Installing fonts via command line/script

[jerrym]

Windows 7 has apparently changed the way fonts are installed. I have a web page that I use that when visiting the page it looks to see if a file called barcode.exe is installed in a particular folder and if it is not present it downloads the file and executes it. The exe file is designed to place 2 carolina bar code fonts into C:\windows\fonts. This works with no issues in both Windows XP and Windows Vista but is not working in Windows 7. I can manually install these into Windows 7 font folder with no problem, but need to be able to do it automatically. Does anyone know an effective command line to use to place a font into the font folder in Windows 7? Thanks...

Jerry Mill

 

[jsherman]

in my my .bat file, I run Font.vbs file.

rem Add files

O:\BDARevit\Distra\Font.vbs

Text code inside of Font.vbs file as follows:

' Fonts.cfg
' January 13, 2010
' ----------------------------------------------------------
Option Explicit

Dim objShell, objFolder

Const FONTS = &H14&

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(FONTS)
objFolder.CopyHere "O:\BDARevit\Distra\architxt.ttf"

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application")
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(FONTS)
objFolder.CopyHere "O:\BDARevit\Distra\BlankSerif.ttf"

Wscript.Quit

 

[bigbuck]

Anyway to do this all within an existing batch file? Without launching a VB application?

 

[sepiroth81]

This doesn't work for me in windows 7 professional from a windows server 2003.

It works like I have no permission to write in that folder (like if I run a batch file).

There is some non-standard option that I have to enable?

Thank you

 

[Bill2]

When you install a font, all that you actually do is to copy the concerned .ttf file to the %systemroot%\fonts (in most cases that would simply be C:\windows\fonts) and add an entry in under the registry key
"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts".

You can do this with a batch file as follows:

Rem fontinstall.bat
xcopy *.ttf %systemroot%\fonts
regedit /s font.reg

The font.reg would contain the following:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"fontname (TrueType)"="filename.ttf"

You would need to reboot to see the font.

 

[sepiroth81]

Not in windows 7!
You cannot access the font directory!
This is the problem!

Thanks anyway

 

[Dwarf]

Here's a batch file that should accomplish what you wish to achieve. Please note that, since you are accessing the HKLM branch of the registry, this MUST be run either from within an administrative account or from one that has been elevated to administrative privileges.

@ECHO OFF
XCOPY [COLOR=red]<Source>[/COLOR].[COLOR=red]<ext>[/COLOR] %systemroot%\fonts
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts" /v "[COLOR=red]<Fontname>[/COLOR] ([COLOR=red]<Type>[/COLOR])" /t REG_SZ /d "[COLOR=red]<Filename>[/COLOR].[COLOR=red]<ext>[/COLOR]" /f

You will need to provide the information in <red>.

 

[sepiroth81]

Thanks for the answers.

I put my frizquadratatt.ttf in the c:\ directory, then I create font.cmd

XCOPY c:\frizquadratatt.ttf %systemroot%\fonts
REG ADD "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts" /v "Fritz Quadrata TT (True Type)" /t REG_SZ /d "frizquadratatt.ttf" /f

then I launch font.cmd from my desktop clicking "run as administrator"

it works fine...but I still haven't the font installed!!

ok, ok I have to restart the pc (WHY ?!?!? If you can doubleclick on a .ttf file, say install and you are immediatly able to use it!?!? ther must be another way!!)

Now I put this script in my logon.cmd in the domain server and tell the active directory to run it...but it doesn't work!!

Thank again

 

[islamadel]

How to install a font via the command line? ADD_Fonts.cmd

Here is a batch script to install Fonts in any Folder automatically.
Paste the following code in notepad and save it as "ADD_Fonts.cmd"
place the cmd file inside the folder of the fonts you want to install and run it or
add the source folder as a parameter. for example "ADD_fonts.cmd" C:\Folder 1\Folder 2\

it will install all the fonts automatically by copying them to the Windows Fonts Folder and creating the required Registry values for them

@ECHO OFF
TITLE Adding Fonts..
REM Filename: ADD_Fonts.cmd
REM Script to ADD TrueType and OpenType Fonts for Windows
REM By Islam Adel
REM 2012-01-16

REM How to use:
REM Place the batch file inside the folder of the font files OR:
REM Optional Add source folder as parameter with ending backslash and dont use quotes, spaces are allowed
REM example "ADD_fonts.cmd" C:\Folder 1\Folder 2\

IF NOT "%*"=="" SET SRC=%*
ECHO.
ECHO Adding Fonts..
ECHO.
FOR /F %%i in ('dir /b "%SRC%*.*tf"') DO CALL :FONT %%i
REM OPTIONAL REBOOT
REM shutdown -r -f -t 10 -c "Reboot required for Fonts installation"
ECHO.
ECHO Done!
PAUSE
EXIT

:FONT
ECHO.
REM ECHO FILE=%~f1
SET FFILE=%~n1%~x1
SET FNAME=%~n1
SET FNAME=%FNAME:-= %
IF "%~x1"==".otf" SET FTYPE=(OpenType)
IF "%~x1"==".ttf" SET FTYPE=(TrueType)

ECHO FILE=%FFILE%
ECHO NAME=%FNAME%
ECHO TYPE=%FTYPE%

COPY /Y "%SRC%%~n1%~x1" "%SystemRoot%\Fonts\"
reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts" /v "%FNAME% %FTYPE%" /t REG_SZ /d "%FFILE%" /f
GOTO :EOF

 

[takeitback86]

The best way to do this is to create a vbs script and run it from a command line. So open notepad and paste:

Const FONTS = &H14& 

 Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") 
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(FONTS)
objFolder.CopyHere "C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttf"

Just change C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttff to the current location of ttf file you want to install and that's the only thing you should have to replace, go to file and save as and make sure you save it as a .vbs file. Then just save the vbs script where ever you like and run the script via cmd or batch file. If you need multiple fonts installed just repeat the objFolder.CopyHere "C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttf" line at the end with each font name in the appropriate place.

