Installing Fonts

[enjay]

A little advice please...

The parents of one of our students have requested that we install a particular font on our network, as the child finds this easiest to read. In principle, I'm happy to oblige in this, however I can foresee issues with our printers not being able to handle the font, and staff wishing to prepare or mark at home having to also install the font. I'm wondering, therefore, if I wouldn't be better off trying to identify a "standard" font which the child also likes, and having people use that instead (with the approval of the student and their parents, of course).

What do you think? What would you do in my situation?

[ICT_GUY]

Which font is it?
You can create an msi install for it, I did this in our network.

[enjay]

The font they've requested is Tiresias. I've also created MSIs for fonts in the past and know it to be fairly straightforward, so I wasn't so much asking how to do it, more whether doing it is actually the most appropriate response. Obviously I want to (and will!) help, but I'm not 100% sure installing a new font is the best way to meet the need...

[Stuart_C]

I put this in the computers start-up script to copy a font onto all the computers

copy "\\srvbur\swinst$\font\<font>.ttf" "c:\windows\fonts" /y
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts" /v "<Font name> /t REG_SZ /d "<font>.ttf" /f

[Michael]

You may have a point actually. I've had a look at the Tiresias font (there are several types), but to be honest, it doesn't look anything special. Lots of very similar fonts. I found it looks very similar to Antique Olive in Word 2002.

[sparkeh]

To be honest I think installing the font will cause more hassle than benefit (for the points you raised above) for both the child and staff. Perhaps try explaining to the parents that even though you want to help its going to cause issues, and have a selection of standard fonts that are similar to show them.

[Ignatius]

You can create an msi install for it, I did this in our network.

Sorry to jump in - I'm keen to play around with .msi files to learn about their use. How did you create the .msi? Did you use third party software or something built into Windows 2003 (or XP)? As a Yorkshireman, I'd prefer to avoid shelling out hard-earned cash (but remain legal)!

[sparkeh]

Sorry to jump in - I'm keen to play around with .msi files to learn about their use. How did you create the .msi? Did you use third party software or something built into Windows 2003 (or XP)? As a Yorkshireman, I'd prefer to avoid shelling out hard-earned cash (but remain legal)!

I have created font install packages with WinInstall LE (free). Perform a scan, install font, perform 2nd scan and it creates the msi for you.

[Ignatius]

That looks like my next project for my test lab!

[sparkeh]

That looks like my next project for my test lab!

btw, WinInstallLE is available here.

[enjay]

Thanks for the advice, folks. We showed her some standard MS fonts as alternatives, and she picked one of those (Trebuchet) instead. Much easier :-)