Distributing MDE which needs Arial Unicode MS Font

[LisaConsult]

I am distributing an application as an MDE which uses the 'Arial Unicode MS'
font for various currency symbols (Korean Won, etc). Can I distribute the
font as well or how can I assure that the user can see the symbols in their
reports?

 

[Rick Brandt]

I am distributing an application as an MDE which uses the 'Arial
Unicode MS' font for various currency symbols (Korean Won, etc). Can
I distribute the font as well or how can I assure that the user can
see the symbols in their reports?

I don't believe any Microsoft fonts are distributable even though they have
no cost. If your users don't already have them they would need to get them
from Microsoft directly.

 

[LisaConsult]

So based on what you say, I will have a support issue if I distribute this
application. User's are going to need to have the font installed on their
machine in some other way outside of my installation. That seems
unacceptable in a business environment. However, if that's my only option,
then is there a public link that I can direct them to the place where they
can download and install the Arial Unicode MS font. Do I have any other
alternatives? The font is simply used because Arial cannot handle foreign
currency symbols such as the Korean Won. Yet the application is distributed
to 100 users across various organizations. Any suggestions?

 

[Rick Brandt]

So based on what you say, I will have a support issue if I distribute
this application. User's are going to need to have the font installed
on their machine in some other way outside of my installation. That
seems unacceptable in a business environment. However, if that's my
only option, then is there a public link that I can direct them to
the place where they can download and install the Arial Unicode MS
font. Do I have any other alternatives? The font is simply used
because Arial cannot handle foreign currency symbols such as the
Korean Won. Yet the application is distributed to 100 users across
various organizations. Any suggestions?

Obtain a font (free or otherwise) which will work and which you WILL be
authorized to distribute. Sometimes being a developer means you have to buy
stuff. This might be one of those occasions.

Are you certain that your users won't already have this font? How did you
acquire it? If it comes with Windows or Office there's a good chance they
will have it.

 

[LisaConsult]

I have no problem purchasing a font that I can distribute with the install.
That is the type of information I'm looking for. Font issues are new
territory for me. I read that even if you buy a font it may not guarantee
that it wasn't based off another font that is illegal to distribute, so I
felt that I needed guidance to know how to do this properly and legally. Do
you have any suggestions of next steps?

I do know that some locations have the font, they just didn't install it
with Office. However, to ask their IT departments to install the font is
frowned upon. We do have a few companies which don't use Office, and the
users I've checked with don't have the font currently installed. Thanks.

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

Do you *have* to use the currency symbols, or could you get away with using
the ISO codes, e.g. EUR for Euro, USD for US Dollar, etc?

It would take some extra work, but it is probably possible to use the symbol
if the font is installed, or the ISO codes if it is not.

 

[LisaConsult]

Due to space constraints on the reports and client requirements, I must use
the symbols. Can anyone tell me how I can go about getting the fonts? Thanks.