TITLE
    System 7.x: Improved Font Management (5/95)
Article ID:
Created:
Modified: 		10808
10/12/92
5/26/95
TOPIC



    This article contains a series of questions and answers about fonts and font management with systems newer than System 7.0 and 7.0.1.

DISCUSSION


    Question: Do fonts work differently with System 7.1 and greater than they did with System 7.0 and 7.0.1?

    Answer: No, fonts function the same as they did with System 7.0 and 7.0.1. However, they no longer reside in the System file. All fonts, including PostScript Type 1 fonts (which were stored in the Extensions folder under System 7.0 and 7.0.1), TrueType, and bitmapped fonts, as well as font suitcases, now reside in the new Font folder within the System Folder.


    Question: When I upgrade to a system newer than System 7.0 or 7.0.1 (such as System 7.1 or System 7.5), what happens to the fonts installed in my System file?

    Answer: The Installer copies your fonts to the new Font folder and stores each font family in a separate suitcase. Then the Installer removes those fonts from the System file. However, the Installer does not remove the Chicago, Geneva, or Monaco fonts from the System file, even though it has copied them to the Font folder. These three fonts must be present for the System to function properly. You can remove these fonts from the System file and the Fonts folder to save disk space, because the System retains an invisible set for its own use.


    Question: What are the "Apple Classic Fonts"?

    Anwer: These fonts, also known as the city fonts, came with the original Macintosh computer in 1984. They are bitmapped fonts, and TrueType versions are not available from Apple.


    Question: How are fonts installed?

    Answer: Fonts are installed by dragging a font suitcase or font file to the System Folder. They are automatically placed in the Font folder.


    Question: What is a font suitcase?
    Answer: In System 7.0 and 7.1, a suitcase behaved exactly like a folder. A suitcase, on the other hand, can store only font files.

    Question: What is a bitmapped font?

    Answer: A bitmapped font is defined as a font with a specific point size and a resolution of 72 dots per inch. With System 7 and later, bitmapped fonts are used to display on-screen text in the specified point size. Bitmapped fonts cannot be scaled and are not designed for quality printed output.


    Question: What is a TrueType font?

    Answer: A TrueType font is a mathematical representation of a font that can be scaled to any size and displayed on-screen or printed to any printer.


    Question: What is a PostScript (or printer) font?

    Answer: A PostScript font is a mathematical representation of a font that is used by a PostScript printer to yield high-quality output. To be used, a PostScript font must be accompanied by a bitmapped version of the same font or the Adobe Type Manager (ATM) extension needs to be installed.


    Question: How can I tell if a font is a PostScript, bitmapped, or TrueType font?

    Answer: Fonts types have distinctive icons. PostScript fonts' icons vary, depending on the font designer. A bitmapped font's icon looks like a rectangle with the upper left corner folded over and a single letter "A" in the center of the rectangle. A TrueType font has a similar icon, except it shows three different sizes of the letter "A" that overlap in the rectangle. Also, the name of bitmapped fonts end with a number; TrueType fonts do not.


    Question: If I have a TrueType version of a font, do I also need a bitmapped version of the same font?

    Answer: No. The TrueType font is all you need to display the font on your screen and to print it at the highest possible resolution on your printer.


    Question: Why does Apple include both bitmapped fonts and TrueType fonts if all I need is the TrueType version?

    Answer: Having bitmapped fonts available increases the speed of screen redraws on the lower-end Macintosh computers.


    Question: Is it better to keep my fonts in a suitcase or to put them into the Font folder as individual files?

    Answer: The Font folder is limited to a total of 128 suitcase and font files (PostScript fonts are not included in the 128 file limit). Suitcases can hold an unlimited number of font files, as long as 16MB of disk space is not exceeded. By storing your fonts within a suitcase in the Font folder, you use less RAM, and the number of fonts is limited only by the size of the hard drive.


    Question: How do I create a font suitcase?

    Answer: You cannot create a font suitcase with System 7.1 or greater, but you can duplicate an existing suitcase. If you need an empty suitcase, duplicate an existing suitcase and trash its contents. You can duplicate the remaining suitcase as many times as you need.


    Question: Can I merge suitcase files?

    Answer: Yes, by dragging one suitcase file on top of another suitcase file.


    Article Change History:
    25 May 1995 - Updated to reflect System 7.5; reformatted.

    Support Information Services

Document Information
Product Area: Mac OS System Software
Category: System 7.0x-7.1.x
Sub Category: General Topics

Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.