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1. IntroductionOne of the most annoying sets of problems I have had to deal with is the abysmal default fonts and font settings of X (I'm talking specifically about XFree86, other versions of X may be better.) Many programs use fixed width default fonts when a variable width font would be more appropriate. Other programs use fonts that are ridiculously tiny and unreadable. The fonts that are bundled with XFree86 are barely adequate for the job. It does come with a halfway decent courier font, but its Times and Helvetica fonts are simple bitmap fonts that pixelize when they are scaled. Yuck! This HOWTO attempts to show how to adjust various font settings, install new fonts, and do other things that will greatly improve the appearance and readability of fonts on the X Window Desktop. This is done by adjusting the FontPath in the XF86Config file, by adding switches to X server command line in startx or xdm (and variants), by adding new fonts, by installing a TrueType font server and fonts, and by using a feature in the K Desktop Environment 1.1 that automagically adjusts font settings in many applications, including non-KDE apps to set their fonts and colors to match KDE's style settings. Comments, corrections, additions and critiques are always welcome. You can reach the authors at <meldroc@frii.com>, or <hal@foobox.net> 1.1. Conventions
1.2. Change Log
1.3. New VersionsVersion 1.55 adds additional information relating to XFree86 4.x, and in particular what is new with Redhat 7.0. Also adding a neglected credit to Kristin Aanestad for his insight into much of what this document is all about. Version 1.5 includes new sections on xfsft, fonts.alias and XFree86 4.x. Also, includes new Links and Notes sections, as well as a rewrite of the xfs sections. Various other changes and additions. The latest version of this document can be found at http://feenix.eyep.net/ldp/fdu/index.html. 1.4. CopyrightCopyright © 1999 by Doug Holland. Unless otherwise stated, Linux HOWTO documents are copyrighted by their respective authors. Linux HOWTO documents may be reproduced and distributed in whole or in part, in any medium physical or electronic, as long as this copyright notice is retained on all copies. Commercial redistribution is allowed and encouraged; however, the author would like to be notified of any such distributions. All translations, derivative works, or aggregate works incorporating any Linux HOWTO documents must be covered under this copyright notice. That is, you may not produce a derivative work from a HOWTO and impose additional restrictions on its distribution. Exceptions to these rules may be granted under certain conditions; please contact the Linux HOWTO coordinator for more information. In short, we wish to promote dissemination of this information through as many channels as possible. However, we do wish to retain copyright on the HOWTO documents, and would very much like to be notified of any plans to redistribute the HOWTOs, this one in particular! Web page authors are free to link to this HOWTO without restriction, though the author would appreciate an email informing him of this, just so he can boost his ego by knowing who else reads and links to this document. Many of the terms mentioned in this document are trade names. Unless otherwise stated, all trademarks are property of their respective owners. 1.5. Credits Created by Doug Holland. Special thanks go to:
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