Add a System Font

System fonts can be defined for use with alarm categories and Cicode functions.

To add a system font:

Property	Description
Font Name	The name of the font. Unlike background text, strings, and numbers (which can use any standard Windows font), you need to define a font for animated text.
Font Type	Any text font supported by Windows (31 characters maximum). Choose a font type from the menu. You can also specify bold, italic, and underlined text. To specify any of these options, append the appropriate specifier to the font type, for example: • "Courier,B" specifies bold characters. • "Helv,I" specifies italic characters. • "TmsRmn,U" specifies underlined text. You can also specify multiple options, for example, "Courier,B,I,U" specifies bold, italic, and underlined characters. Note: To use a font that is not displayed in the menu, you need to install the font on your computer before you can use it in your system. To view, install, or remove Windows fonts, use the Windows Control Panel. Refer to your Windows documentation for details. (If your system uses a network, every computer needs to have the font installed.)
Pixel Size	The size of the displayed text. You can specify text fonts in pixels or points. To specify a point size, enter a negative number in the Pixel Size field; for example, "—10" specifies a ten-point font size. Be aware that you can only specify a point size as a whole number (integer). If you have not installed the Font Type (or Pixel Size) on your system, a default font and/or size is used that most closely resembles the font and/or size you have specified. If you use a point size, the size remains constant across screen resolutions. On low-resolution screens, the font appears larger than on high-resolution screens, which might cause misalignment of animation. Only use a point size to display text on computer screens of the same resolution.
Foreground Color	The foreground color of the displayed text (i.e., the color of the text characters). You can use a predefined color label, a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide). Note: Avoid confusing predefined labels with the color Name feature associated with the Color Picker. You cannot use color names with this dialog; doing so generates a compile error message.
Background Color	The background color of the displayed text. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide). This property is optional. If a background color is not specified, it defaults to transparent.
Comment	Any useful comment (48 characters maximum).
Foreground Flash	The secondary color applied to the font if using flashing color for your text characters. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide).
Background Flash	The secondary color applied to the background if using flashing color. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide). If a color is not specified, the text remains solid.

Property

Description

Font Name

The name of the font. Unlike background text, strings, and numbers (which can use any standard Windows font), you need to define a font for animated text.

Font Type

Any text font supported by Windows (31 characters maximum). Choose a font type from the menu.

You can also specify bold, italic, and underlined text. To specify any of these options, append the appropriate specifier to the font type, for example:

• "Courier,B" specifies bold characters.

• "Helv,I" specifies italic characters.

• "TmsRmn,U" specifies underlined text.

You can also specify multiple options, for example, "Courier,B,I,U" specifies bold, italic, and underlined characters.

Note: To use a font that is not displayed in the menu, you need to install the font on your computer before you can use it in your system. To view, install, or remove Windows fonts, use the Windows Control Panel. Refer to your Windows documentation for details. (If your system uses a network, every computer needs to have the font installed.)

Pixel Size

The size of the displayed text. You can specify text fonts in pixels or points.

To specify a point size, enter a negative number in the Pixel Size field; for example, "—10" specifies a ten-point font size. Be aware that you can only specify a point size as a whole number (integer).

If you have not installed the Font Type (or Pixel Size) on your system, a default font and/or size is used that most closely resembles the font and/or size you have specified.

If you use a point size, the size remains constant across screen resolutions. On low-resolution screens, the font appears larger than on high-resolution screens, which might cause misalignment of animation. Only use a point size to display text on computer screens of the same resolution.

Foreground Color

The foreground color of the displayed text (i.e., the color of the text characters). You can use a predefined color label, a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide).

Note: Avoid confusing predefined labels with the color Name feature associated with the Color Picker. You cannot use color names with this dialog; doing so generates a compile error message.

Background Color

The background color of the displayed text. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide).

This property is optional. If a background color is not specified, it defaults to transparent.

Comment

Any useful comment (48 characters maximum).

Foreground Flash

The secondary color applied to the font if using flashing color for your text characters. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide).

Background Flash

The secondary color applied to the background if using flashing color. You can use a predefined color label (accessible via the menu), a user-defined custom label, or the RGB encoded number generated by the function MakeCitectColour (see the Cicode Reference Guide).

If a color is not specified, the text remains solid.