Solved Small (unreadable) font in old legacy application

[cherrycomp8088]

I've been going crazy trying to come up with a fix for this problem. It's a very old software package that only a few of out users are running (but, of course, it's essential)

It works fine on an older image of Win 7 32-bit that we use, but on the newest image of Win 7 64-bit, some of the tab fonts are barely readable and I can't adjust them.

I've tried so many different things and nothing seems to work. Changes resolution, changes scaling, updated video drivers (AMD), removed video drivers (went back to stock Windows display driver), compared/imported some of the font keys in the registry from the working PC to the test PC with the problem.

No luck.

Any ideas are appreciated!

 

[Ranger4]

Hi cherrycomp8088, welcome to the Forum.

It would help if you could tell what the name of the software package is.

In some cases old programs that might have been written in 16 bit architecture will not work properly in 64 bit architecture. Have you checked to see if you can get a later version of it.

 

[johnhoh]

i wonder how it would look if you ran it within Win7 XP Mode

 

[cherrycomp8088]

It's a program called KS600 / Best. I think it's used to track keys for buildings.

I have tried running it in compatibility mode and all the other options under Properties -> Options with no luck.

I'm not sure if a newer version is available, my supervisor tried contacting the publisher for support and got no response.

 

[johnhoh]

Windows XP Mode is different from compatibility mode and unfortunately its not as easy so maybe its a last resort for you. From microsoft:

"Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many of your productivity programs that run on Windows XP directly from a computer that runs Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides a 32-bit virtual Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (SP3) environment. This download includes a virtual hard disk (.vhd file) with Windows XP SP3 preinstalled. Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002

 

[cherrycomp8088]

Windows XP Mode is different from compatibility mode and unfortunately its not as easy so maybe its a last resort for you. From microsoft:

"Windows XP Mode for Windows 7 makes it easy to install and run many of your productivity programs that run on Windows XP directly from a computer that runs Windows 7. Windows XP Mode provides a 32-bit virtual Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (SP3) environment. This download includes a virtual hard disk (.vhd file) with Windows XP SP3 preinstalled. Windows XP Mode is available free of charge to users of Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate"

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8002

I've looked at that, but I was hoping there was an easier way to alter the fonts in the application since it works and the only issue is the tiny text.

I've fooled around with the system fonts a bit, but can't seem to find the font that this application is using.

 

[Mellon Head]

I had a thought, and this may not work, but since you've tried everything else...

Try going to the Command Prompt under Accessories, and instead of opening it, click on Properties. You'll find a Font tab where you can set the Command Font. The program might be using the Command System fonts, and if you set them larger, you may be able to see the fonts on the tabs in question. Programmers years ago did some funny tricks to get things to work.

It's worth a try, at least. Other than that, I think your best bet is XP Mode.

 

[Callender]

Maybe try this: Suddenly, wrong characters

 

[cherrycomp8088]

Yes, I had tried the Command Prompt font change and that didn't work, and I just tried clearing the font cache (per Callender's tip) and that didn't work either.

Thanks for the suggestions though!

 

[Nixaura]

I've been going crazy trying to come up with a fix for this problem. It's a very old software package that only a few of out users are running (but, of course, it's essential)

It works fine on an older image of Win 7 32-bit that we use, but on the newest image of Win 7 64-bit, some of the tab fonts are barely readable and I can't adjust them.

I've tried so many different things and nothing seems to work. Changes resolution, changes scaling, updated video drivers (AMD), removed video drivers (went back to stock Windows display driver), compared/imported some of the font keys in the registry from the working PC to the test PC with the problem.

No luck.

Any ideas are appreciated!

Hi there, very small world! You're using Keystone for your key management system. I came across your post on Google, because I was having the same issue. I had an assumption that the application was defaulting to another font on the 64-bit operating systems. Sure enough, I compared the installation with a 32-bit OS and its 64-bit variant.

If you look on one of your 32-bit computers with Keystone installed, open the Windows Fonts folder.

You should see two fonts named: BL Sans Serif Regular and Small Regular.

Export each font by right clicking each one, click copy, and paste it to another location (i.e. flash drive or desktop).

Copy the two font files to the 64-bit OS and install them. Re-open Keystone and your font tabs and the detailed tabs at the bottom of the program should be easier to read!

