another one, it is necessary to remove to previous version before installing the new one.

Problem with Fonts folder
It may occur that the fonts folder does works properly: the fonts are display by their font file name, not by their name; the 'Install a new font' command does not appear in the 'File' menu.

It has special attributes, which are stored in the Windows registry. Those are the following keys:

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]"Fonts"="C:\\windows\\Fonts" [HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders]"Fonts"="C:\\windows\\Fonts"

If those keys are missing, the fonts folder will be disturbed; in that case, use the Regedit utility to verify the presence of those keys : 'Start' menu, 'Run', enter 'Regedit' in the dialog box, then Enter.

If they are missing, it is enough to create them again (replace : 'windows' by the name of the folder where Windows is installed).

This folder needs the 'system' attribute. If not, open a Dos window, go to the Windows installation folder and enter the : 'attrib +s fonts' command (respecting the spaces).

After those modifications, restart the computer.