It's about darn time!

There has been a "bug" in Windows since at least Windows 2000, and it has bothered me for years. As a Windows Vista beta tester with my company, I had more direct contact with Microsoft employees so I was sure to run this one up the flagpole, but unfortunately it did not get resolved.

In Windows 7, however, it is finally resolved!

What is this "bug," you ask?

If you want to install fonts, especially if you want to install a lot of fonts, you have to go through the annoying pressing of the "N" key (for "no") when you're prompted, "The font is already installed. Do you want to replace it?" And your options are Yes, No and Cancel. Click Yes and the font is replaced; No and it's skipped; Cancel and the font import is ended.

I've long wanted a "No to All" option. In other words, instruct Windows to do this: "Install these fonts, except for those that are already installed." Spare me the agony of having to click "N" two hundred times!

Microsoft got closer in Windows Vista/Server 2008 with general file copying in Explorer with much better file replacement behavior, as well as error behavior. Rather than aborting a copy on error or stopping for every file replacement, you get options of how to handle replacements, merges, errors, etc. Much better, but the fonts behaved just like they did in Windows 2000!

With Windows 7, this is no more. Go to the folder containing the fonts you want to install. Select them all, right-click and choose Install. You'll get the familiar prompt of "The font is already installed. Do you want to replace it?" The familiar buttons of Yes, No and Cancel are there too. But there's a lovely new item there...a checkbox with "Do this for all current items." Check that box and click No. Now, Windows will install all of your fonts without replacing anything you already have.

Thank you Microsoft! This one was long overdue, but I'm happy to finally have it!

~M