Deploying fonts across your organization using SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager) ensures consistency and simplifies management. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough, addressing common challenges and best practices. We'll cover various methods, from simple deployments to more complex scenarios requiring specific user or system font locations.
Why Deploy Fonts with SCCM?
Manually installing fonts on numerous machines is time-consuming and error-prone. SCCM automates this process, ensuring all targeted devices receive the same fonts, maintaining a uniform look and feel across your organization's applications and documents. This is particularly important for:
- Brand consistency: Maintain a consistent brand image across all documents and applications.
- Application compatibility: Ensure applications function correctly by providing necessary fonts.
- Simplified management: Easily manage and update fonts across your entire network from a central location.
- Reduced support requests: Minimize user-related issues stemming from missing or incorrect fonts.
Methods for Deploying Fonts with SCCM
Several methods exist for deploying fonts via SCCM, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Method 1: Using a Package and Program
This is the simplest method for deploying fonts.
- Create a package: In the SCCM console, create a new package. Specify a relevant name (e.g., "Font Deployment - Arial Narrow").
- Add the font files: Add the
.ttfor.otffont files to the package source directory. Ensure you have the correct licensing rights for all fonts. - Create a program: Create a program within the package. The program will execute the necessary commands to install the fonts. The command line will depend on your operating system. For Windows, you'll typically use
rundll32.exe user32.dll, UpdatePerUserSystemParameters 1, 2. You might need to add parameters for the font file path. Crucially, test this command thoroughly in a test environment before deploying to your production environment. - Deploy the package: Deploy the package to the target collection of computers. Configure deployment settings as needed, including scheduling and notifications.
Caveats: This method might require administrative privileges on the target machines. It also installs the fonts system-wide, meaning all users share them.
Method 2: Using a Script (More Control and Flexibility)
Using a script (e.g., PowerShell) provides greater control and flexibility. You can customize the installation location (user or system), handle errors more gracefully, and potentially automate other tasks.
A PowerShell script might look like this (adapt paths as necessary):
# Set the font file path
$fontFilePath = "C:\Fonts\arialnarrow.ttf"
# Install the font for all users
Add-Type -AssemblyName System.Windows.Forms
$font = [System.Drawing.FontFamily]::new((Get-Item $fontFilePath).Name)
$font.Install()
# Optional: Log the installation success or failure
"Font '$($font.Name)' installed successfully." | Out-File -FilePath "C:\FontInstallationLog.txt" -Append
This script installs the font for all users. To install it only for the current user, use a different approach. Remember to test this script thoroughly before deploying it through SCCM.
- Create a package: As in Method 1.
- Add the script: Add the PowerShell script to the package source directory.
- Create a program: Create a program that executes the script. Specify the interpreter as
powershell.exeand the script path. - Deploy the package: As in Method 1.
Method 3: Using an MSI Package (for Advanced Control)
For the most advanced control, consider creating an MSI package. This allows for more sophisticated installation logic, including error handling, dependencies, and rollback capabilities. While more complex to create initially, MSI packages offer superior management and reliability. Tools like Advanced Installer can assist in building these packages.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
- Access denied errors: Ensure the SCCM account has sufficient permissions to install fonts on the target machines.
- Font installation failures: Carefully review the script or program log files for error messages.
- Font not appearing: Check the font location (system or user) and verify the font is correctly installed using Font settings.
- Licensing issues: Ensure you have the correct licensing rights for all fonts you deploy.
H2: What are the best practices for font deployment with SCCM?
Prioritize thorough testing in a pilot environment before deploying to production. Document the steps taken, including font paths, scripts, and SCCM settings. Regularly review deployed fonts to ensure they're still necessary and up-to-date, removing obsolete ones to reduce disk space consumption.
H2: How do I ensure only authorized users can access specific fonts?
While SCCM doesn't directly manage user-level font access restrictions, you can control access to applications that utilize those fonts. If an application needs a specific font, limiting access to the application effectively limits access to the font. Additionally, robust user account management and access control lists (ACLs) are crucial in restricting access to sensitive documents that use specific fonts.
H2: Can I deploy fonts to specific user profiles instead of the entire system?
Yes, using PowerShell scripts offers the capability to target user profiles. The code example above can be modified to install the font in the user's profile directory instead of the system-wide font location. This requires adjusting the script to write to the appropriate user-specific font directory (%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts). However, careful consideration should be given to the implications of deploying fonts to user profiles, as this can potentially lead to inconsistencies and increased support tickets.
By following these methods and best practices, you can effectively and efficiently deploy fonts using SCCM, ensuring consistency and simplifying management across your organization. Remember to always test thoroughly before a large-scale deployment.