I should also mention that the batch file or command should look like this:

cscript "C:\folder\InstallFont.vbs"

I've tried the first few answers on this forum to no avail and this is the only thing that has worked for me so I thought I'd share.


reference: Hey, Scripting Guy! How Can I Install Fonts Using a Script? - Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

 

[ElMonoAlado]

The best way to do this is to create a vbs script and run it from a command line. So open notepad and paste:

Const FONTS = &H14& 
 
 Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") 
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(FONTS)
objFolder.CopyHere "C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttf"

Just change C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttff to the current location of ttf file you want to install and that's the only thing you should have to replace, go to file and save as and make sure you save it as a .vbs file. Then just save the vbs script where ever you like and run the script via cmd or batch file. If you need multiple fonts installed just repeat the objFolder.CopyHere "C:\Scripts\Myfont.ttf" line at the end with each font name in the appropriate place.

I should also mention that the batch file or command should look like this:

cscript "C:\folder\InstallFont.vbs"

I've tried the first few answers on this forum to no avail and this is the only thing that has worked for me so I thought I'd share.


reference: Hey, Scripting Guy! How Can I Install Fonts Using a Script? - Hey, Scripting Guy! Blog - Site Home - TechNet Blogs

I had the same problem and your way worked for me perfectly! many thanks!

 

[Pyprohly]

The TechNet article mentions that simply copying a font file to the Fonts folder will not work.

As far as we know, the only programmatic way to get Windows to recognize that a new font has been added to the Fonts folder, and thus get Windows to install that font for you, is to use the Shell object.

Which explains why all the batch files (so far) in this thread don't work (well).


InstallFont.vbs

strFontToInstall = "C:\PathTo\Some\Font.fon"
Const FONTS = &H14

Set objShell = CreateObject("Shell.Application") 
Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace(FONTS)
objFolder.CopyHere strFontToInstall

InstallFont(golfed).vbs

strFontToInstall = "C:\PathTo\Some\Font.fon"
CreateObject("Shell.Application").Namespace(20).CopyHere strFontToInstall

InstallFont.bat

set font_to_install="C:\PathTo\Some\Font.fon"
(
	echo Set objShell = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^)
	echo Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace^(20^)
	echo objFolder.CopyHere "%FONT_TO_INSTALL:"=%"
) > "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"
WScript "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"
del "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"

InstallFont(golfed).bat

set font_to_install="C:\PathTo\Some\Font.fon"
echo CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^).Namespace(20).CopyHere "%FONT_TO_INSTALL:"=%">"%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs"&&(WScript "%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs"&timeout 1 >NUL&del "%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs")

Does anyone know an effective command line to use to place a font into the font folder in Windows 7?

To install a font? Here's your command... (good luck remembering it though)

Command Line command

echo CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^).Namespace(20).CopyHere "[COLOR="Red"]<PathToFontFile>[/COLOR]">"%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs"&&(WScript "%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs"&timeout 1 >NUL&del "%TEMP%\tmp_InstallFont.vbs")

And for anyone looking, here's a simple font installer batch file.

@echo off

REM Drop a font file on me and I'll install it!

set default_font_to_install="C:\PathTo\Some\Font.fon"
if "%~1"=="" ( set font_to_install=%DEFAULT_FONT_TO_INSTALL%) else (
	set font_to_install=%1
)
(
	echo Set objShell = CreateObject^("Shell.Application"^)
	echo Set objFolder = objShell.Namespace^(20^)
	echo objFolder.CopyHere "%FONT_TO_INSTALL:"=%"
) > "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"
WScript "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"
del "%TEMP%\tmp_%~n0.vbs"

(Note: All batch files above use temp files)

 

[digitaltomj]

I was able to do this from a network shared folder on our domain for a bunch of fonts using the following batch script. It will copy fonts from a directory into C:\Windows\Fonts\ and then add a registry key for each font.

copy /Y "[B]location_of_folder_with_fonts[/B]\*.ttf" "C:\Windows\Fonts\"
regedit /s "[B]location_of_folder_with_font.reg[/B]\font.reg"
pause

The font.reg file looks like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"[B]Font_Name#1[/B] (TrueType)"="[B]File_Name#1[/B].ttf"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"[B]Font_Name#2[/B] (TrueType)"="[B]File_Name#2[/B].ttf"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Fonts]
"[B]Font_Name#2[/B] (TrueType)"="[B]File_Name#3[/B].ttf"

Just edit the parts in bold as needed. When this script is ran as admin it works fine and after a reboot, the fonts can be seen in the fonts folder from the control panel.

 

[Pyprohly]

When this script is ran as admin it works fine and after a reboot [...]

Those are the differences between it and the VBScript solution: the registry solution requires administrative privileges, and also a reboot.

 

[mejsu]

.VBS to automatically overwrite existing fonts?

Thanks takeitback86! This works like a charm but got a question for you.

If computers have fonts already installed, they will get a Windows notification popup on startup asking if the fonts need to get replaced. Would you know if there is a way to do this automatically (a line of code). I would like the .vbs to overwrite the existing fonts without having user to manually click on YES button for all font notification pop ups?

 

[susemania]

I spent a lot of time to find a way for installing font without restart. Finally I found this ClickFont. It's an easy and exact solution

Link: ClickFont Download