Large Fonts in Registry: Where Exactly?

[Guest]

I am in need of finding the exact registry modifications necessary for
adjusting WindowsXP Professional's font size from default (normal) to Large
Fonts.

Long story short, this is for a corporate internet kiosk I've made and I
know how to do this via Display properties - however what I *need* is a
registry edit explicitly.

I would rather this be an HKEY\LOCAL_USER modification but if it's
\LOCAL_MACHINE it will be more than adequate.

Thank you for any knowledge any of you have of this (potentially) registry
modification!

 

[Alec S.]

I am in need of finding the exact registry modifications necessary for
adjusting WindowsXP Professional's font size from default (normal) to Large
Fonts.

Long story short, this is for a corporate internet kiosk I've made and I
know how to do this via Display properties - however what I *need* is a
registry edit explicitly.

I would rather this be an HKEY\LOCAL_USER modification but if it's
\LOCAL_MACHINE it will be more than adequate.

Thank you for any knowledge any of you have of this (potentially) registry modification!

This is what the control panel applet changes:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel]
;set to 96 (default)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000060
;set to 120 (large)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000078
;set to small (75%)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000048
;set to huge (200%)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:000000c0

Here's another way:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI]
;set to 96 (default)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000060
;set to 120 (large)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000078
;set to small (75%)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000048
;set to huge (200%)
"LogPixels"=dword:000000c0


Unfortunately, both are system wide settings. Don't forget to reboot.

 

[Guest]

This is what the control panel applet changes:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Control Panel]
;set to 96 (default)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000060
;set to 120 (large)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000078
;set to small (75%)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:00000048
;set to huge (200%)
"OriginalDPI"=dword:000000c0

Here's another way:
REGEDIT4
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI]
;set to 96 (default)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000060
;set to 120 (large)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000078
;set to small (75%)
"LogPixels"=dword:00000048
;set to huge (200%)
"LogPixels"=dword:000000c0


Unfortunately, both are system wide settings. Don't forget to reboot.

Thank you Alec for the quick response!

I see what you're saying, and I want to make sure I fully-understand...
My understanding of how XP handles font sizes in Display>Appearance is that
it is independant of a GPU:monitor DPI relationship. Is that not the case?
....because my DPI stays at 96DPI nomatter what I set the font size to...or is
this DPI references you're noting NOT GPU:Monitor DPI settings?

RLR, PC

 

[Alec S.]

I see what you're saying, and I want to make sure I fully-understand...
My understanding of how XP handles font sizes in Display>Appearance is that
it is independant of a GPU:monitor DPI relationship. Is that not the case?
...because my DPI stays at 96DPI nomatter what I set the font size to...or is
this DPI references you're noting NOT GPU:Monitor DPI settings?

I can't actually test this right now because I keep getting an error when I try to change the system font size. However, if I
remember correctly (it's been quite a while since I was last able to do so), what it does is to use the DPI as a sort of "font
size". I'm not sure of the relationship, but it seems to map to point sizes. Try using the second method, does that affect
anything?

 

[Alec S.]

I can't actually test this right now because I keep getting an error when I
try to change the system font size. However, if I remember correctly (it's
been quite a while since I was last able to do so), what it does is to use
the DPI as a sort of "font size". I'm not sure of the relationship, but it
seems to map to point sizes. Try using the second method, does that affect anything?

Great news! I fixed it (well, my problem at least.) I figured out why I was getting that error message and fixed it in a snap.

The reason that it's great for you is that now that I can actually change the font size, I was able to trace the changes to the
registry. Here are the four registry keys that the control panel applet modifies (in order):

Set to tiny (72 DPI)
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x60
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x60
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x48
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x48

Set to default (96 DPI)
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x60
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x60
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x60
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x60

Set to large (120 DPI)
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x78
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x78
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x78
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x78

Set to huge (192 DPI)
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0x78
HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0x78
HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels - 0xC0
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels - 0xC0


You'll notice that it seems to first set the default base size, then the specific selected size. Either way, you can ignore the
OriginalDPI entry (which sounds like a logical thing to do), and use these two (together) instead—you said you wanted the "large"
setting, so set them to DWORD 78, and don't forget to reboot:

HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\Current\Software\Fonts\LogPixels
HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\FontDPI\LogPixels


HTH

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

If you are talking about the size choices found under 'Display Properties' -> 'Appearance' tab ->
'Font Size', the associated registry value is named 'SizeName' and is found under:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

It's a REG_SZ type, valid values are:

NormalSize
LargeFonts
ExtraLargeFonts

If you are talking about 'Display Properties' -> 'Settings' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'DPI
setting', then Alec S. gave you the info you need.

 

[Guest]

I'm not ignoring you Alec, things got busy today. I will note in my Outlook
to get back to this tomorrow.

 

[Alec S.]

I'm not ignoring you Alec, things got busy today. I will note in my Outlook
to get back to this tomorrow.

Sure no problem. I'll probably be able to give it a test tonight as well.

 

[Guest]

If you are talking about the size choices found under 'Display Properties' -> 'Appearance' tab ->
'Font Size', the associated registry value is named 'SizeName' and is found under:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

It's a REG_SZ type, valid values are:

NormalSize
LargeFonts
ExtraLargeFonts

If you are talking about 'Display Properties' -> 'Settings' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'DPI
setting', then Alec S. gave you the info you need.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

Thanks Keith, without yet testing either of these methods, this *sounds
like* what I'm looking for.

I appreciate everyone's input.

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

You're welcome.

--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

:
If you are talking about the size choices found under 'Display Properties' -> 'Appearance' tab ->
'Font Size', the associated registry value is named 'SizeName' and is found under:

[HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ThemeManager]

It's a REG_SZ type, valid values are:

NormalSize
LargeFonts
ExtraLargeFonts

If you are talking about 'Display Properties' -> 'Settings' tab -> 'Advanced' button -> 'DPI
setting', then Alec S. gave you the info you need.


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

Thanks Keith, without yet testing either of these methods, this *sounds
like* what I'm looking for.

I appreciate everyone's input.