Dynamic custom fonts loader in iOS

Question

i already know how to load a custom font to my project in iPhone App from here I want to ask if there is a way to do this from code? My problem is that I have a resource folder in my app, i have a font file name, lets call it "myfont.ttf".

I want to grab a ttf file and put it to plist file from code, and what's more i want to know the display name for fontWithName:size: method. There is a way to achieve this?

score 14 · Answer 1 · edited Jul 09 '15 at 06:03

14

This is an older question but here is a way to do this anyway in case someone else comes across this.


+ (void)loadFontAtPath:(NSString*)path{
    NSData *data = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] contentsAtPath:path];
    if(data == nil){
        NSLog(@"Failed to load font. Data at path is null");
        return;
    }
    CFErrorRef error;
    CGDataProviderRef provider = CGDataProviderCreateWithCFData((CFDataRef)data);
    CGFontRef font = CGFontCreateWithDataProvider(provider);
    if(!CTFontManagerRegisterGraphicsFont(font, &error)){
        CFStringRef errorDescription = CFErrorCopyDescription(error);
        NSLog(@"Failed to load font: %@", errorDescription);
        CFRelease(errorDescription);
    }
    CFRelease(font);
    CFRelease(provider);
}

This will load the font at the path specified at runtime then you can use it in the same way as normal without adding it to the plist.

edited Jul 09 '15 at 06:03

cnotethegr8

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answered Jan 28 '13 at 04:21

pixelrevision

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This worked, it applied font to Label, but it did not registerd. – Durgaprasad May 04 '13 at 05:24
@pixelrevision whether CTFontManagerRegisterGraphicsFont will register the font permanently to the device – vignesh kumar May 24 '13 at 08:39
CGFontRef font = CGFontCreateWithDataProvider(provider); application hangs on this line for forever. (iOS 10.2) – dev gr Jan 04 '17 at 11:31
1

Found solution at Found the solution at http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24900979/cgfontcreatewithdataprovider-hangs-in-airplane-mode – dev gr Jan 04 '17 at 11:43

score 4 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:30

Yes you can. But you've to work a lot with CoreText and/or CoreGraphics.

There's a nice class from Zynga that could help you in doing this: https://github.com/zynga/FontLabel

The example project shows how to load .ttf files from the bundle without using the .plist and use these fonts inside the application.

The code is valid and is a good point from start.

Edit: The previous approach uses CoreGraphics, that is good, but use Core Text is much better. I found an interesting answer to this question: How can you load a font (TTF) from a file using Core Text?

If you don't have experience with CoreText framework, please read the official introduction inside the Apple documentation.

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 10 '17 at 11:33

IF you are downloading a TTF file then you can do following to register your custom fonts with iOS Font Manager, this piece of code also takes care of TTF file updates (font updates):

    +(void)registerFontsAtPath:(NSString *)ttfFilePath
    {
        NSFileManager * fileManager = [NSFileManager defaultManager];

        if ([fileManager fileExistsAtPath:ttfFilePath] == YES)
        {
            [UIFont familyNames];//This is here for a bug where font registration API hangs for forever.

            //In case of TTF file update : Fonts are already registered, first de-register them from Font Manager
            CFErrorRef cfDe_RegisterError;
           bool fontsDeregistered = CTFontManagerUnregisterFontsForURL((__bridge CFURLRef)[NSURL fileURLWithPath:ttfFilePath], kCTFontManagerScopeNone, &cfDe_RegisterError);


            //finally register the fonts with Font Manager,
            CFErrorRef cfRegisterError;
            bool fontsRegistered= CTFontManagerRegisterFontsForURL((__bridge CFURLRef)[NSURL fileURLWithPath:ttfFilePath], kCTFontManagerScopeNone, &cfRegisterError);
         }
     }

You can check for booleans and errors for registration and de-registration status.

Dynamic custom fonts loader in iOS

3 Answers3

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