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Synchronizing fonts across multiple computers within a windows 2003 domain

Is anyone aware of any applications that do this? Is there a script someone is aware of that I can tweak to accomplish this? Basically, we have a mix of documents and powerpoint presentations that use english and armenian fonts. There is collaboration that needs to occur and users need to share all of the same fonts. Not sure about the best way to approach this. I wondered if there was a way to create a repository that everyone shares, if that is possible. Otherwise I need an application or script that will copy and install new fonts from each computer to the rest.

MAdS

1) Put all required font files in a shared folder and grant users access to it.
2) Set up users logon script to synchronyze local fonts folder with that shared folder (ROBOCOPY {shared-folder} %SystemRoot%\Forts /R:1 /W:1).

J C

ASKER

My understanding is that just copying fonts from a command line utility does not install the fonts/make necessary changes to the registry to make them available within your applications. Do you know if that is actually the case?

RobSampson

That is correct, but as stated here:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/heyscriptingguy/archive/2008/04/25/how-can-i-install-fonts-using-a-script.aspx

you can either roll out a script that uses the CopyHere method, which is interactive, and can get into a bind, or, apparently, you can copy the fonts to the Fonts folder, and then open and close the Fonts folder, which could be done by adding:
explorer /e,%systemroot%\fonts

to the batch command above.

If that still doesn't work, maybe we can add the relevant entry to HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts but I've never tried it that way.

Regards,

Rob.

johnb6767

Curious to see if the last comment has worked....

The key, as he has mentioned is to having the Explorer view opened to install the fonts.....

Additionally....

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Shell Folders

There is a Fonts value, which might be avaialble for redirection. As this is a legacy Shell Folder, I dont know if you could point it to a network location......

I also dont know if there would be any performance degradation by attempting this.....For laptops, it would need to be made available Offline, and cached, else there WILL be performance problems. Cant have Shell Folder values on the network, and the destination not reachable, not cached....
Aso, without ever

J C

ASKER

I'm going to give it a shot and post the results once I've attempted it.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

MAdS

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MAdS

It should be better to add some options do CopyHere to make it transparent to users:

        dest.CopyHere SOURCEPATH & "\" & folderIdx.Name , 4+128+512+1024

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Also add some error handling (source folder not found / no access at least).

RobSampson

Hi, did you manage to get any of our suggestions working?

Rob.

J C

ASKER

Can

Const SOURCEPATH = "{path of fonts shared folder}"

be a unc path? Such as

Const SOURCEPATH = "{\\Server\fonts}"

RobSampson

Yes, absolutely.

Rob.