I need a large font size to read my screen easily but want to keep the
monitor resolution high (otherwise the text isn't very sharp).

Using (Control Panel ->) Display -> Appearance I have set the system to
'Extra Large Fonts'. I have also edited all the entries under the 'Advanced'
button on the same tab to a font size of 16 or more. That gives me larger
text in several places. But for several system items (e.g. the display menu
itself, or the Outlook Express mail retreival pop-up) the text size hasn't
changed at all. Can that be fixed?

Similarly, changing the read font size in Outlook to 'largest' doesn't
appear to have had any effect at all on the display font. If I set it to
'smallest' the size is exactly the same. Can that be fixed?

Forgot to add, by way of example: the Taskbar is another thing whose font
size was not affected by the above changes

Please don't delete previous posts, thanks.


Show quoteHide quote

juc
A post can not be deleted or cancelled or otherwise modified, even by
the poster.  Once you put it on the group, it's there unil/unless it
ages off, depending on the servers.  Possibly server admin could most
likely, or any appointed deputy.  I'm not aware of any posts having gone
missing though.  If one did, it certainly wasn't me did it.

You are an incredibly ignorant person, how did you even manage to turn on your computer?


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ju.c wrote:
Twayne,
Actually, ANY person or bot CAN delete ANY post on the servers for these newsgroups
using secret sauce spiced with secret salt, but not via the web interface (CDO).

Show quote Hide quote This may not help with changing the font size everywhere you want it
changed, but I'll just mention that in almost all applications (this is a
Windows standard) the easiest way to change the font size is to hold down
the CTRL key and scroll the mouse wheel. One way makes it bigger, the other
smaller.

You're right, it doesn't help with system text, but it's definitely good to
know. Thank you!

Ken Blake wrote:
Isn't playing with the DPI (In advanced settings for your video adapter)
another way to make global size changes? I've never understood that
control, but I fiddled with it once (about 10 years ago) and everything
changed size. I seem to recall that a few applications didn't play nicely.

That seems to have the same effect as adjusting the resolution via Windows
Display Properties. It does make everything bigger - but the text also loses
its crispness and becomes hard on the eyes to read for a different reason.

I forgot to mention:  Even if your machine isn't a laptop, try the
cleartype font.  It helps a lot on desktops too I've discovered.

Twayne

Twayne wrote:
But don't try this at home folks, if your PC there has a CRT display!

My system boots with Cleartype disabled, so the Welcome screen is using
just the basic resolution of my LCD display. About a second after I
enter my password, my user preference for ClearType kicks in, and the
screen noticeably clicks into focus. Not that there's much text to look
at, but once you notice the effect, it is riveting.

It's just a font, and not even close to high contrast settings etc., so
it's not going to hurt anything.  If it doesn't look better to you,
simply don't use it and look for another better one.  It works fine on
my dual-xeon right behind me here and when I put a monitor on my laptop
in the dock.  The effect you talk about almost sounds like it degausses
or something.  But it's not going to hurt a CRT or burn the phospherence
or anything.  It's entirely possible it won't help visibility, but often
it does.

Cheers,


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I don't know if it's the same as the dpi setting in Advanced monitor
settings or not, but I've never had any problems with it.  I'd be
interested in hearing from anyone that has had problems with it and
applications because I do set it now and then for clients.  None have
complained, but not everyone tells you when they're dissatisfied.
   Personally I've only ever used it on XP so I don't know about
previous versions.  Could well have been different, I imagine.

Twayne

There is one place you can change everyting to a larger size but I
literally mean "everything", so you may end up wanting to redo some of
the settings you have already set or even try the next smaller
resolution.

Change the dpi (dots per inch) setting for your monitor.
In my case, it's located at:
start;
run;
control panel;
display;
click/highlight the Settings tab.

click Advanced - you should get your monitor and video card properties.
Depending on your video card and setup, it could be located elsewhere
but this is where it usually is.

If not already displayed, click the General tab
Note the "DPI Settng" box
First, click the down-arrow and choose "Large (120dpi)
Tick "Apply the new display settings without restarting" to avoid having
to restart between test settings.
OK your way out and Restart if you need to.

Everything should now be larger.
You'll have a short period of time to look at the screen and see if it's
something you want to try using.  Press a key during that time and it'll
cancel the changes.  Let the timer expire and the changes will take
effect.

For now, forget about browser and email viewing.  Check the rest of your
often used applications and important folders you use and see if they're
functional for you.  You might have to fiddle with some of the other
sized you've already changed to get things to look consistant.  If
necessary, try the next lower resolution size, too.

If 120 dpi still isn't large enough, note that back where you chose the
120 dpi there was a "custom size" choice.  Use that and enter a larger
number than 120.  I know you can safely go as high as 140 with it.  I'm
not sure at what size it tops out or what happens if you get it too big,
so just for safety, do NOT have any other programs running with
important data in them, just in case it makes things so large you have
trouble getting at the OK/cancel etc. buttons.  Try small enough steps
in the dpi settings to avoid that if you can; it's frustrating.

If/when you find a dpi you like, then go to your browser and mail client
and see what you can do with those.
   You may well still have problems with web sites.  Many authors, in
their arrogance and ignorance write their pages so that text sizes
simply can not be changed by the user and you'll be stuck with an
unchangeable, smaller size of text.  OR <g>

Another area you could also look into is Control Panel, Accessibility
options.  It has a magnifier you can turn on and off for use on thngs
like web pages you want to see but which won't allow you to change the
text sizes.
   Another option that's even better than the MS magnifier in
accessibility, is a mouse with that capability.  My optical MS mouse has
a programmable 4th button I can use to turn on/off the magnifier, so
with that it's just a press of the mouse button to use it or dispense
with it.  In my own case here I'm running with the large text settings
and left dpi at 96, and added the mouse.  So for now it's enough for me.
Eventually I may have to make the accommodations you're looking into,
but not yet.  As a result, I think I've looked at about every
possibility there is including two monitors<g> and the mouse magnifier
is more convenient than the accessibility magnifier, though not as many
different settings.

Best of luck, feel free to ask more questions if you need to,

Twayne

---
I'm not old;
just chronilogically challenged

Thanks for all the detailed help :)

I've got the dpi on 120 now and turned on ClearType. Much better. As Swifty
said, not all applications are playing nicely. Most of the same system
features I mentioned before still have small fonts, but the Taskbar and Start
Menu have improved, as have some. Oddly, Word shows tiny buttons even though
the menu text size is quite comfortable - and this despite 'large buttons'
being selected under the display panel. But on the whole a big improvement,
so thanks again. :)

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