Installing a font in .NET
Author
Specifically, VB.NET
I want to install a font using VB.NET. I'm not talking about the private install, but rather, installing a font on the system. After some extensive research on this, I can't find a way to do it. It seems, according to the MSDN help, that you need to use AddFontResource, which is part of the GDI. However, I have yet to find how to import GDI functions into .NET applications.
Many thanks to anyone who can help.
Try putting the following in one of your classes:
[DllImport("gdi32.dll")]public static extern int AddFontResource(string lpszFilename);public class Gdi32{ [DllImport("gdi32.dll")] public static extern int AddFontResource(string lpszFilename);}
Author
Thanks for sending me down the right track, Rob. In VB, the formatting is a little different, but I figured it out.
Also, for reference, here's how to install a font from a ttf file in VB.net
Before your class declaration, you need to put:
Then, inside the class, import some API functions:
Then, is the actual installation. I put it in a button press.
Note: this only works on NT machines (this includes XP). To make it work on machines before then, change "Windows NT" in the registry key to just "Windows"
Also, for some reason, I cannot get the newly installed font to show up on an InstalledFontsCollection until I restart the program. I'm working on that one. Post here if you have any ideas.
Hope this was helpful.
Also, for reference, here's how to install a font from a ttf file in VB.net
Before your class declaration, you need to put:
<Assembly: RegistryPermissionAttribute( _ SecurityAction.RequestMinimum, All:="HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE")>Then, inside the class, import some API functions:
Private Const HWND_BROADCAST = &HFFFF&Private Const WM_FONTCHANGE As Long = &H1D<DllImport("gdi32.dll")> _Public Shared Function AddFontResource(ByVal lpszFilename As String) As IntegerEnd Function<DllImport("user32.dll")> _Public Shared Function SendMessage(ByVal hWnd As Integer, ByVal wMsg As Integer, ByVal wParam As Integer, ByVal lParam As Integer) As IntegerEnd FunctionThen, is the actual installation. I put it in a button press.
'let's assume that filePath is a string with the full path of the ttf filePrivate Sub cmdAddFont_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cmdAddFont.Click Dim regKey As RegistryKey = Registry.LocalMachine.OpenSubKey("Software", True).OpenSubKey("Microsoft", True).OpenSubKey("Windows NT", True).OpenSubKey("CurrentVersion", True).OpenSubKey("Fonts", True) Dim fileName As String Dim tempFonts As New PrivateFontCollection Dim fontName As String fileName = GetFileName(filePath) tempFonts.AddFontFile(filePath) fontName = tempFonts.Families(0).Name If Not System.IO.File.Exists(FONTS_FOLDER & fileName) Then 'copy the font into the windows font directory System.IO.File.Copy(filePath, FONTS_FOLDER & fileName) 'add it to the system font table AddFontResource(FONTS_FOLDER & fileName) 'write the change in the registry regKey.SetValue(fontName, fileName) 'alert all top-level programs about the change SendMessage(HWND_BROADCAST, WM_FONTCHANGE, 0, 0) End If tempFonts.Dispose()End SubPrivate Function GetFileName(ByRef fullPath As String) As String Return fullPath.Substring(fullPath.LastIndexOf("\") + 1)End FunctionPrivate Function GetFontName(ByRef fileName As String) Return fileName.Substring(0, fileName.IndexOf("."))End FunctionNote: this only works on NT machines (this includes XP). To make it work on machines before then, change "Windows NT" in the registry key to just "Windows"
Also, for some reason, I cannot get the newly installed font to show up on an InstalledFontsCollection until I restart the program. I'm working on that one. Post here if you have any ideas.
Hope this was helpful.
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