The user shouldn't have any trouble viewing the special font you use in published format. The issue would be if you sent the user your file to edit or work with and they didn't have the font installed on their machine.
Also, if you import a PowerPoint into Storyline, you should keep this in mind.
This is an important issue. I had produced a articulate storyline e-Learning module and in the testing phase the font I used never was embedded or appeared. The original font was substituted by a serif font like Times ( a standard font that comes with all OS). I'm using a special designed font for a company and it is part of their brand image So my question is did i miss something when publishing?
2nd Phil's comments. I have used dozens of non "web safe" fonts and never ran into problems except with variables - which was a huge issue since I wanted to create a signature from a variable using a handwriting font. No dice.
My mistake I forgotto mention that the problen was with variables. Yes there is a variable in the text that does not embed the fonts. I will be waiting for the update for this.
Ok so i just came across this as a problem in my course - so it appears that this requested functionality never was implemented. Do I have to submit a feature request also?
I'd suggest sharing your thoughts in a feature request as well, and the fonts should work in the Flash version as described here unless it's not a font available on that device and then Storyline will fall back on default device fonts.
Hi - we've never had a problem with this before but a client just showed me what some of our slides looked like when the Published course was uploaded into their Skillsoft and the fonts are ALL messed up - Arial has replaced all of the handwritten and more "fun" fonts we used. I've never seen this happen in our LMS or any other clients' so I'm confused and wondering if the problem is on our end or theirs.
To be clear, Storyline DOES/SHOULD embed fonts in published courses?
Phil is correct and beat me too it. If you're using text entry and variable references, and those fonts don't exist on the users set up, than you will see system/default fonts instead.
Another way to overcome the font issue would be if you are putting together a special 'type package' then you could design this in illustrator, export as a png or jpeg and add as picture into storyline. It would retain the font as it is now a picture, but if you needed to go back and edit at any stage, would have to go back to the illustrator file to amend, as would be non editable. As a graphic designer, I have used this practice to put together more visually appealing powerpoints.
Thanks Suzie for sharing that idea here - that won't work for the text entry/variable references though, as that is what the user has entered and being updated based on that.
Just ran into the same issue that 'embedded' fonts does not work with variables. This issue should not be treated as a feature request but as an error.
It is a <><><><><> that this issue is not fixed after 3 years!
I've run into the same thing. My embedded specialty fonts work except with my variables. It is ruining the whole theme of my course. What is the timeline on getting this fixed?
The fonts within a variable reference or text entry can't be embedded as it's dependent on the users system to have those fonts installed and if they don't it'll default to system fonts. This is documented here as a known set up, by design.
I've been blind-sighted by this issue as well. Seemingly randomly the fonts are not being embedded, but yes it seems that wherever I'm using variables there is an issue. Very disappointing. I think there at least needs to be a warning message in Storyline that fonts need to be verified on other machines.
Adding support for web fonts would be totally awesome. I don't know if I can trust anything other than system fonts now :(
Sorry to hear this issue tripped you up as well. You'll see that the font will default to a system font, so you may want to look at setting them up to use some standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Open Sans, etc.
I'm running into the same problem but I'm not familiar with the variables "workaround"?
My thoughts, along with other designers above, is that the Articulate coding developers MUST figure out how to make fonts embedded as part of standard use or at least as an option override as done in MS Word or PPT. This should at least be done for common use such as titles, basic on-screen text placeholders, Notes, and any added text placeholder, shapes, etc. Use for embedded text with buttons, check boxes, input fields would be a wish list item for me.
As an independent contractor, I'm not the one to publish and upload to an LMS. So, that is a scenario being missed by Articulate's tool developers. For me, publishing has always been handled by the client's L&D team.
For now my "workaround" to ensuring the published module is accurate with the proper fonts, for both publishing AND SME reviews, is going to need to be sharing all font files used within the module with the client. My only hope is that the SMEs and client 1) don't have any IT restrictions to individuals uploading font files to their machines so they can publish/review and 2) no font licensing issues are being broken.
I will be submitting a feature request for embedded font use for common text areas.
Fonts are not embedded as a part of a text entry or variable reference. If you included that font as a part of the slide itself in a stand alone text box - the text would appear as such. Hope that helps clarify.
91 Replies
Depends if you are referring to editing or publishing
On publish the font should be embedded so all see the font you designated.
If you are sharing the .story file then fonts are not embedded
Hi Ted!
The user shouldn't have any trouble viewing the special font you use in published format. The issue would be if you sent the user your file to edit or work with and they didn't have the font installed on their machine.
Also, if you import a PowerPoint into Storyline, you should keep this in mind.
Great that should work!