Hope this helps!

 

[cherrycomp8088]

Hi there, very small world! You're using Keystone for your key management system. I came across your post on Google, because I was having the same issue. I had an assumption that the application was defaulting to another font on the 64-bit operating systems. Sure enough, I compared the installation with a 32-bit OS and its 64-bit variant.

If you look on one of your 32-bit computers with Keystone installed, open the Windows Fonts folder.

You should see two fonts named: BL Sans Serif Regular and Small Regular.

Export each font by right clicking each one, click copy, and paste it to another location (i.e. flash drive or desktop).

Copy the two font files to the 64-bit OS and install them. Re-open Keystone and your font tabs and the detailed tabs at the bottom of the program should be easier to read!

Hope this helps!

Didn't work. I couldn't find the BL Sans Serif Regular on the 32-bit PC, so I went ahead and copied the entire Fonts folder from the 32-bit PC to a 64-bit and still no luck

Is there somewhere in the OS I need to set the font to Small Regular? I tried setting all my defaults to that in Personilization but still nothing.

 

[Nixaura]

Didn't work. I couldn't find the BL Sans Serif Regular on the 32-bit PC, so I went ahead and copied the entire Fonts folder from the 32-bit PC to a 64-bit and still no luck

Is there somewhere in the OS I need to set the font to Small Regular? I tried setting all my defaults to that in Personilization but still nothing.

Interesting... do you have a 32-bit VM you can install Keystone on? You may have a newer or older version than me. Once you install Keystone, go to the Fonts folder and change the view to Detail. Right click one of the column headers and add the Date Modified column. Sort by the Date Modified column and see if new fonts were installed.

 

[cherrycomp8088]

Interesting... do you have a 32-bit VM you can install Keystone on? You may have a newer or older version than me. Once you install Keystone, go to the Fonts folder and change the view to Detail. Right click one of the column headers and add the Date Modified column. Sort by the Date Modified column and see if new fonts were installed.

It's Keystone ver 3.53 (ancient - circa 1998).

The Small Fonts Regular definitely copied over and is there. It's even an option in Windows Personalization. I'm just not sure if there's a font type I need to assign that font to, and if so, where?

Thanks for your input!

 

[Nixaura]

It's Keystone ver 3.53 (ancient - circa 1998).

The Small Fonts Regular definitely copied over and is there. It's even an option in Windows Personalization. I'm just not sure if there's a font type I need to assign that font to, and if so, where?

Thanks for your input!

You're using a way older version than we are. Let me find the installer and I'll extract the BL Sans Serif Regular font you're missing and see if that fixes it. I'll update with a new link shortly.

 

[Nixaura]

It's Keystone ver 3.53 (ancient - circa 1998).

The Small Fonts Regular definitely copied over and is there. It's even an option in Windows Personalization. I'm just not sure if there's a font type I need to assign that font to, and if so, where?

Thanks for your input!

I uploaded the font files to my Dropbox folder:

Dropbox - Public Folder

Give that a try.

 

[cherrycomp8088]

I uploaded the font files to my Dropbox folder:

Dropbox - Public Folder

Give that a try. 1 Hour Ago 13:56

I couldn't import the fonts. Says they are not valid font files. They're from a Win 7 machine?

 

[Nixaura]

I couldn't import the fonts. Says they are not valid font files. They're from a Win 7 machine?

What error are you receiving? Try double clicking each one and clicking the Install button in the upper left hand corner.

 

[cherrycomp8088]

What error are you receiving? Try double clicking each one and clicking the Install button in the upper left hand corner.

When I click the .fon files I get the attached error. Tried on another PC and same error.

 

[cherrycomp8088]

What error are you receiving? Try double clicking each one and clicking the Install button in the upper left hand corner.

GOT IT!!!

For some reason my PC and the other one are having problems importing .fon files (I probably hosed them with all my testing)

But I just tried it on 2 other PCs and it works!

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

 

[Nixaura]

GOT IT!!!

For some reason my PC and the other one are having problems importing .fon files (I probably hosed them with all my testing)

But I just tried it on 2 other PCs and it works!

Thanks so much!!!!!!!!

Glad it worked out! Save a copy of those font files. I'll be removing my shared dropbox folder