FontSwap icon and Package details
by gaurav on Dec.04, 2008, under iPhone
here’s an icon for the FontSwap app, couldn’t do a proper icon in time for release but here it is now.. will be added with the next update for those who are okay with the current icon..
FontSwap Package format:
1. Package must be a folder with the name FontName.font
FontName is the custom font’s name that you’ve ported. .font at the end is essential.
2. Package must contain all fonts related to the category it belongs to.
Dialer Fonts: PhonepadTwo.ttf
LockClock Fonts: LockClock.ttf
Notes Fonts: MarkerFeltThin.ttf
System Fonts: Helvetica.ttf *and* HelveticaBold.ttf
3. Package must be placed in the correct folder in the packages directory
“/var/mobile/Library/FontSwap/Packages/Dialer Fonts”
“/var/mobile/Library/FontSwap/Packages/LockClock Fonts”
“/var/mobile/Library/FontSwap/Packages/Notes Fonts”
“/var/mobile/Library/FontSwap/Packages/System Fonts”
4. Fonts must be ported with correct metadata intact. Applying fonts with incorrect metadata will cause serious problems like app crashes or SWOD.
here’s how to port fonts http://blog.gauravgiri.com/2008/08/tutorial-port-fonts-to-iphone/
this issue will be resolved in future versions of FontSwap so that fonts with incorrect metadata will not be installed.
5. Package should contain an Info.plist file
this is not utilized in the beta release, but placing this file will help your package to be compatible with future releases of FontSwap
Sample:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple Computer//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd"> <plist version="1.0"> <dict> <key>Author</key> <string>Author Name</string> <key>FontName</key> <string>Custom Font Name</string> <key>FontCategory</key> <string>Category of Font</string> <key>Description</key> <string>Brief Description</string> <key>URL</key> <string>Author's Blog or Website</string> </dict> </plist>
6. Package should contain an image Preview.png with a preview of the custom font.
this too is not utilized in the beta release, but placing this file will help your package to be compatible with future releases of FontSwap.
Image dimensions must be 36px by 260px. It must show the Custom Font name in the font itself. Text size must be 24px. Text color must be black [#000000].
I know these are some strict rules but they will ensure that packages are uniform in appearance and easy on the eyes of the end-users.
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December 5th, 2008 on 2:58 pm
Hi! Thanks gor this great app!
I have used your tutorial to make a couple of custom fonts and then SSH to add them to FontSwap – GREAT job there too. Is there an easy way to make the font a bit bigger (another size)? the Font I ported seems a bit small when I install it, so I would like to make it bigger. Could you give me a hint as to how?
I would also like to change the color of the font in the notes application to orange, is there a way to do that easily?
Thanks,
December 6th, 2008 on 3:31 am
anyone out there?
December 6th, 2008 on 4:05 am
Great work! thanks for making this app available.
I have a suggestion for category folder name.
If you consider any languages other than Latin-based languages, names for category is not quite proper. In case of Korean, AppleGothic is the only Korean font and used for both system and notes as well.
If you are planing to support other fonts, you may consider to generalize the category folder name to simple original font name or at least make it additionally available as an option.
For example,
/var/mobile/Library/FontSwap/Packages(FontName.font)/AppleGothic/
December 6th, 2008 on 11:10 am
@lyndwode:
in FontLab Studio, you can select all glyphs you want to edit and then go to “Tools > Action”
in the window that pops up, look for actions under “Contour”
Shift and Scale will be of interest to you. these can be used for moving font glyphs from their original locations and changing their horizontal and vertical size, respectively.
as far as i know, you can not embed color in the font file. font file only specifies the shapes. colors are handled by the application using the font.
you can edit the MobileNotes executable on your iPhone to get orange color, but it’s not always possible to do so.
December 6th, 2008 on 11:10 am
@neurostar:
will keep this in mind for the next version..
December 6th, 2008 on 11:17 am
[...] FontSwap icon and Package details [...]
December 6th, 2008 on 5:09 pm
thanks! I’ll try it out, and get back to you!
December 6th, 2008 on 7:36 pm
Cool! it sort of worked! In the notes app, (just in the Body Index, not in the notes themselves…) the tops of the characters get chopped off. In the actual notes, it worked perfectly! Maybe I made it too big?
