Macintosh Clients Not Able to Use Downloaded Fonts (123109)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
This article was previously published under Q123109
3.50
WINDOWS
kbprint

SYMPTOMS

Macintosh clients are not able to use downloaded fonts on a PostScript printer when printing through a Windows NT Server.

CAUSE

The PostScript driver on Macintosh queries the printer to discover what fonts are available on the printer. Windows and Windows NT do not query the printer for fonts. Windows and Windows NT use a file called a PostScript Printer Description (PPD) file to determine the capabilities of the printer. This file includes information such as resolution, number of trays and the types of fonts. When the Macintosh client sends the query to the print queue of a Windows NT Server, the Windows NT Server only reports back the fonts listed in the PPD file installed on the server.

RESOLUTION

In order for Windows NT Server to report downloaded printer fonts for Macintosh client computers, you need to modify the PPD file. The PPD files are found in several locations depending on the version of Windows NT and the type of computer (that is, x86, Alpha or MIPS).

For Windows NT version 3.1, the location of the PPD file is at the following:

\WINNT\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\<PPD filename>.PPD (For Intel-based computers)


For Windows NT version 3.5, the location of the PPD file is at the following:

\WINNT\SYSTEM32\SPOOL\DRIVERS\W32X86\1\<PPD filename>.PPD (For Intel-based computers)


NOTE: To determine which PPD file is being used, search for the printer driver name in PRINTER.INF using a text editor such as Notepad. The file, PRINTER.INF, is located in the %SYSTEMROOT%\SYSTEM32 subdirectory. Only one PPD per printer driver is available. If a particular PPD driver is modified to include the additional fonts, all printer drivers using the PPD file has access to these fonts.

MORE INFORMATION

When you modify the PPD file to specify additional fonts, modify only the section under the following heading and use the format specified for each font:

*% Font Information =============================

* Font [fontname: coding] "(version)"

where: fontname = the PostScript language name of the font

coding = the type of coding for the font (Standard, Special and ISOLatin1 are typical values for coding)
version = the version number of the font.


As an example, the following lists the default Times family fonts found in an Apple LaserWriter II NTX:

*Font Times-Bold: Standard "(001.001)"
*Font Times-BoldItalic: Standard "(001.001)"
*Font Times-Italic: Standard "(001.001)"
*Font Times-Roman: Standard "(001.001)"

For information about font names, codings and version numbers of your fonts, refer to your font manual(s).

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc., a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/23/2003
Keywords:KB123109
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.