Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 21, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016
In older versions of Word (much older, as in Word for Windows 2), there was a feature that allowed you to quickly print a list of fonts on your system. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. You can, however, rather easily create a macro that can put such a list together for you:
Sub ListFontNames() Dim J As Integer Dim NewDoc As Document ' Create a new document Set NewDoc = Documents.Add ' Add font names to document For J = 1 To FontNames.Count Selection.TypeText (FontNames(J)) Selection.TypeParagraph Next J End Sub
The macro creates a new document and then simply steps through the FontNames collection and adds each of the names to the document. The speed at which the macro works depends on how many fonts you have installed on your system.
If you want something a bit more elaborate, you could use the following macro. It creates a document, but then puts all the font names into a table. In the second column of the table, it provides a formatted sample of the font.
Sub FontExamples() Dim J As Integer Dim F As Integer Dim sTemp As String Dim sTest As String Dim Continue As Integer Dim rng As Range Dim FontTable As Table Dim NewDoc As Document ' Specify the sample text for second column sTest = "ABCDEFG abcdefg 1234567890" ' Check to see if the user wants to proceed F = FontNames.Count sTemp = "There are " & F & " fonts on this system." sTemp = sTemp & "Building the document may take quite a while." sTemp = sTemp & "Do you want to continue?" Continue = MsgBox(sTemp, vbYesNo, "Build Font List") If Continue = vbYes Then ' Put together a string that contains the table contents sTemp = "Font Name" & vbTab & "Font Example" For J = 1 To F sTemp = sTemp & vbCr & FontNames(J) & vbTab & sTest Next J ' Create a new document Set NewDoc = Documents.Add ' Add string contents and convert to table Set rng = Selection.Range rng.Text = sTemp Set FontTable = rng.ConvertToTable(Separator:=vbTab, _ AutoFitBehavior:=wdAutoFitFixed) ' Set general table properties With FontTable .Borders.Enable = False .Range.Font.Name = "Arial" .Range.Font.Size = 10 .Rows(1).Range.Font.Bold = True .Rows(1).Range.Font.Size = 12 End With ' Go through the sample cells and format them For J = 1 To F FontTable.Cell(J + 1, 2).Range.Font.Name = FontNames(J) Next J ' Sort the table FontTable.Sort SortOrder:=wdSortOrderAscending End If End Sub
This macro does quite a bit more than the previous one. The table itself is created rather quickly, but it can take a great deal of time to step through each of the sample cells and format it using the appropriate font. This is why the macro lets you know how many fonts are on your system before proceeding.
Regardless of which macro you choose to use, you end up with a complete font list for your system. You can then print it out and keep it handy when you are working with Word.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (4358) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Printing a Font List.
Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!
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2022-03-13 09:18:13
Michael
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
2019-09-22 00:17:42
Eduardo Pinto
You are great, I mean it. Thanks for your work, I really appreciate it. When I get some money I will subscribe or buy one of your packages.
2019-09-16 19:24:51
Julia
This is the best thing ever!! I was about to make a list of fonts and format the font names with the font itself! You saved me so much work! I'm very visual so I NEED to see my font in action before I can choose to use it.
2019-08-20 01:43:35
Erik
Hi Allen,
Thank you for this :) This really helped a lot with my work.
Br,
Erik
2017-09-13 11:26:45
Allen
Jackie,
At the right side of this page (well, at the right side of ANY page) is a link that says "WordTips FAQ." Click on that link and you'll see a series of common questions and answers. One of those questions is "How Can I Use the Macros In WordTips?" The answer may be helpful in regard to your question here.
-Allen
2017-09-13 10:29:49
Jackie Oliveira
Hi Allen - When you give an example for a macro such as create a Font List, if you're not familiar with making macros how do you input your instructions? I guess you just don't copy and paste, that step by step information needs to be input but I can never make your macros work. Any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you.
Jackie Oliveira
2017-09-10 13:24:27
Ted Duke
I have been a long-time user of the app Printer's Apprentice from http://www.loseyourmind.com/default.aspx --- I am just a customer, not affiliated with that site. I have a large collection of fonts from various web sites in addition to the increasing number of fonts that Microsoft Word brings every year.
2017-09-09 12:55:05
Mitchell Sackson
Many moons ago, I had a routine that sorted the fonts into 'same' or 'similar' fonts so that one could remove the excess ones. Do you know of such a routine that works on Windows 10?
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