How to change to readable fonts

[rrayl]

I just got a SJ20 and find that the available fonts leave a lot to be desired. The smallest is very difficult to read (guess my eyes aren't what they used to be), and the medium and large cut off names in my phone book app. I would like to know if its possible to make the smallest fonts appear BOLD which would really help.
Also, what is the "Enable Hi Res Resolution Assist" in the Preferences section all about. When I enable it, the fonts are nicer but harder to read (not as dark as when disabled). I find the "non" assist to display a more readable font.
Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks.

[JimmyX]

Hi rrayl,

it is possible to change system fonts on your Clie. You will need any hack-enabling program (HackMaster or X-Master (which is free - http://linkesoft.com/xmaster/)), a hack for changing fonts (e.g. FontHack 123 beta 4.0c) and some fonts. Very good fonts are available at http://www.domino.sk/lubak/. Here you can find a link to the FontHack and also the instructions how to make it work.

The HiRes Assist means that the fonts in applications originally designed for Palms with "LoRes" (160x160) displays are substitued by their HiRes versions. Therefore, without the HiRes Assist enabled the fonts are "bolder", because their lines are thicker (the size of one pixel on LoRes screen is double compared to one on HiRes screen).

Hope this will help you

Regards

Jimmy

[rrayl]

Hi JimmyX,
I have installed X-Master and Fonthack 123 and tried to change my fonts w/o success. Must be doing something wrong. When I configure Fonthack for all applications and choose HfLargeBold for my standard font, nothing changes to my fonts. Have checked the Font Hack box in X-Master.
I am new to this hacking stuff and seems I am not "getting" it. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Ray.

[Unregistered]

Try usinmg the FREE hack ThinFont - I use it on my SJ20 - it is a great improvement - and teh price is right.

[Gazpacho]

Thinfontfix produces fonts with poor letter spacing. I've used it for a week on my SJ30 and then replaced it with Lubak's OS5 fonts (for free!), that are much better to read: they are thicker than the standard fonts, and the letter spacing is much better than Thinfontfix.

You first install Fonthack123, and then install the OS5 fonts on your handheld. Then, select:

Hrstandard == OS5(0)
HrBold. == OS5(1),
HrLarge == OS5(2)
HrLargeBold == OS5(3)

You will not notice any change in the Launcher, but try starting memopad: you'll notice the difference! Let me know whether this works for you or not. I'm a newbie just as you are (have had my SJ30 just over 3 weeks now) and the OS5 fonts are really one of the best things I've came across so far.

[rrayl]

Hi Gazpacho,
Do you enable High Resolution Assist when you use Fonthack 123?

[rrayl]

Hi Gazpacho,
Do you change any of the standard, bold, large or large bold fonts?

[rrayl]

Hi Gazpacho,
I tried your suggestion with the OS5 fonts and the results were terrific. I realize that High Res Assist is only for added apps, and not the resident apps, ie Address, date book, memo, etc.
In fooling around I found the Handera 22 Bold font more preferable to me than the OS5(0). In order to use this, load the font from Lubak (Handera22.pdb) and configure as follows:
Standard Handera22 (0)
HrStandard Handera22(1).
Try it, I think you will like it. Let me know what you think. Many thanks for your suggestions. as a Clie newbie, I am finding it to be vastly superior and more fun than my old Visor.

[Gazpacho]

Hi rrayl,

Good to hear. I'm happy to help you, as many others have helped me on this forum. I'm actually trying the font you suggested right now, and as a matter of fact, I have a question about it:

The word spacing seems to be poor with this font: it is smaller than the OS5(0) font, so more letters are able to show on the same line. But, if you read documents in for example Avantgo, the extra space created by the smaller font is not used to cram more words on one line, but instead, the spaces between words are widened. Anyone any thoughts on this matter?

[rrayl]

Gazpacho,
I see what you mean, seems that number of words in Avantgo is same as with OS5(0), however I did notice that the line spacing is better in memo pad. I am not sure what to do. Since you are not losing any words on a line, seems to boil down to which font you prefer. I use Vindigo and see that the line spacing is fine with this app. I like the Handera font a lot.

[cm-sj20]

I posted the earlier recommendation for thinfont. Am I glad I followed your recommendations for Fonthack and OS5 fonts! MAJOR improvement - thanks guys!!

[JimmyX]

To rrayl:

I'm sorry I didn't answer you but I was very busy and didn't visit this forum for two days ...

It seems you already solved your problem with fonts (with help from Gazpacho (To Gazpacho: what about Lumitector ... do you have one already ;-)?).

I see, you substituted only Standard fonts. Maybe sometimes you will need also Bold font. The rest of fonts you will probably use rarely.

Jimmy

[jwittema]

If you also would like to fit more letters on one line you can use the swiz (http://www.freewarepalm.com/fonts/swiz-hirescliefonts.shtml) font instead of the os5 font with fonthack. For the swiz font use the following mapping in fonthack

Standard - Swiz 0
Bold - Swiz 0
Large - Swiz 1
LargeBold - Swiz 2
HRStandard - Swiz 3
HRBold - Swiz 4
HRLarge - Swiz 5
HRLargeBold - Swiz 6

Note that you can have different mapping for different programs. I'm using the os5 font as default for all programs and use the swiz font for programs where I like to have more text on a line such as HandyShopper, Notepad, etc.

To illustrate this I attached an image of HandyShopper with four different settings.

Hope this helps,

Jeroen

[Gazpacho]

To JimmyX:

No I haven't ordered a Lumitector, I opted for a Brando instead... I'll try the Lumitector next time.

Thanks for the suggestion on the Swiz font, Jeroen. See you back at palmclub.nl :)

[JohnH]

Gazpacho mentioned that you don't see any difference in the Launcher, only in apps like MemoPad... but I do see changes in the Launcher. The default OS5 fonts are available in all apps on my SJ20.

