I'm very new to writting VBScripts and I've written a VBScript to install
fonts into the C:\Windows\system32\fonts folder. The script is running fine
and it is being handled by group policy for a bunch of computers.

The problem is that I can see that the files have been copied but the users
can't use the fonts until I log on to each pc as local admin and go to
control panel and then click on the fonts folder. Then, the fonts are
available. What do I need to do to my script to have the fonts available
without that step?

Thanks for any help.

Bob

Anything to do with fonts and Windows is a complete mess, to install a font properly for all users it's a three-step
process:
First off, copy or move the file into the fonts directory, nice and easy to get you started.
Next you need to call the AddFontResource(Ex) API call to install the font (you may also need to call
CreateScalableFontResource(), depending on which font it is.)  Ok, so far so good - This is unfortunately where the
documentation ends..
Finally you need to add an entry into the registry to tell Windows where the font is.  Have a look at
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts] to see what's already there for existing fonts,
it should be pretty simple to work out what to add for your own - Oh and yes, the location of this key changes depending
on which OS the user is running - fun!
But unfortunately with this method you have to find out the font name to install it with, you can't just use the file
name - that would be too easy, and no there are no API calls to find this for you.  You can either parse the .TTF file
(www.wotsit.org should have the format spec, you're interested in the name resource) or I've also seen a technique that
parses the .FOT file generated by CreateScalableFontResource() which supposedly has the font name in, I've not
experimented with this yet though.
To make sure any currently running applications are made aware of the newly installed font, you need to broadcast the
WM_FONTCHANGE message to all top-level windows (just use SendMessage() with the HWND_BROADCAST flag for the window
handle.)
After all that you may have the font properly installed.. good luck.. ;)
Hope this helps,

    Mike


- Microsoft Visual Basic MVP -
E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org
WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/

Show quote Hide quote font properly for all users it's a three-step
to get you started.
(you may also need to call
so good - This is unfortunately where the
the font is.  Have a look at
see what's already there for existing fonts,
yes, the location of this key changes depending
install it with, you can't just use the file
for you.  You can either parse the .TTF file
resource) or I've also seen a technique that
supposedly has the font name in, I've not
That's opening a huge can of worms and looks easy at first until you realize
it's not a consistant way to get the font's face name.  Fonts are just not
easy to work with.  I have spent alot of time with Fonts and the font
specifications for my shareware application www.CfontPro.com .

newly installed font, you need to broadcast the
with the HWND_BROADCAST flag for the window

Which method do you use, parsing the font table in the TTF?  If so how do you decide which string in the table to use?
I'm currently assigning a weight to each entry based on the type, language and platform fields for each string (at least
I think that's what they are, it's been a while since I looked at the format..) and pick the entry with the highest
weight overall.  It seems a bit flakey though but so far has proven to be pretty reliable, still I'm curious as to how
others have done it.  I have a couple of utility applications that currently use my font installation library and I
still cringe at how presumptuous the code is, I've no idea what would happen if it were run on a non-English system
since I've never had a chance to test the language mapping stuff!
If your brain is available for picking on the subject then it would be much appreciated, either very few people seem to
know or once they have figured it out they don't want to share any information on the subject which is very frustrating!
Cheers,

    Mike


- Microsoft Visual Basic MVP -
E-Mail: ED***@mvps.org
WWW: Http://EDais.mvps.org/

I will respond to this as soon as I get a free moment...

you decide which string in the table to use?
and platform fields for each string (at least
format..) and pick the entry with the highest
pretty reliable, still I'm curious as to how
currently use my font installation library and I
happen if it were run on a non-English system
much appreciated, either very few people seem to
information on the subject which is very frustrating!
Show quoteHide quote

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