Windows 7: Anybody know how to set default font for Outlook via GPO?

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

I've googled a bit at work and from what I read it's not standard in the Outlook Admin Templates.

I've seen posts about ways to do it via reg key imports and such via GPO and I'll be able to research this some more next week...but if somebody here already knows how to do it, you might save me some research time at work. I'm just tied up with other projects right now..so I don't have time to do the research.

In a nutshell, we want to set the default font for about 350 desktops via a GPO that will work in both Outlook 2007/2010. It's not necessary to prohibit them from changing the font, but all new messages will default back to the default font that is being deemed as the standard.

Thanks in advance.

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

Alright, i got this figured out on my own this afternoon.

Code:

I created a registry file which looked like this:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"ComposeFontComplex"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"ReplyFontComplex"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"TextFontComplex"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"ComposeFontsSimple"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"ReplyFontsSimple"=-

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]
"TextFontsSimple"=-


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Common\MailSettings]

"ComposeFontSimple"=hex:3c,00,00,00,1f,00,00,f8,00,00,00,40,dc,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,ff,00,22,43,61,6c,69,62,72,69,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"ReplyFontSimple"=hex:3c,00,00,00,1f,00,00,f8,00,00,00,00,dc,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,ff,ff,00,d2,00,22,43,61,6c,69,62,72,69,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"TextFontSimple"=hex:3c,00,00,00,1f,00,00,f8,00,00,00,40,dc,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,ff,00,22,43,61,6c,69,62,72,69,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,\
  00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

I then went into the Group Policy Management Console, created a new GPO at the user level which is a logon script. It calls regedit.exe and runs /s name_of_file.reg.

Does exactly what I needed it to do.

nickiler · 29 Aug 2010

You can also create an unmanaged GPO with these reg settings. There is a blank template from Microsoft that you can start off with. Just another option.

Too many login scripts can cause slower logins. I always try to use and create my own GPO'S if possible.

pparks1 · 29 Aug 2010

Quote: Originally Posted by nickiler

You can also create an unmanaged GPO with these reg settings. There is a blank template from Microsoft that you can start off with. Just another option.

Too many login scripts can cause slower logins. I always try to use and create my own GPO'S if possible.

How would you go about doing that? Like I said, I'm doing this through a group policy object at the user level in the form of a logon script. This is the only logon script we are using that way.

nickiler · 29 Aug 2010

Sure, your method is just fine. I was just throwing out another method of getting it done. Only through the GPO instead.

I'll post an example a little later... Nick

nickiler · 31 Aug 2010

Well, it appears that you cannot create ADM files with HEX values so you cannot apply the settings above to a custom GPO. Sorry for the late reply...

Gr33nTwig · 29 Jun 2011

Hi There,

I got it going by setting up the font you want on an example workstation.

Then run GroupPolicy Managment Console on that machine (You will need to install the Admin Pack for Windows 7) and create a new policy.

Jump into User -> Preferences -> Windows Settings -> Registry -> New - Registry Wizard.

Import the registry settings that the script in an earlier post references to and presto

HTH

fshaikh03 · 19 Dec 2011

Hi,

Any idea where can I get these hex values for other fonts.

Thanks,

Gr33nTwig · 19 Dec 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by fshaikh03

Hi,

Any idea where can I get these hex values for other fonts.

Thanks,

Hey mate,

Why not set the font in Outlook on a test computer and then go into the registry to grab them?

GT

fshaikh03 · 21 Dec 2011

Hey,

Thanks a lot. I know this is not the right thread for this, any idea where can retrieve the default fonts info for word in the registry, or do you know any other way I can push the default fonts for word 2010 through GPO

Regards,

Windows 7: Anybody know how to set default font for Outlook via GPO?

Anybody know how to set default font for Outlook via GPO? problems?