Using fonts stored someplace other than c drive

[feather917]

OK, I've read how to access fonts for Inkscape and SCAL when they are stored on an external HD or a flash drive. My question is, does anyone know if I can use those fonts in Word? Or does Word require that they be in the fonts folder on C? If possible to do it, how do I tell Word to go looking elsewhere for fonts?

[deliacm]

Microsoft Word, as well as all other Microsoft Office applications, in all the various versions, requires that fonts are "installed." Thus meaning, they need to be in the Windows/Fonts folder.

[deliacm]

Sorry, I didn't finish my thoughts

If you want to install a font without copying it to the Fonts folder, you can use the Control Panel install feature and de-select the "Copy Fonts to Font Folder." It will then install the font for use in Windows applications without actually putting it onto the C:/Windows/Fonts folder.

It will still impact the load time of the programs that poll for installed fonts, but it won't take up space on your C drive

[feather917]

Well, I played around with it and found out that I can get uninstalled fonts to work in Word as long as they are loaded via The Font Thing. WooHoo!

[deliacm]

Are you sure The Font Thing didn't just install them in your Windows/Fonts folder? I'm positive that Word won't load an uninstalled font. I would be very interested to know if it didn't actually install the font, so if you could reply I would appreciate it. I work for Microsoft, so I have a vested interest in the answer

[feather917]

OK, now this is weird. I've taken 3 screenshots of my Word font list--

first: my Word list before opening The Font Thing:


then, I opened The Font Thing and loaded (not installed) Ahoy Castile only. Then I reopened Word and looked at available fonts:



Finally, I unloaded Castile, closed Word, closed TFT. Then I reopened Word and looked at the fonts available:



Sssshh! Don't tell your boss

[feather917]

Just another follow-up. I opened Word this morning and all the Ahoy fonts were gone.

[MrsOcean]

There is another way to use fonts without having them installed. Do not have Microsoft Word open. If you open a font file and minimize it to the task bar, then open Word, it will show up in the font list and you can use it in Word. As long as the font file is open and minimized to the task bar, it can be used. Once the file is closed, it is no longer in the font list to use.

A tip I've used for quite some time in Paint Shop Pro!

Hugs, Paula aka MrsOcean