How to Use the TrueType Fonts Built into the Printer (121661)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95 Driver Development Kit (DDK)
  • Microsoft Windows 98 Driver Development Kit (DDK)
  • Microsoft Windows ME Driver Development Kit (DDK)
This article was previously published under Q121661

SUMMARY

Some printers have TrueType (TT) fonts built into the printer. Printer drivers can increase their throughput by using the printer's internal TrueType device fonts instead of downloading the fonts to the printer.

MORE INFORMATION

To get an accurate representation of printer supported TrueType fonts on the display, there must be an associated TT font that is installed on the system. The printer manufacturer or driver developer has the responsibility of providing TT fonts that match the printer's TT fonts. The TT fonts must be installed by using the Control Panel Fonts or by using the respective Windows API AddFontResource function.

The printer driver can then use the Enginexxxx functions that are documented in the Windows version 3.1 DDK's DDAG31WH.HLP file.

The Enginexxxx functions are:

EngineDeleteFont
EngineEnumerateFont
EngineGetCharWidth
EngineGetGlyphBmp
EngineRealizeFont
EngineSetFontContext

The Enginexxxx functions are entry points into the Windows TT rasterizer. These functions allow a printer driver to treat TT fonts as device fonts. By using its EnumDFonts() function, a printer driver can enumerate all the TT fonts on the system, compare them with the printer's TT fonts and return only the TT fonts that match. Then in the printer driver's ExtTextOut() function, the Enginexxxx realized TT font can be mapped to the printer's TT font and the associated printer escapes can be sent to the printer instead of downloading a load of raster data.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:5/24/2004
Keywords:KB121661
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