As of version 1.1 of the ProFont distribution, ProFont is no longer just a 9 point
bitmap font. Carl Osterwald has contributed bitmaps at several larger sizes and an
outline version of ProFont in both TrueType and Adobe Type 1 formats.
In response to several requests, especially from European users of ProFont, Carl
Osterwald also implemented the entire Macintosh character set including accented
characters with ASCII codes from 0x80 to 0xFF. These characters are included for
the first time in ProFont Distribution 1.2.
• What does ProFont look like?
Here’s a sample:
• What is included in this distribution?
The distribution includes 6 files:
+ “ProFont Info” SimpleText document
This is the file you are reading now.
+ “ProFont (Monaco)” font suitcase
The “ProFont 9” font disguised as “Monaco 9.” Upon installing this as described
below, the Macintosh system software will use ProFont in preference to Apple’s
Monaco 9 everywhere. This includes places where Monaco 9 is the default font (e.g.,
development environments). Another benefit is that the system will continue to
substitute Courier for Monaco (ProFont) for printing and also use TrueType Monaco
(a great font for programming) if font substitution is disabled.
+ “ProFont (ProFont)” font suitcase
The “ProFont” font undisguised. The installation procedures for this version
of ProFont are less intrusive than those for “ProFont (Monaco).” The tradeoff is
that one must choose “ProFont” from Font menus in order to use ProFont. As of
version 1.1 of the ProFont distribution, “ProFont (ProFont)” includes bitmaps
at several sizes larger that 9 and a scalable TrueType outline version.
+ “ProFon” PostScript™ font File
This file contains the Adobe Type 1 outline font version of “ProFont (ProFont)”.
+ “FreeGeneva” application
A nifty program from Bryan K. Ressler (BEAKER@AppleLink.apple.com) which can
manipulate the System Software’s list of “reserved” fonts. This facilitates the
installation of “ProFont (Monaco).”
+ “ProFont Character Set” SimpleText document
A SimpleText file showing the full ProFont character set in sizes 9, 10, 12,
14, 18, 24, and 36. View this after installing ProFont(ProFont).
• Why is the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase empty?
It’s not empty. It looks empty because Monaco 9 is a “reserved” font. The good
folks who write the System Software don’t want users to delete, move, or otherwise
munge with Monaco 9, Chicago 12, and Geneva 9 and 12. So, the names of these fonts
are removed (filtered out) from lists of font names produced by the Finder. Since
the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase contains only Monaco 9, it appears empty. If you
want to see this for yourself, you can run “FreeGeneva”, choose “Free the Fonts”, and
then open the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase.
• How does “ProFont(ProFont)” handle the “missing character”?
It’s a bit complicated. There is a table entry in an NFNT which indicates the range
of characters defined. If that range is 0x00 to 0xFF as it is in ProFont, then the Font
Manager’s routines for drawing bitmap fonts never draw the “missing character” (a
hollow box), even if there is no glyph available for a given character code. TrueType,
however, does draw the “missing character” for missing characters as one might
expect. Adobe Type Manager follows the behavior of bitmap fonts. You can see the
difference in the enclosed “ProFont Character Set” file when comparing ProFont 24
to ProFont 36. There is a bitmap available for ProFont 24, but ProFont 36 is
rendered by TrueType. The boxes in ProFont 36 are the “missing character.”
• How do I install “ProFont (ProFont)”?
“ProFont (ProFont)” is a normal Macintosh font. You install it under System 7.x.x
by dragging the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk. Applications launched after that point will include “ProFont” in their
Font menus.
The “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase contains the TrueType font called “ProFont”. If
you want to use the Adobe Type 1 version of the ProFont outlines instead of
the TrueType outlines, proceed as follows:
1) Open the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase in the Finder.
2) Remove the TrueType font called “ProFont”.
3) Close the window
4) Drag the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk.
5) Drag the “ProFon” PostScript font file onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk.
• How do I install “ProFont (Monaco)”?
ProFont was originally distributed inside an installer application which you could
use to install the font in place of Monaco 9. It could also remove ProFont to restore
the use of the regular Monaco 9. When the Mac SE and II came out, the installer
stopped being effective because Apple decided to put Monaco 9 in ROM. The (ugly) ROM
version would be used in preference to any version installed in the System file. The workaround was to install ROM Override List resources (ROv#) into the System file to
tell it that the Monaco 9 in the System file should override the ROM version.
