This page describes the fonts.dir and fonts.alias files and their
function in font handling.
Making a fonts.dir File
A fonts.dir file is essential for the correct operation of X font
handling. This file MUST be present in your fontpath directory. It is a
kind of database for fonts that the ViewStation, and all X servers, use
to locate fonts.
You must create a fonts.dir file after all
your conversions are complete and the unnecessary .bdf files have been
removed. This file is necessary for any type of font loading. Make
certain you are in the correct HDS .snf file directory. If a fonts.dir
file exists, delete it; then just issue this command: hdsmkdir
or mkfontdir
This command automatically creates a fonts.dir file.
Verify that it appears in the directory by using the ls command. The
format of the fonts.dir text file is:<number of
fonts in the file>
<filename without path> <white space>
<fontname>
<filename without path> <white space> <fontname>
<filename without path> <white space> <fontname>
For example, a typical (but untypically short) fonts.dir file would
be:
4
courBO10.snf
-adobe-courier-bold-o-normal--10-100- 75-75-m-6-iso8859-1
courBR12.snf
-adobe-courier-bold-r-normal--12-120- 75-75-m-70-iso8859-1
charBI10.snf
-bitstream-charter-bold-i-normal--10- 100-75-75-p-72-iso8859-1
charBI12.snf
-bitstream-charter-bold-i-normal--12- 120-75-75-p-74-iso8859-1
Making a fonts.alias File
Another commonly used font file is optional, but is sometimes used
to substitute different names for specific fonts. This is the
fonts.alias file. The ViewStation looks for this file and uses it if it
is present. The format of the font.alias text file is:<alias>
<white space> <fontname>
<alias> <white space> <fontname>
<alias> <white space> <fontname>
For
example, a fonts.alias file might be: *-courier-bold-r-normal-*-*-120-*
9x15
*-courier-bold-i-normal-*-*-120-* 9x15
FILE_NAMES_ALIASES
This means that if a client requests the Courier Bold
Italic 12 font, the ViewStation checks the fonts.alias file and
substitutes the 9x15 font.
The string FILE_NAMES_ALIASES is a special keyword which
creates an alias for each font file listed. The alias is formed by
deleting the file extension from the font file name. Thus the alias for
6x10.snf is just 6x10, which can be used when the client calls that
font, as in xterm -fn 6x10.
Create this file with a text
editor, such as vi, and save it as "fonts.alias" in the HDS font
directory. Be careful with spelling in this file. If a name is
misspelled, the font won't be aliased correctly. If the keyword
FILE_NAMES_ALIASES is misspelled, this function won't operate.
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