ColdFusion can create documents and reports in both PDF and FlashPaper format. Both of these formats require that the server computer have access to the fonts used in the HTML styles (cfdocument tag) or the report definition (ColdFusion Report Builder). ColdFusion requires access to these fonts to properly render text in PDF and FlashPaper documents and, when specified, to embed fonts into a PDF file.
The ColdFusion Administrator lets you register the following types of fonts:
|
Type |
File extension |
Description |
Usable in |
|
TrueType |
TTF |
Scaleable font format developed by Apple Computer and supported in all Macintosh and Windows operating systems. |
PDF and FlashPaper |
|
TrueType Collection |
TTC |
A file that contains multiple TrueType or OpenType fonts |
PDF and FlashPaper |
|
OpenType |
OTF |
An extension of the TrueType font format. |
PDF and FlashPaper |
|
Adobe printer font |
PFB |
Adobe printer font |
PDF only |
|
Adobe Font Metrics |
AFM |
A font format that contains general font information and font metrics information. Typically used on Unix only. |
PDF only |
The Font Management page also displays the built-in Acrobat fonts, which are available for PDF only.
ColdFusion MX does not use PFM or FFT fonts.
The ColdFusion Administrator automatically displays the fonts discovered in platform-specific default locations, as follows:
Windows - The Windows/Fonts directory (for example, WINDOWS/Fonts or WINNT/Fonts)
Unix - The following directories:
/usr/X/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType
/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/TrueType
/usr/share/fonts/default/TrueType
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/ttf
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/truetype
/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/TTF
Additionally, you can define fonts stored in other locations on the server. These are called user-defined fonts. For example, you may want to register the Lucida family of TrueType fonts, which the Sun JDK ships in the jdk_root/jre/lib/fonts directory.
Report developers can optionally specify that ColdFusion embed fonts in the PDF file (FlashPaper always embeds fonts). When using the cfdocument tag, fonts are embedded if fontEmbed is set to yes or selective. When using reports defined in the Report Builder, fonts are embedded if specified in the report definition file.
Embedding fonts increases file size, but ensures that reports display appropriately regardless of whether or not client computers have the fonts installed.
Note: Some font licenses prohibit embedding. ColdFusion does not embed fonts marked as not-for-embedding.
If fonts are not embedded in the PDF file, fonts must be installed on the client computer to ensure that reports display appropriately.
Most Windows computers ship with Internet Explorer, which includes the Microsoft Core Fonts, a set of TrueType fonts
If you install ColdFusion on a UNIX computer you must ensure that the appropriate fonts are installed, even if the computer provides console access only.
For more information on TrueType fonts for UNIX, see http://corefonts.sourceforge.net/.
The ColdFusion Report Builder has no automatic knowledge of fonts available on the server so the developer building the report definition must consult the ColdFusion MX Administrator to determine which fonts are available on the server and, if necessary, register fonts in the Administrator or install fonts on the computer that runs Report Builder.