This is an important issue. I had produced a articulate storyline e-Learning module and in the testing phase the font I used never was embedded or appeared. The original font was substituted by a serif font like Times ( a standard font that comes with all OS). I'm using a special designed font for a company and it is part of their brand image So my question is did i miss something when publishing?
Fonts are not embedded for variables, it will only use the correct font if it is installed on that users machine.
It may help if you can choose a web friendly font, hopefully this is fixed at some point
2nd Phil's comments. I have used dozens of non "web safe" fonts and never ran into problems except with variables - which was a huge issue since I wanted to create a signature from a variable using a handwriting font. No dice.
Thanks for the input.
My mistake I forgotto mention that the problen was with variables. Yes there is a variable in the text that does not embed the fonts. I will be waiting for the update for this.
Thanks for the discussion, guys. Please take a moment to let our development team know that embedded variable fonts are important to you. Thanks!
I have just done this, TBH this is a basic feature, should be automatic
Ok so i just came across this as a problem in my course - so it appears that this requested functionality never was implemented. Do I have to submit a feature request also?
Hi James,
I'd suggest sharing your thoughts in a feature request as well, and the fonts should work in the Flash version as described here unless it's not a font available on that device and then Storyline will fall back on default device fonts.
Hi - we've never had a problem with this before but a client just showed me what some of our slides looked like when the Published course was uploaded into their Skillsoft and the fonts are ALL messed up - Arial has replaced all of the handwritten and more "fun" fonts we used. I've never seen this happen in our LMS or any other clients' so I'm confused and wondering if the problem is on our end or theirs.
To be clear, Storyline DOES/SHOULD embed fonts in published courses?
All fonts would be embedded except for the references, in references if this is not available on the users machine it will be substituted
Hi Ashley,
Phil is correct and beat me too it. If you're using text entry and variable references, and those fonts don't exist on the users set up, than you will see system/default fonts instead.
Another way to overcome the font issue would be if you are putting together a special 'type package' then you could design this in illustrator, export as a png or jpeg and add as picture into storyline. It would retain the font as it is now a picture, but if you needed to go back and edit at any stage, would have to go back to the illustrator file to amend, as would be non editable. As a graphic designer, I have used this practice to put together more visually appealing powerpoints.
Thanks Suzie for sharing that idea here - that won't work for the text entry/variable references though, as that is what the user has entered and being updated based on that.
Just ran into the same issue that 'embedded' fonts does not work with variables. This issue should not be treated as a feature request but as an error.
It is a <><><><><> that this issue is not fixed after 3 years!
I've run into the same thing. My embedded specialty fonts work except with my variables. It is ruining the whole theme of my course. What is the timeline on getting this fixed?
Hi Jesi,
The fonts within a variable reference or text entry can't be embedded as it's dependent on the users system to have those fonts installed and if they don't it'll default to system fonts. This is documented here as a known set up, by design.
Perhaps Webfonts are a solution?
I've been blind-sighted by this issue as well. Seemingly randomly the fonts are not being embedded, but yes it seems that wherever I'm using variables there is an issue. Very disappointing. I think there at least needs to be a warning message in Storyline that fonts need to be verified on other machines.
Adding support for web fonts would be totally awesome. I don't know if I can trust anything other than system fonts now :(
Hi Chris,
Sorry to hear this issue tripped you up as well. You'll see that the font will default to a system font, so you may want to look at setting them up to use some standard fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, Open Sans, etc.
Also you're welcome to share your thoughts on this set up here by submitting a feature request.
I'm running into the same problem but I'm not familiar with the variables "workaround"?
My thoughts, along with other designers above, is that the Articulate coding developers MUST figure out how to make fonts embedded as part of standard use or at least as an option override as done in MS Word or PPT. This should at least be done for common use such as titles, basic on-screen text placeholders, Notes, and any added text placeholder, shapes, etc. Use for embedded text with buttons, check boxes, input fields would be a wish list item for me.
As an independent contractor, I'm not the one to publish and upload to an LMS. So, that is a scenario being missed by Articulate's tool developers. For me, publishing has always been handled by the client's L&D team.
For now my "workaround" to ensuring the published module is accurate with the proper fonts, for both publishing AND SME reviews, is going to need to be sharing all font files used within the module with the client. My only hope is that the SMEs and client 1) don't have any IT restrictions to individuals uploading font files to their machines so they can publish/review and 2) no font licensing issues are being broken.
I will be submitting a feature request for embedded font use for common text areas.
OK I understand now :-)
But what can I do if I need a special font for a password input (like: ● ● ●)?
Thanks,
Alain
(Yesterday, I built a special font for this purpose with http://fontstruct.com/ but for nothing when my story was published)
Hi Alain,
Fonts are not embedded as a part of a text entry or variable reference. If you included that font as a part of the slide itself in a stand alone text box - the text would appear as such. Hope that helps clarify.