~JohnH

[rrayl]

Gazpacho,
I have been fooling around with various fonts after realizing that the size of the fonts as displayed by FontHack is not the real size as seen in the apps. So far my favorites are SansSerif22B (0) and SansSerif22B (1) for Standard and HrStandard respectively and the OS5 fonts for the others. With some of the other combinations I tried I would get gibberish is the Main Menu and sometimes the address book entries. With the above combo, I have not found any problems with it. The Bold thickens the fonts just enough for my tastes.
By the way, how do you like the Brando screen protector? I have been debating whether I need to use one. With my prior Visor which I used for several years w/o one, there were visible scratches in the Graffiti area but not the main screen. The scratches, while a little unsightly probably doesn't bother me as much as others. I am more concerned with the diminution of clarity, contrast and screen sensitivity than a few scratches. I would appreciate your thoughts from your experience with the protectors. From what I read on the forum, the Brando seems to be the best one.
Ray.

[Gazpacho]

Ray,

After I dropped my SJ30 on the kitchen floor yesterday, I'd say: get a case.

As for the screenprotector: I'm not 100% satisfied with Brando. It is a little harder to read the screen, and you'll have to compensate for that to increase the screen brightness with 15% or so. But, then again, I feel 100% confortable in attacking my screen during writing or Bejeweled, because I know my Brando will protect my screen.

I *will* try the G2 next time, but if you're buying a Brando, you won't think of this product as a rip-off, it is an excellent product, but not if you crave for a 100% clear screen.

[jwittema]

Finally the attachement of my previous post (http://www.cliesource.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=2334&perpage=15&pagenumber=1#post36547) showed up!

[gbushes]

Hi guys,
I am a bit confused.After download the fontsfrom Palmgear for the ClieFonts13, only fonts such as Tahoma, Handera and SanSerif are available.
What do you mean by OS5 font? Where can I get them? Please advice. Thanks! ( I am a Clie SJ30 user)

[jwittema]

The OS5 font can be found here (http://www.pilot.sk/lubak/cliefonts.htm)

[madmaxmedia]

The Swiz font set kicks ***! They are very readable, but narrower so more text fits onscreen. Great for iSilo, etc.

[cm-sj20]

I use agendus and while trying to change the font using Fonthack I noticed that agendus is not list under the Application pop-up - every other app is listed.

Has anyone else had this problem?

[Gazpacho]

I don't get it. If I use any other '22 sized' font to replace the OS5(0) font, some letters seem to be missing when I open memopad to check. Most of the times, it is the last letter of the last word on a line. It's annoying.

Solution anyone?

Besides, having some smaller fonts to see the spaces between the words growing proportionally is slightly annoying too.

[gbushes]

Dear CM- SJ20,
The Agendus is also known as ActionNames. You should be able to find it. Good luck!!

[gbushes]

Dear Jwittema,

After downloaded the fonts4nx, found the following fonts:
1) FontNX-HE
2) FontNXHE-B
3) FontNX-SS
4) FontNX-TA
5) FontNX-TT

Is the above fonts work in FontHack 123? Which one did you recommended?

[jwittema]

Originally posted by gbushes
Dear Jwittema,

After downloaded the fonts4nx, found the following fonts:
1) FontNX-HE
2) FontNXHE-B
3) FontNX-SS
4) FontNX-TA
5) FontNX-TT

Is the above fonts work in FontHack 123? Which one did you recommended?

Those fonts are for a NX70 and I don't own a NX70 but a SJ30 and used the OS5 font which also can be found on this (http://www.pilot.sk/lubak/cliefonts.htm) page (scroll a bit down to find this (http://www.pilot.sk/lubak/down/OS5.pdb) link).

Jeroen

[gbushes]

Hi Jwittema,
OK I found it. Thanks!!:D

[madmaxmedia]

Gazpacho-

Weird things happen when you try single substitutions. I would try substituting the other fonts too.

Somehow the font sets are linked, the Palm OS 'makes space' for other fonts based on the size of the standard font.

[mrfloyd]

That os5 font is great!

I love this message board.

[T1000X]

As soon as I got my SJ30, I loaded X-Master with FontHack123 and the OS5 fonts. I tried the other fonts, but my opinion was Lubak's OS5 fonts were the best ones. They make the screen on my SJ30 look like those on the T|T, and make the screen a lot more readable. Since you are using a SJ20 (or SL10), I would highly recommend using some sort of font fix.

[gbushes]

Hi guys,
I have tried the OS5 and Swiz fonts. They are really nice. I used the Swiz fonts for my Shadow as I need more views on the screen.
Anyway, I'm still not satisfied with both fonts on my AvantGo as the spacing between word is not consistent. Any solution for this??

[sherylking]

Thanks for all the tips -- really helpful!

[riverbruce]

I have tried several of the setups in this thread. My problem is with the menu bar. I get some gibberish up there. Can anyone speak to this problem and how to fix it. Perhaps you could post some of your setups as other have.

[madmaxmedia]

Originally posted by riverbruce
I have tried several of the setups in this thread. My problem is with the menu bar. I get some gibberish up there. Can anyone speak to this problem and how to fix it. Perhaps you could post some of your setups as other have.

I believe the problem is due to mismatching between your regular font and hi-res counterpart. The HR font needs to be double the point size of the regular one, otherwise your display will be messed up.

That's why for all these different font sets, you always have a low-res font you have to select as well. It has to do with Sony's hi-res implementation. It's sort of a pain, but you can get around it by fooling around with the different sets.

[riverbruce]

I've about got everything working well except for one thing. When I get an alarm in DateBk5 the large buttons that say "OK" toward the bottom are still messed up. Any ideas on which of the settings may effect that text?