Installing Fonts, TimesNewRoman, Arial, Verdana in OpenOffice 2.4.1 in Linux Ubintu

[retroborg]

Hi,
I have installed Linux Ubuntu 8.04 LTS Desktop Edition which comes with Openoffice.org-core 1:2.4.1-1ubuntu2 30 Jun 2008. I also installed a HP Laserjet 1100 Printer.

My problem is that when I try to print an MS-Office doc or xls file that uses Times New Roman, Arial or Verdana fonts, the fonts get all messed up on paper and they're not even available in the in OpenOffice fonts menu to choose and change them.

So, how can I install Times New Roman, Arial, Verdana and other MS-Office based fonts in OpenOffice 2.4.1 in Linux Ubuntu 8.04?

The Windows version of OpenOffice has Times New Roman, Arial & Verdana fonts available.

Thanks in advance

[peterb]

Not sure how Ubuntu does it, but using Fedora, I just dropped the fonts from a windows machine to the fonts directory on Fedora - job done.

Find your fonts folders and try the same thing. Try /usr/share/fonts

Also look at this link

http://www.debianadmin.com/install-m...in-ubuntu.html

[TAKTAK]

yup, just drop the fonts into the fonts folder

[retroborg]

OK, I copied the MS TrueType Fonts from a WinXP Pro PC and tried to copy them, in system, file system /usr/share/fonts in Linux Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop.

However it does not allow me to paste them as I don't have the appropriate rights?! This is strange as my account has full administrative privileges.
Will I have to login as "root" to do this?

Thanks in advance.

[moogle]

Possibly, I don't remember having that restriction though. You could always do a sudo copy to the folder? (I think thats what I did)

[retroborg]

"sudo copy to the folder"

I installed the Microsoft Core Fonts in Linux Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop from here:
Applications-->Add/Remove Programs...
Show "All available applications"

And they work just fine now!

Is this the same procedure as the sudo copy which you mentioned?

However, now that I think about it, since these Fonts are owned by Microsoft, I can't legally install and use these fonts at work in Linux Ubuntu.
Please correct me if I'm wrong!

[moogle]

I didn't know how to use that way at the time. I found a blog telling me to copy it to the fonts folder and it worked for me only on some fonts. Also it didn't appear how it appears on a Windows pc but it's better than nothing right?

[Steve]

apt-get install msttcorefonts should do the job and we're talking about fonts that Microsoft wanted to be distributed to enable everyone to see web pages in the 'right' fonts.

So AFAIK there's no issue with it - and it wouldn't be in the multiverse if it was.

[retroborg]

Ok, so far I learned how to install Microsoft's Core Fonts package using the following 3 methods:

1. Install msttcorefonts from synaptic package manager.

2. Install the MS Core Fonts in Linux:
Applications-->Add/Remove Programs...
Show "All available applications"

3. Install from command line:
sudo apt-get install msttcorefonts

However, using all these methods the fonts are automatically downloaded from sourceforge.net and then extracted to the Fonts folder in Linux Ubuntu.
I would like to do it manually by placing the original unmodified MS Core fonts *.iff to the fonts folder in Linux my self.

I searched the web and found the original unmodified Fonts (distributed freely by Microsoft long time ago) from here:
http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...group_id=34153
http://web.nickshanks.com/typography/corefonts

But they’re for Windows based O/S (*.exe files)
Where can I get the original unmodified *.tff MS Core fonts for Linux?

It is mentioned in Microsoft’s site that they can freely be used as long as they’re not modified!
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq8.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontpack/eula.htm
However, I have one query; since they’re called “TrueType core fonts for the Web” does that mean that they can only be used freely for web-based developing and not for Linux / OpenOffice as well?

Thanks in advance.

[directhex]

iff? you mean ttf, surely? iff are amiga image files

at any rate, "unmodified" in this case actually INCLUDES the fact that distribution must be inside those .exe files. they're easily extracted on Linux using "cabextract"

[directhex]

Oh, and to make it further clear - those original compressed archives are what's licensed for use anywhere - it's NOT okay, for example, to copy (newer, better) files from a Windows install or CD.

[retroborg]

OK, unnderstood.

The only remaining question is whether these *.exe files from here:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...ckage_id=56408
http://web.nickshanks.com/typography/corefonts

Are these actually the original unmodified Fonts (distributed freely by Microsoft long time ago)?

"cabextract"?
I thought that was only for extracting cab files... I'll give a try though...

I installed wine in Linux ubuntu and run *.exe files which were extracted in the virtual c: drive_c\windows\fonts folder

I then copy-pasted them in usr/share/fonts/truetype/ in Linux Ubuntu and they also worked fine.

One more query,
since these fonts are called: “TrueType core fonts for the Web” does that mean that they can only be used freely for web-based developing and not for Linux / OpenOffice as well?
Also in the EULA it says that they're freely distributed within the USA, what about other countires in the EU: does this EULA count in the EU aswell?
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq8.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontpack/eula.htm

If you acquired this product in the United States, this EULA is governed by the laws of the State of Washington.
If this product was acquired outside the United States, then local laws may apply.
Should you have any questions concerning this EULA, or if you desire to contact Microsoft for any reason, please contact the Microsoft subsidiary serving your country

Thanks in advance

[directhex]

OK, unnderstood.

The only remaining question is whether these *.exe files from here:

http://sourceforge.net/project/showf...group_id=34153
http://web.nickshanks.com/typography/corefonts

Are these actually the original unmodified Fonts (distributed freely by Microsoft long time ago)?

yes. that's how packages like "msttcorefonts" work legally - the package just downloads those very files from sourceforge, extracts them, and puts them in the right place.

"cabextract"?
I thought that was only for extracting cab files... I'll give a try though...

you can run "unzip" on winzip self-extracters, you can run cabextract on .cab self-extracters.

I installed wine in Linux ubuntu and run *.exe files which were extracted in the virtual c: drive_c\windows\fonts folder

I then copy-pasted them in usr/share/fonts/truetype/ in Linux Ubuntu and they also worked fine.

i really don't understand why you're going out of your way to duplicate effort though. msttcorefonts is there to do all this crap for you.

One more query,
since these fonts are called: “TrueType core fonts for the Web” does that mean that they can only be used freely for web-based developing and not for Linux / OpenOffice as well?

no such restriction is defined in sections 1 & 2 of the EULA. there are no restrictions on use - only on modification & distribution.

Also in the EULA it says that they're freely distributed within the USA, what about other countires in the EU: does this EULA count in the EU aswell?
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/faq/faq8.htm
http://www.microsoft.com/typography/fontpack/eula.htm

it means the EULA's terms may or may not be legally applicable in your country. section 1 of the EULA places no restrictions on export.