Fixedsys
Encyclopedia
Fixedsys is a family of raster monospaced fonts. The name means fixed system, although it is often pronounced "fixed size" because its glyph
s are monospace or fixed-width (although bolded characters are wider than non-bolded, unlike other monospace fonts such as Courier
). It is the oldest font in Windows, and was the system font in Windows 1.0
and 2.0
, where it was simply named "System". For Windows 3.x
, the system font was changed to a proportional sans-serif
font named System
, but Fixedsys remained the default font in Notepad.
Fixedsys fonts family contains fonts encoded in several Windows code page
s, with multiple resolutions of the font for each code page. Fixedsys fonts of different code pages have different point sizes.
The glyphs for the upper areas of each one appear to be drawn separately, not taken from a single master set, as there are visible differences in the appearance of various characters that are shared between the code pages. , none of the Fixedsys fonts have been updated to support the Euro sign
.
Though Fixedsys is a sans-serif font, it is vaguely similar in appearance to the hardware text mode font of most IBM-compatible
PC
s (though not as similar as certain sizes of Windows' Terminal font).
In Windows 95
, 98
, and Windows Me
, Fixedsys also remained as the default font for Notepad. This font was superseded by Lucida Console in Notepad for later versions of Windows. In Windows 95
, this default font cannot be changed. Fixedsys of other code pages can be selected by specifying script settings in font selection dialogue, but not font of all code pages can be chosen.
Due to its clean style and easy readability, it has enjoyed some popularity with the programming community, even giving rise to an imitation font - Fixedsys Excelsior
- which, based on the original Fixedsys typeface, also includes a large number of Unicode
script ranges.
There is a certain amount of resemblance between Fixedsys and Chicago
, the Apple Macintosh's default system typeface. The key difference was that Chicago was a proportional typeface while Fixedsys was monospaced.
Glyph
A glyph is an element of writing: an individual mark on a written medium that contributes to the meaning of what is written. A glyph is made up of one or more graphemes....
s are monospace or fixed-width (although bolded characters are wider than non-bolded, unlike other monospace fonts such as Courier
Courier (typeface)
Courier is a monospaced slab serif typeface designed to resemble the output from a strike-on typewriter. The typeface was designed by Howard "Bud" Kettler in 1955...
). It is the oldest font in Windows, and was the system font in Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0
Windows 1.0 is a 16-bit graphical operating environment, developed by Microsoft and released on 20 November 1985. It was Microsoft's first attempt to implement a multi-tasking graphical user interface-based operating environment on the PC platform. Windows 1.0 was the first version of Windows...
and 2.0
Windows 2.0
Windows 2.0 is a 16-bit Microsoft Windows GUI-based operating environment that was released on December 9, 1987 and is the successor to Windows 1.0. With Windows 2.1x in 1988, Windows 2.0 was supplemented by Windows/286 and Windows/386...
, where it was simply named "System". For Windows 3.x
Windows 3.1x
Windows 3.1x is a series of 16-bit operating systems produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers. The series began with Windows 3.1, which was first sold during March 1992 as a successor to Windows 3.0...
, the system font was changed to a proportional sans-serif
Sans-serif
In typography, a sans-serif, sans serif or san serif typeface is one that does not have the small projecting features called "serifs" at the end of strokes. The term comes from the French word sans, meaning "without"....
font named System
System (typeface)
System is a family of proportional raster fonts distributed with Microsoft Windows. The font family contains fonts encoded in several Windows code pages, with multiple resolutions of the font for each code page. Fonts of different code pages have different point sizes...
, but Fixedsys remained the default font in Notepad.
Fixedsys fonts family contains fonts encoded in several Windows code page
Windows code page
Windows code pages are sets of characters or code pages used in Microsoft Windows from the 1980s and 1990s...
s, with multiple resolutions of the font for each code page. Fixedsys fonts of different code pages have different point sizes.
The glyphs for the upper areas of each one appear to be drawn separately, not taken from a single master set, as there are visible differences in the appearance of various characters that are shared between the code pages. , none of the Fixedsys fonts have been updated to support the Euro sign
Euro sign
The euro sign is the currency sign used for the euro, the official currency of the Eurozone in the European Union . The design was presented to the public by the European Commission on 12 December 1996. The international three-letter code for the euro is EUR...
.
Though Fixedsys is a sans-serif font, it is vaguely similar in appearance to the hardware text mode font of most IBM-compatible
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
s (though not as similar as certain sizes of Windows' Terminal font).
In Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
, 98
Windows 98
Windows 98 is a graphical operating system by Microsoft. It is the second major release in the Windows 9x line of operating systems. It was released to manufacturing on 15 May 1998 and to retail on 25 June 1998. Windows 98 is the successor to Windows 95. Like its predecessor, it is a hybrid...
, and Windows Me
Windows Me
Windows Millennium Edition, or Windows Me , is a graphical operating system released on September 14, 2000 by Microsoft, and was the last operating system released in the Windows 9x series. Support for Windows Me ended on July 11, 2006....
, Fixedsys also remained as the default font for Notepad. This font was superseded by Lucida Console in Notepad for later versions of Windows. In Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
, this default font cannot be changed. Fixedsys of other code pages can be selected by specifying script settings in font selection dialogue, but not font of all code pages can be chosen.
Due to its clean style and easy readability, it has enjoyed some popularity with the programming community, even giving rise to an imitation font - Fixedsys Excelsior
Fixedsys Excelsior
Fixedsys Excelsior is an unofficial pan-Unicode extension of the popular Microsoft font Fixedsys. The current version, last updated in 2007, is 3.01....
- which, based on the original Fixedsys typeface, also includes a large number of Unicode
Unicode
Unicode is a computing industry standard for the consistent encoding, representation and handling of text expressed in most of the world's writing systems...
script ranges.
There is a certain amount of resemblance between Fixedsys and Chicago
Chicago (typeface)
Chicago is a sans-serif typeface designed by Susan Kare for Apple Computer. It was used in the Macintosh operating system user interface between 1984 and 1997 and was an important part of Apple’s brand identity. It is also used in early versions of the iPod user interface...
, the Apple Macintosh's default system typeface. The key difference was that Chicago was a proportional typeface while Fixedsys was monospaced.
Example
- The following is the lorem ipsumLorem ipsumIn publishing and graphic design, lorem ipsum[p] is placeholder text commonly used to demonstrate the graphics elements of a document or visual presentation, such as font, typography, and layout...
as it appears written in Fixedsys.
See also
- System (typeface)System (typeface)System is a family of proportional raster fonts distributed with Microsoft Windows. The font family contains fonts encoded in several Windows code pages, with multiple resolutions of the font for each code page. Fonts of different code pages have different point sizes...
- Terminal (typeface)
- MS Sans SerifMS Sans SerifMS Sans Serif is a proportional raster font introduced in Windows 1.x as "Helv". It changed to its current name starting with Windows 3.1. It is the default system font on Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 98, and Windows ME. It shares spots with typefaces like Terminal, Fixedsys,...
- Fixedsys ExcelsiorFixedsys ExcelsiorFixedsys Excelsior is an unofficial pan-Unicode extension of the popular Microsoft font Fixedsys. The current version, last updated in 2007, is 3.01....
External links
- Fixedsys in a TrueTypeTrueTypeTrueType is an outline font standard originally developed by Apple Computer in the late 1980s as a competitor to Adobe's Type 1 fonts used in PostScript...
version under GNU General Public LicenseGNU General Public LicenseThe GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....