This browser does not support basic Web standards, preventing the display of our site's intended design. May we suggest that you upgrade your browser?

Adobe Dreamweaver CS3

Specifying Fonts

Making changes in the HTML code to the Font tag allows you to specify alternate fonts. In doing this, you increase the possibility that a browser will display your page as intended. For example, not all browsers will be able to view your chosen font, so you are allowed to list several fonts in order of preference. The browser will then select the first one it is able to view correctly.

return to topFont Specification Examples

In the first example shown here, if the browser cannot display Times New Roman, it will try to display a font in the Times family. If that fails, the browser will display its default font of the serif type.

Serif Example Result
<font face="Times New Roman, Times, serif">Eau Claire</font> Times New Roman example
San Serif Examples Results
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Eau Claire</font> Arial example
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Eau Claire</font> Verdana example
<font face="Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, san-serif">Eau Claire</font> Geneva example
Cursive Example Result
<font face="Brush Script MT, Mistral, cursive">Eau Claire</font>  Brush Script MT example
Fantasy Example Result
<font face="Algerian, Western, fantasy">Eau Claire</font>  Algerian example

return to topSpecifying Fonts

Making changes in the HTML code to the Font tag allows you to specify alternate fonts, increasing the possibility that a browser will display your page as intended.

Specifying Fonts: Menu Option

  1. Select the text to modify
    NOTE: If no text is selected, the change applies to subsequent text you type.

  2. From the Text menu, select Font » desired font combination
    Your font choice is applied.

Specifying Fonts: Font Properties Pane

  1. Select the text to modify

  2. In the Text Properties pane, from the Font pull-down list, select a font combination
    Your font choice is applied.

Specifying Fonts: Code View

  1. Select the text to modify

  2. On the Document toolbar, click SHOW CODE VIEWShow code view buttonor SHOW CODE AND DESIGN VIEWSShow code and design views button
    Your text is selected in the HTML code.

  3. Within the font face tag, specify additional fonts in order of priority
    In the example shown here, three font selections have been specified. Arial is the first selection; if that cannot be displayed, Helvetica is the second choice; otherwise, a font of the sans-serif type will be displayed.
    Example fonts specified in HTML

This is what the above HTML will produce:
Specified font applied

return to topEditing the Font List

Font combinations determine how a browser displays text in your web page. A browser displays the first font in the list that is installed on the user’s system; if no font in the list is installed, the browser displays the text according to the user’s browser preferences.

Editing the Font List: Modifying Font Combinations

  1. From the Text menu, select Font » Edit Font List...
    The Edit Font List dialog box appears.
    Edit Font List dialog box

  2. From the Font list scroll box, select the font combination you want to modify
    The fonts which make up this combination appear in the Chosen fonts scroll box.

  3. To remove a font from the combination,
    1. From the Chosen fonts scroll box, select the font

    2. Click REMOVERemove button
      The font is removed from the combination.

  4. To add a font to the combination,
    1. From the Available fonts scroll box, select the font

    2. Click ADDAdd button
      The font is added to the combination.

  5. To move a font combination up or down in the Font list
    1. Select the font combination

    2. Click MOVE UP or MOVE DOWNMove UP, Move Down arrows

  6. Click OK

Editing the Font List: Adding New Font Combinations

  1. From the Text menu, select Font » Edit Font List...
    The Edit Font List dialog box appears.

  2. To create a new font combination, click INSERTInsert button

  3. From the Available fonts scroll box, select a font

  4. Click ADDAdd button
    The font appears in the Chosen fonts scroll box.

  5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until you have the font combination
    NOTE: It is a good idea to include a generic font family in the combination (appropriate to your other font choices) in case a browser does not recognize your specified fonts. Serif and sans-serif, as well as other generic font choices, appear at the end of the Available fonts list.

  6. Click OK
    Your new font combination is added to the Font list.

Editing the Font List: Deleting Font Combinations

  1. From the Text menu, select Font » Edit Font List...
    The Edit Font List dialog box appears.

  2. From the Font list, select a font combination

  3. Click DELETEDelete button
    The font combination is removed from the Font list.

  4. Click OK

Excellence. Our Measure. Our Motto. Our Goal.