Font in Windows Mail for vista

[John]

I want to enlarge the type size of the e-mail itself. I can do this in
regular text e-mail by clicking view ~ type size and select small, medium, or
larger; but this does not work for most e-mail bulletins from the Washington
Post, the NYT, etc. In those emails changing the type view has no effect. The
web masters all claim that using the scroll wheel option should work but when
I use the mouse scroll wheel feature this has no effect at all.

In advance, Thanks

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Those are HTML emails. The font size is hard-coded within the HTML.

There aren't any good fixes.
One workaround is to lower the system screen resolution, which will
make everything somewhat bigger.
The other workaround is to use so-called Windows Accessibility settings
meant for people with poor eyesight: All Programs, Accessories,
Ease of Access, Magnifier.

 

[John]

Thanks. I was able to stumble back here. Adjusting screen resolution was not
a very good and had to many bad side effects. The magnifier really overdoes
it and can make one rather nauseous. But strangely the web masters insist the
scroll wheel should work. Come to think of it, why should HTML format matter
since I view all web pages in HTML and have no problem enlarging the size of
the type?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Internet Explorer has some special features that enable it to zoom a
web page, and to specify font sizes for HTML web pages.
Windows Mail does not have those features. As I said, there aren't
any good fixes available for Windows Mail.

I don't have a scroll wheel on my laptop, but I think it is meant for use
on web pages, not email.

 

[John]

"I think it is meant for use on web pages, not email." Not really, the scroll
wheel works in all my programs: Internet (IE, Firefox), Word Perfect, Adobe,
etc. Lap top keys may substitute (alt + or alt -). It seems this does not
work only in Windows mail.

 

[mac]

"I think it is meant for use on web pages, not email." Not really, the
scroll
wheel works in all my programs: Internet (IE, Firefox), Word Perfect,
Adobe,
etc. Lap top keys may substitute (alt + or alt -). It seems this does not
work only in Windows mail.

In OE or WM, use the Ctrl key plus scroll wheel.

 

[John]

Thanks but no, Ctrl key plus scroll wheel does not work.

 

[mac]

Thanks but no, Ctrl key plus scroll wheel does not work.

You are correct, but it does work on plain text messages.

One other way that will increase the text size a little, is at Internet
Explorer>tools>internet Options>general>accessibility>ignore font styles and
size>ok

 

[John]

Yes I know it works w plain text. The problem is that most publishers like
the NYT or Washington post, etc do not use plain text but HTML. Almost every
publisher of email bulletins uses HTML. I know about the ignore font size and
am set up that way but is does not work wither in WM. In any event I am not
sure why HTML should be an issue because The scroll wheel, or alt + etc all
work fine in hTML. So why should they not work in WM?

 

[John]

Eureka! "Rookie" indeed. You can go one better. You don't even need to
forward. All you have to do is select all the text right in that mail: alt A

view > text size and bang. There it is. No forward is necessary. Just a

few key strokes right there JUST as one would do in a regular document
necessary. Very clever. Thanks. Well done. It only took four months and
consultations with "experts" from HP to MS to ad infinitum. the last time I
had a similar problem no one could fix I was complaining to a friend about it
in line at a grocery store and a kid (about 12) said, "Psst, hey mister. If
it's a lap top you gotta hit the Fn key too." And he was right.

In any event no complaints here. I'll take my victory as I find it. Let no
one call you "Rookie"!

 

[John]

Correction. I was experimenting in an email that was not HTML. You are
correct. In the case of HTML one must forward and block because that's the
only time you can change the actual font size. Unfortunately you must then
forward the message to yourself because the links to not work until you do. A
rather clumsy work around but it does work. Thanks again.

The problems appears to be in how it is SENT and RECEIVED. Once received
you can not change it but if you forward it you are then the sender and can
change it. So, I wonder if there is a way you can choose to recieve it in
larger type to begin with. Thanks again!

 

[John]

I wish I could imbed a screen shot because, for some reason, that exercise
made the font size very small in the list of mails in the inbox and I can not
change it back. How on earth did THAT font get to be so small and how to I
now make it readable?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

The plain fact is that Windows Mail does not have the programming code
necessary to be able to change font size in a received HTML email.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

There is no setting for that in Windows Mail. It uses the Windows
system font for icon text. To change that font:

Right-click on the Windows desktop, Personalize, Windows Color
and Appearance, "Open classic appearance properties...",
Advanced. Under Item, select Icon, choose font type and size.

 

[John]

Thanks. Been there & done that.that effect everything BUT the text I want to
be changed. It is the type font in the body of the email and not the file
list or other surrounding fonts. It you try it you will see that the only
font NOT changed is the body of the HTML email.

 

[John]

Not sure if you mean Tools > Options in WM or IF or Firefox but no, no
changes there.

 

[John]

There are no Edit, Source, or preview buttons anywhere in the email

 

[John]

Thanks again, got it. Wrong directions. First you must click View at TOP of
screen and then select source edit. THEN you see three buttons on bottom
EDIT or SOURCE or PREVIEW. "Edit Source" is not an option ... it's either or.
Source turns it into a bucket of ASCII garbage. Preview seems to work but now
the type is all scrunched together which makes it even more difficult to
read.

But now, thanks to HP Health Check Updates my Cyberlink DVD Suite does not
work. All functions result in "..... has stopped working ... windows will
check for a solution." Has ANYONE EVER experienced Windows finding a
solution? SEVEN hours online with TWO HP Experts states side top level
support and they left me far worse of than they found me. One little problem
resulted in 10 more. This is what we call "upgrade."

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

You confused me when you said "...made the font size very small in
the list of mails in the inbox." That's not the body of he email.

The default font in the body of a received plain text email is set
here: Tools, Options, Read, Fonts.

There are a few things that can interfere with that setting, such as
installing the IE8 beta.

 

[John]

Tools, Options, Read, Fonts.
For some reason I think that works. When I changed it there I was able to go
back in the email and use the regular View > text size and now I can see a
real difference. Thanks for your patience. Lets hope I got if for this
thread makes me dizzy. not easy to find who responded to what.

Thanks again for your kind patience.