Is there a way to change the font size an application uses, instead of changing the font?
thanks!
December 7th, 2008 on 10:21 pm
[...] there is a guide on gaurav’s rants blog, like opusandbill [...]
December 7th, 2008 on 11:11 pm
[...] Here is a direct link to the post with the guide. Last edited by Zimoxx; Today at 11:01 AM. [...]
December 9th, 2008 on 3:57 am
???
December 9th, 2008 on 7:28 am
Why don’t you add a preview mode into this app? Just my idea
. Thanks a lot!!! Great App!!!
December 9th, 2008 on 11:28 am
I had it on 2.1 on mi iphone and worked flawlessly.. i updated to 2.2 and now gives me the message “the application fontswap can not be oppened….
tryed reebot, reinstall and restore with 2.2 and still the same….
why?!?!
December 19th, 2008 on 2:31 pm
@all who encountered the “APPLICATION CANNOT BE OPENED” error
I had the same problem till now. I reinstalled several times with no luck. Independently i decided to add some appstore apps and some music via itunes during that i thought ok give it one more try and then -bing- its working. I have a 2G iPhone running fresh jailbroken 2.2 firmware with the usual apps from cydia installed. Dont ask me what i did i just made a standard sync with iTunes. Mayb you guys out there give it a try with the mentioned conditions.
Merry x-mas
Mickey
December 28th, 2008 on 9:30 pm
The problem people seem to be having with the error “Application cannot be opened” is simple. Usually due to the fact that many people poof the app or place it on SBSettings dock and then update it, after update it goes back to springboard but won’t load. Do this, after updating, place the app where it was before update and then bring it back to the springboard. For example, I place fontswap in my sbsettings dock, after I updated it, it was on Springboard, I went into sbsettings, used poof to remove the icon from the springboard, then toggles it on in the sbsettings dock. Respring. I then removed it from my sbsettings dock, unpoofed it as to make it visible again on springboard, respring again, open app. Done.
January 1st, 2009 on 2:24 am
Guys, I didnt understand what D. Moore said but here’s a solution I found out while doodling.
Here’s before my fix:
I clean flashed my iphone 3g to 2.2. installed everything from scratch and of course Font Swap. Oops, damn stupid error came out.
What you need to do:
Apply at least a theme on Winterboard for those who haven’t done it at least once.
What won’t work:
Installing an app on App Store.. NO.
Respring n times.. NO.
Reboot n times.. NO.
Hope this works for you guys out there.
January 1st, 2009 on 2:22 pm
Hello,
Wich resolution for the image ? 260×36 but with wich resolution ?
Thanks.
January 19th, 2009 on 12:45 pm
Can you please provide a little more info on the Preview.png? Maybe post an example? Resolution?
thanks!
February 1st, 2009 on 1:46 am
If there is anyone adept at making new fonts I have a Final Fantasy font and a Zelda font (as well as many others) that i think would be very popular. Would be fitting for a couple themes, and i would be happy to contribute.
Thanks
February 4th, 2009 on 11:51 am
Thanks for your program,
I would like to you add some ability of FontSwap, because I need to change Thai font, it was contained in “arialuni.ttf”. If the “System Fonts” menu can change “arialunti.ttf”, I think that it is good for Thai iPhone user.
Thanks again for your program.
February 5th, 2009 on 4:08 am
Hey I tried all these steps and it didn’t work. My whole ipod crashed. Anyways so I’m kind of scared to try again as there are about 10 other fonts I want to add to my ipod. Would you be able to help me out with it and/or make some for me so that I can add them?? I’m just too scared to try again lol. I know lame, but still! LOL.
March 12th, 2009 on 6:58 pm
Неплохо
April 28th, 2009 on 8:16 am
I can’t figure out how to put in fonts maybe someone can email me at rockster619@gmail.com and I could give them the font link and they can install it in fontswap for me and email back the whole app with the font please I’d apreciate it alott!!
January 21st, 2010 on 1:19 am
Are there any repositories in cydia other then the stock ones that offer additional fontswap fonts? For those who aren’t well suited for ssh into their phones/iPods?