Fonts in Works for Windows Dialog Box Corrupted (78651)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Works 2.0
  • Microsoft Works 2.0a
  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
This article was previously published under Q78651
2.x WINDOWS kbsetup

SUMMARY

The dialog boxes (including the startup screens) in Microsoft Works for Windows use the Helvetica typeface. If no fonts of this typeface are available, the system will pick an appropriate substitute from the list of installed screen fonts. This may produce undesirable results such as unreadable dialog box text in Works for Windows, and will do so especially if third-party screen fonts have been installed. This also can occur if the FILES= statement in the CONFIG.SYS file are set too low.

MORE INFORMATION

A low FILES= line or corrupt Helv screen font will also affect the initial copyright screen and cause the buttons on the toolbar to overlap. For example:

  1. The Font Size arrow may obscure the Bold button.

    -or-
  2. If you select the Fonts icon from the Control Panel, there will be no examples of the font selected.
In the [FontSubstitutes] section of the WIN.INI file in Windows 3.1, Helv is set to MS Sans Serif. If MS Sans Serif is missing or corrupt, the opening dialog box and the Font list box will be corrupt.

FILES= Statement Set too Low

If any of these problems occur, check your CONFIG.SYS file; make sure that there is only one FILES= statement and that it is set to at least 30. If you are running MS-DOS version 5.0 or later, it is recommended that you set the files to 60. For example, if your CONFIG.SYS file includes the line "FILES=10", the fonts will be unreadable when you start Works for Windows. In this case, do the following:

  1. Change the files line to "FILES=30" or a number greater.
  2. Exit Windows, restart the machine, and restart Works for Windows.
The font corruption should be corrected.

Helv Font Still Corrupted

If you still have the font corruption problem, reinstall the Helv font, as follows:

  1. Determine the video resolution Windows is running by selecting the Windows Setup icon from the Main program group.
  2. Run Control Panel and select the Fonts icon.
  3. If the correct Helv font for your video resolution is already installed but is corrupt, remove it from the Control Panel and delete it from the hard drive, then restart Windows before continuing.
  4. Choose the Add button.
  5. Insert the disk that contains the Helv fonts. If you have 5.25-inch Windows disks, this is Disk 4. If you have 3.5-inch Windows disks, it is on Disk 6. Select your drive from the Directories list box.
  6. Select one of the following files and choose OK. The file you choose depends on your video resolution:
          CGA      HELVA.FON
      EGA      HELVB.FON
      VGA      HELVE.FON
      8514/a   HELVF.FON
After you exit and restart Windows, the problem should be corrected.

For more information about installing screen fonts in Windows, refer to the "Microsoft Windows User's Guide," for version 3.0, pages 178-180, or query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

adding and screen fonts and works

NOTE: Overlapping buttons on the toolbar can also be caused by a large-window border-width setting. For more information about this problem, query on the following words:

tool bar and buttons and border width

REFERENCES

"Microsoft Windows User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 178-180
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:10/8/2003
Keywords:KB78651
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.