Selecting a custom font for ZTreeWin

ZTreeWin is a console application and requires a Monospace font.
ZTreeWin v1 uses the OEM character set? ZTreeWin v2 uses Unicode.
The Help file "3.12 Shortcut Setup" describes how to set font type and size.

Unfortunately there are few choices of font.
Win98 et al only allow a choice between Bitmap & TrueType in various font sizes.
W2K & XP allow Raster or Lucida Console, despite the fact that at least one other "Courier New" is already installed.

Microsoft explains how to add fonts by changing the following registry key (needs a reboot):



Another trick is to use Font linking to allow characters that are missing from one font to be found in another, it can be used with the method above.
There are some issues with this method
o. Performance can be affected when using the linked fonts.
o. Glyphs in some fonts are of different sizes i.e. the ones for south east Asia languages, this can cause alignment issues.
see the following
Microsoft Globalization page
Tip Font linking
Double-width Asian glyphs in Western consoles
Font resource site


If you want to try others the Microsoft article includes Necessary Criteria for Fonts to Be Available Unfortunately this is not much help, unless you are writing a program. Program to enumerate Fixed Width Fonts
ZTreeWin also has some additional requirements; The Box Characters ? ? ? ? etc are required, and characters 00-1F (04 ? for tagged files, 18 ?, 19 ?, 1A ? and 12 (up down arrow)).

Character Map/Advanced View (Character Set DOS: United States - or whatever) shows characters supported (unfortunately not 00-1F)
Find this in Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools/Character Map or %SystemRoot%\System32\charmap.exe
This will show that Consolas is no use, as it is missing the Box Characters.

Unfortunately Windows does not show which are fixed-pitch fonts, this can only be done by trial and error or Program to enumerate Fixed Width Fonts
An easy way to do this is to open FontTest.txt in Notepad, and try different Fonts. (This is a unicode file, and only displays CP 437.)

Where are the fonts?

Direct links Andale Mono Bitstream Vera Sans Mono DejaVu Sans Mono (if these don't work try:-)
Reviews, Information & Download links on Monospace/Fixed Width Programmer's Fonts
There are a number of Raster fonts (and information) on DOSFon
Consolas (and other ClearType fonts) are included in Microsoft Office 2007 Compatibility Pack
Consolas in Consolas Font Pack for Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 or 2008
Do not forget all the old Microsoft packages e.g. Plus! which also included fonts.
Gallery of Unicode Fonts contains a large number of fonts, organised by Language. Monospace fonts are not identified, but you may find some which may be useful e.g. Courier MonoThai

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