idea Add FONTs to Project or application for virtual machines in ArcGIS Pro Ideas

Add FONTs to Project or application for virtual machines

RobertGraham_HDR — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 20:13:02 GMT

It would be better if we were able to add FONT families and Typeface to a project or the application framework instead of to the computer. Many instances of ArcGIS within organizations run on virtual machines. While I can add a new font to a VM. The next VM session is not going to be on the same VM.

I found this problem when creating a map with Alegreya font. I was matching the font used in the Modern Antique basemap. The map does not throw any error when opening on a new VM. The new session will switch out the missing font for the default font, which is Arial in my case.

I know that I could reinstall the missing font on the new session. I may request to have the font added to the next VM image. Maybe I am missing something like adding the font as a text style to make the font work no matter which machine it is running.

Re: Add FONTs to Project or application for virtual machines

RTPL_AU — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 01:54:08 GMT

@RobertGraham_HDR How do your roaming profiles currently work to bring other user specific items across when you log into a new session/vm?
Wouldn't it be better to have fonts installed to your user profile at the proper location (%LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts\) and then have it follow you around wherever you log in to?
Adding yet another location for fonts to hide in is not the best idea in my opinion.

That being said - to solve a problem at an application level without requiring IT to change a SOP can be the easiest way to accomplish things 🤣

Re: Add FONTs to Project or application for virtual machines - Status changed to: Under Consideration

CraigWilliams — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 01:29:13 GMT

Re: Add FONTs to Project or application for virtual machines

RobertGraham_HDR — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 13:55:22 GMT

@RTPL_AUThanks for the suggestion. I did try the %LOCALAPPDATA% folder but no joy. I also tried creating a Fonts folder under %APPDATA% since that is Roaming, but still no additional fonts. It looks like the Local folder is not roaming with profile. I have requested our VMWare admins to add the font to a select few servers.

I like the KISS approach of having fonts in one location. The Idea is to not have that location limited by the OS or profiles. I have a had a few cases over the years that special fonts are distributed with a GIS Data Package for well symbols. This restricts the use to desktop users. For publishing to Enterprise of AGOL we would need to install those fonts on each host service.

I am happy to see that @CraigWilliams has posted that the Idea is under consideration. AS we integrate more with hosted services maybe the best place to host a font library is online.