Question

I’m trying use a Visual Studio 2010 setup project to package a set of Type 1 fonts into a MSI file for easy installation.

I’ve configured my setup project to place all the PFM and PFB files in the Fonts folder, set all the PFM files to vsdrfFont and fixed the naming issue mentioned here:

http://cjwdev.wordpress.com/2011/03/14/installing-non-truetype-fonts-with-visual-studio-installer/

However, this isn’t working for Type 1 fonts.

The Type 1 font files are installed but the font is still not recognized and doesn’t appear in the Fonts window.

If installed manually, Type 1 fonts are registered under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Type 1 Installer\Type 1 Fonts and work fine.

How can the same result be achieved with a setup project?

Answer 1

Here is a solution that involves an MSI custom action. I have written in using C#, but any other language capable of calling a DLL can be user. Here is a tutorial link for C#: Walkthrough: Creating a Custom Action

using System;
using System.Collections;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Configuration.Install;
using System.IO;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

namespace InstallType1Font
{
    [RunInstaller(true)]
    public partial class Installer1 : Installer
    {
        public Installer1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        [System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermission(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand)]
        public override void Install(IDictionary stateSaver)
        {
            base.Install(stateSaver);
        }

        [System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermission(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand)]
        public override void Commit(IDictionary savedState)
        {
            base.Commit(savedState);

            // here, you'll have to determine the proper path
            string path = @"c:\Windows\Fonts\MyFont.pfm";
            if (File.Exists(path))
            {
                InstallFontFile(IntPtr.Zero, path, 0);
            }
        }

        [DllImport("fontext.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
        private static extern void InstallFontFile(IntPtr hwnd, string filePath, int flags);

        [System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermission(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand)]
        public override void Rollback(IDictionary savedState)
        {
            base.Rollback(savedState);
        }

        [System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermission(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand)]
        public override void Uninstall(IDictionary savedState)
        {
            base.Uninstall(savedState);
        }
    }
}

As far as I know, InstallFontFile is undocumented, but allows to install the font permanently. Use this at your own risk.

Note: you still need to modify the .MSI to ensure the Fonts file have a FontTitle as described in the link you gave.