Raster Fonts Print Different on Windows NT 4.0 Than on 3.51

• Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

After you upgrade from Windows NT 3.51 to Windows NT 4.0, raster fonts (for example, MS Sans Serif) print differently. This problem occurs even though the fonts listed in the registry did not change.

CAUSE

Raster fonts are bitmaps supplied in different sizes for specific video display resolutions. They are stored in files as bitmaps and are rendered as an array of dots for displaying on the screen and printing on paper.

If the font to print is a raster font, Windows NT uses a font-mapping table to determine the most appropriate device font to use. When Windows NT uses the font-mapping table to match screen fonts to printer fonts, the characteristics used to find the closest match are in descending order of importance (character set, typeface name, variable versus fixed pitch, family, height, width, weight, slant, underline, and strikeout). The font chosen depends on what fonts are currently installed. The fonts installed on your system can be found in the following registry key:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Fonts

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.