With System 7 that method broke as well. System 7 doesn’t use Monaco 9 in ROM,
but Apple put Monaco 9 on a list of "reserved" fonts using an 'FRSV' and/or 'resf'
resource. This is why Monaco 9 doesn’t appear in any lists of fonts in the System file
for example. It’s there, but since the Mac needs to count on at least a few fonts being installed (Chicago 12, Monaco 9, Geneva 9, and Geneva 12), System 7 doesn’t let you
mess with them.
Bryan K. Ressler wrote a little utility called FreeGeneva which can remove and
restore this protection.
Installation instructions depend on the machine architecture and system version:
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.0.x
To install ProFont under System 7, 7.0.1, here’s the procedure:
1) Quit all applications except the Finder.
2) Run FreeGeneva. Choose to “Free the Fonts”.
3) Drag the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase onto your closed System Folder icon.
4) Say OK when asked if you want to put “Monaco 9” into the System File.
5) Say OK when asked if you want to replace the existing “Monaco 9.”
6) Run FreeGeneva. Choose to “Hide the Fonts.”
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.1.x or System 7.5.0
Under System 7.1, due to both the introduction of the “Fonts” folder and a quirk in
the 68K Macintosh System Software which I discovered through trial and error, it’s
a little easier:
1) Quit all applications except the Finder.
2) Make sure that the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase is locked using the “Get Info”
command in the Finder.
3) Drag the ProFont suitcase onto your closed System Folder icon.
4) Say OK when asked if you want to put ProFont into the Fonts Folder.
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.5.1, or
Power Macintosh running any System version
With the introduction of the Power Macintosh System Software, the quirk
exploited in the System 7.1.x, 7.5 68K installation above disappeared. System 7.5.1
removes the quirk on 68K Macintosh as well. Unfortunately this leads to a more
involved and less reversible installation:
Note: Some steps in this installation procedure require that you quit all
applications other than the Finder. As a result you may want to print this file
before proceeding with this installation. It will be much easier to follow the
directions from a printout than from a window that you have to keep closing and
reopening.
1) Restart and hold the shift key down while booting (no extensions)
2) Run FreeGeneva
3) Choose to “Free the Fonts”
4) Quit FreeGeneva
5) Open the suitcase “System Folder:System”
6) Drag Monaco 9 to the trash (this step is not easily reversible)
7) Close the window
8) Empty the trash
9) Open the suitcase “System Folder:Fonts:Monaco”
10) Drag Monaco 9 to the trash
11) Open the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase
12) Drag Monaco 9 to the “Monaco” window (from step 9)
13) Say “OK” if you get a warning that since the suitcase is locked
the font will be copied rather than moved.
14) Close all windows
15) Empty the trash
16) Run FreeGeneva
17) Choose to “Hide the Fonts”
18) Quit FreeGeneva
19) Restart
• What about Monaco 12?
Apple Monaco 12 looks a lot like Apple Monaco 9. Neither is a good font for
programming. TrueType Monaco (the scalable one) on the other hand is a great
font for programming. If you like “ProFont (Monaco)”, you may want to delete
Apple Monaco 12 from your system as well. If the Monaco 12 bitmap is not
present, TrueType will take over and render TrueType Monaco beautifully at
12 points.
Since Monaco 12 is not a reserved font, there are no special procedures
you need to follow to remove it. Under Systems 7.1 through 7.5.1, you remove
the font “Monaco 12” from the “Monaco” suitcase in the “Fonts” folder. Under
earlier versions of System 7, you remove the font “Monaco 12” from the
“System” suitcase in the “System Folder” folder.
• Aren’t those instructions a little too complicated?
“ProFont (Monaco)” clearly needs an installer. Instructions for installation are
better than nothing, but there’s just no substitute for double-clicking on an
installer and having The Right Thing™ happen. Ideally one should be able to install
“ProFont (Monaco)” and remove it easily at a later date. This should be done
without requiring the installer to carry a copy of Apple’s Monaco 9 (for copyright
reasons).
If you enjoy ProFont and have expertise in creating installers, I’d be happy to
work with you to get one up and running. Of course, if you can just crank one
out without my help then I’d be happy just to receive a finished installer in the
mail. If you work for a company that makes installers, this might be a way
to get some good will and free advertising.
I’d love to dispense with the instructions above and instead include an reliable
installer in a future release of the ProFont distribution.
Please send inquiries to me at squeegee@aol.com. If you want to send something
bigger than 25k, please use squeegee@cris.com instead.
• Who is responsible for ProFont?
+ Andrew Welch
ProFont 9 was created by Andrew Welch. It was originally shareware. Andrew has
generously given his permission for it now to be distributed freely: “let’s make it
free though [...] just credit me for making the font in the first place, and you’re good
