As of version 1.1 of the ProFont distribution, ProFont is no longer just a 9 point
bitmap font. Carl Osterwald has contributed bitmaps at several larger sizes and an
outline version of ProFont in both TrueType and Adobe Type 1 formats.
• What does ProFont look like?
Here’s a sample:
• What is included in this distribution?
The distribution includes 5 files:
+ “ProFont Info” SimpleText document
This is the file you are reading now.
+ “ProFont (Monaco)” font suitcase
The “ProFont 9” font disguised as “Monaco 9.” Upon installing this as described
below, the Macintosh system software will use ProFont in preference to Apple’s
Monaco 9 everywhere. This includes places where Monaco 9 is the default font (e.g.,
development environments). Another benefit is that the system will continue to
substitute Courier for Monaco (ProFont) for printing and also use TrueType Monaco
(a great font for programming) if font substitution is disabled.
+ “ProFont (ProFont)” font suitcase
The “ProFont” font undisguised. The installation procedures for this version
of ProFont are less intrusive than those for “ProFont (Monaco).” The tradeoff is
that one must choose “ProFont” from Font menus in order to use ProFont. As of
version 1.1 of the ProFont distribution, “ProFont (ProFont)” includes bitmaps
at several sizes larger that 9 and a scalable TrueType outline version.
+ “ProFon” PostScript™ font File
This file is new with the 1.1 release. It contains the Adobe Type 1 outline
font associated with “ProFont (ProFont)”.
+ “FreeGeneva” application
A nifty program from Bryan K. Ressler (BEAKER@AppleLink.apple.com) which can
manipulate the System Software’s list of “reserved” fonts. This facilitates the
installation of “ProFont (Monaco).”
• Why is the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase empty?
It’s not empty. It looks empty because Monaco 9 is a “reserved” font. The good
folks who write the System Software don’t want users to delete, move, or otherwise
munge with Monaco 9, Chicago 12, and Geneva 9 and 12. So, the names of these fonts
are removed (filtered out) from lists of font names produced by the Finder. Since
the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase contains only Monaco 9, it appears empty. If you
want to see this for yourself, you can run “FreeGeneva”, choose “Free the Fonts”, and
then open the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase.
• How do I install “ProFont (ProFont)”?
“ProFont (ProFont)” is a normal Macintosh font. You install it under System 7.x.x
by dragging the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk. Applications launched after that point will include “ProFont” in their
Font menus.
The “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase contains the TrueType font called “ProFont”. If
you want to use the Adobe Type 1 version of the ProFont outlines instead of
the TrueType outlines, proceed as follows:
1) Open the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase in the Finder.
2) Remove the TrueType font called “ProFont”.
3) Close the window
4) Drag the “ProFont (ProFont)” suitcase onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk.
5) Drag the “ProFon” PostScript font file onto the System Folder icon on your
startup disk.
• How do I install “ProFont (Monaco)”?
ProFont was originally distributed inside an installer application which you could
use to install the font in place of Monaco 9. It could also remove ProFont to restore
the use of the regular Monaco 9. When the Mac SE and II came out, the installer
stopped being effective because Apple decided to put Monaco 9 in ROM. The (ugly) ROM
version would be used in preference to any version installed in the System file. The workaround was to install ROM Override List resources (ROv#) into the System file to
tell it that the Monaco 9 in the System file should override the ROM version.
With System 7 that method broke as well. System 7 doesn’t use Monaco 9 in ROM,
but Apple put Monaco 9 on a list of "reserved" fonts using an 'FRSV' and/or 'resf'
resource. This is why Monaco 9 doesn’t appear in any lists of fonts in the System file
for example. It’s there, but since the Mac needs to count on at least a few fonts being installed (Chicago 12, Monaco 9, Geneva 9, and Geneva 12), System 7 doesn’t let you
mess with them.
Bryan K. Ressler (BEAKER@AppleLink.apple.com) wrote a little utility called
FreeGeneva which can remove and restore this protection.
Installation instructions depend on the machine architecture and system version:
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.0.x
To install ProFont under System 7, 7.0.1, here’s the procedure:
1) Quit all applications except the Finder.
2) Run FreeGeneva. Choose to “Free the Fonts”.
3) Drag the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase onto your closed System Folder icon.
4) Say OK when asked if you want to put “Monaco 9” into the System File.
5) Say OK when asked if you want to replace the existing “Monaco 9.”
6) Run FreeGeneva. Choose to “Hide the Fonts.”
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.1.x or System 7.5.0
Under System 7.1, due to both the introduction of the “Fonts” folder and a quirk in
the 68K Macintosh System Software which I discovered through trial and error, it’s
a little easier:
1) Quit all applications except the Finder.
2) Make sure that the “ProFont (Monaco)” Suitcase is locked using the “Get Info”
command in the Finder.
3) Drag the ProFont suitcase onto your closed System Folder icon.
4) Say OK when asked if you want to put ProFont into the Fonts Folder.
+ 68K Macintosh running System 7.5.1, or
Power Macintosh running any System version
With the introduction of the Power Macintosh System Software, the quirk exploited
in the System 7.1.x, 7.5 68K installation above disappeared. System 7.5.1 removes the
quirk on 68K Macintosh as well. Unfortunately this leads to a more involved and less
reversible installation:
Note: Some steps in this installation procedure require that you quit all applications
other than the Finder. As a result you may want to print this file before proceeding
with this installation. It will be much easier to follow the directions from a printout
than from a window that you have to keep closing and reopening.
1) Restart and hold the shift key down while booting (no extensions)
2) Run FreeGeneva
3) Choose to “Free the Fonts”
4) Quit FreeGeneva
5) Open the suitcase “System Folder:System”
6) Drag Monaco 9 to the trash (this step is not easily reversible)
7) Close the window
8) Empty the trash
9) Open the suitcase “System Folder:Fonts:Monaco”
10) Drag Monaco 9 to the trash
11) Open the “ProFont (Monaco)” suitcase
12) Drag Monaco 9 to the “Monaco” window (from step 9)
13) Say “OK” if you get a warning that since the suitcase is locked
the font will be copied rather than moved.
14) Close all windows
15) Empty the trash
16) Run FreeGeneva
17) Choose to “Hide the Fonts”
18) Quit FreeGeneva
19) Restart
• Aren’t those instructions a little too complicated?
“ProFont (Monaco)” clearly needs an installer. Instructions for installation are
better than nothing, but there’s just no substitute for double-clicking on an
installer and having The Right Thing™ happen. Ideally one should be able to install
“ProFont (Monaco)” and remove it easily at a later date. This should be done
without requiring the installer to carry a copy of Apple’s Monaco 9 (for copyright
reasons).
If you enjoy ProFont and have expertise in creating installers, I’d be happy to
work with you to get one up and running. Of course, if you can just crank one
out without my help then I’d be happy just to receive a finished installer in the
mail. If you work for a company that makes installers, this might be a way
to get some good will and free advertising.
I’d love to dispense with the instructions above and instead include an reliable
installer in a future relase of the ProFont distribution.
Please send inquiries to me at squeegee@aol.com. If you want to send something
bigger than 25k, please use squeegee@cris.com instead.
• Who is responsible for ProFont?
+ Andrew Welch
ProFont was created by Andrew Welch. It was originally shareware. Andrew has
generously given his permission for it now to be distributed freely: “let’s make it
free though [...] just credit me for making the font in the first place, and you’re good
