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Q82754: How Windows 3.1 Performs Font Mapping (True Type)

Article: Q82754
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 05-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article discusses how Windows version 3.1 deals with font mapping and how
various penalties affect the actual font that is chosen for a particular
request.

This information is specific to Windows 3.1 with TrueType enabled.

MORE INFORMATION
================

All font mapping takes place only if the font and size requested does not exist
on the target device (screen or printer).

If a TrueType font is requested, such as Times New Roman, then all point sizes
are available. If a bitmap font is requested, such as MS Serif, then at the
point sizes at which the bitmap exists the bitmap is used. At other point sizes,
either the same bitmaps or "enlarged" versions of these bitmaps are used. If a
font is requested that does not exist, such as Ribald, then the font mapper
attempts to use a TrueType font so that the glyphs (characters) have a good
appearance at all point sizes.

When a Windows application requests a font from Windows, it asks for it by name
and other attributes. These other attributes are used by the font mapper. For
example, if a "serif" font is requested then the font mapper uses Times New
Roman. If a "sans serif" font is requested, Arial is used. If a fixed-pitched
font is requested, Courier New is used. If a "script" or "decorative" font is
requested then the font mapper chooses among all fonts (TrueType, bitmap, and
vector) to find a good fit.

In special cases, the font mapper also uses the following fonts as a substitute
for the corresponding TrueType font-pack equivalents. For example, if the font
pack is installed and the user requests Avant Garde on a Hewlett-Packard (HP)
LaserJet III, Windows automatically uses Century Gothic if Avant Garde is not
available.

SubIt ArialPS                   Arial
SubIt Arial MT                  Arial
SubIt TimesNewRomanPS           Times New Roman
SubIt Helvetica                 Arial
SubIt Times                     Times New Roman
SubIt Times Roman               Times New Roman
SubIt Bookman                   Bookman Old Style
SubIt Palatino                  Book Antiqua
SubIt AvantGarde                Century Gothic
SubIt Avant Garde               Century Gothic
SubIt New Century Schlbk        Century Schoolbook
SubIt NewCenturySchlbk          Century Schoolbook
SubIt N Helvetica Narrow        Arial Narrow
SubIt Helvetica-Narrow          Arial Narrow
SubIt Zapf Chancery             Monotype Corsiva
SubIt ZapfChancery              Monotype Corsiva
SubIt Zapf Dingbats             Monotype Sorts
SubIt ZapfDingbats              Monotype Sorts

If both a bitmap font and a TrueType font exist for the same name, such as
Symbol, then the bitmap font is used at sizes where bitmaps exist, and TrueType
is used at all other sizes. To obtain TrueType in all cases, add the following
line in WIN.INI under the [TrueType] section:

  TTifCollisions = 1

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 3.1 true type map winfont

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbWin3xSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

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