Allow bitmap fonts
Bitmap fonts can easily be created and customized for different sizes, so they can look nicer. Please allow bitmap fonts to be used.
All Replies (7)
I don't know if this is something the support forum can help with...
Can you give an example of a bitmap font that you are using (if not in Firefox, in Edge, Chrome, or another browser)?
Firefox prefers outline fonts, and for web fonts, the WOFF format.
My favorite font is Custom Font: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x9rpnk33qeurk65/customfont.fon?dl=0
This issue does not seem to occur in Windows XP, but occurs in Windows 10.
PiotrGrochowski said
This issue does not seem to occur in Windows XP, but occurs in Windows 10.
The latest versions of Firefox incorporate a sandbox that limits the ability of web pages to use local files, and that may be affecting your bitmap fonts. The issues has been noted most on Mac (Firefox 56) and Linux (Firefox 57) where text may be rendered as meaningless boxes or be completely blank.
(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Return. Click the button accepting the risk.
(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste sand and pause while the list is filtered
(3) Double-click the security.sandbox.content.level preference and change the value as desired:
- Firefox 50-55 on Windows: 1
- Firefox 56+ on Windows: 3
Then click OK. That change won't take effect until the next time you quit and restart Firefox.
Does that make the difference?
What I don't know is whether the bitmap font file extension/file type is purposely excluded from the sandbox, or whether it was an oversight. I think on Mac there is going to be a change to allow Adobe Type 1 and Suitcase fonts. No idea about Windows or Linux.
Do you want to file a bug asking for support for some additional font types in the sandbox?
Version on both XP and 10: 52.5.0 32-bit ESR
The security.sandbox.content.level preference is 1 on both.
XP look - https://i.imgur.com/QFdQ1Zb.png 10 look - https://i.imgur.com/RY7Ou9I.png
As you can see, the XP system uses the Custom Font I wanted, while 10 uses Consolas. The GUI uses Arial as substitute. The same results are in Chrome, except that the substitute for GUI is last installed font for some reason.
Okay, I guess it's some other change, or maybe an add-on that allowed Firefox to use .fon files stopped working.