Using a Fixed-Pitch Font as the System Default

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) for Windows versions 3.1 and 3.0

SUMMARY

In versions of Microsoft Windows earlier than version 3.0, the system font is fixed pitch; beginning with Windows version 3.0, the system font is proportional. This change can causes difficulties when applications developed for earlier versions of Windows are moved to version 3.0. Below is an explanation of how to use a fixed-pitched font as the system default. Because this technique affects all applications in the system, however, it should be used with caution.

MORE INFORMATION

To change the default system font to any value, modify the fonts.fon= entry in the [boot] section of the SYSTEM.INI file. The module name of any font listed here, specified in the module definition (DEF) file for the font dynamic-link library (DLL) must be FONTS. If the font DLL has a different module name, Windows does not boot, and the debugging version of Windows displays a FatalExit (RIP) code of 0x0401 on the debugging monitor or terminal.

Therefore, to take advantage of this technique, create a custom font with the proper module name. Install the font and modify the SYSTEM.INI file so that Windows uses that font as the system default.