Configure Embedded Fonts for PDF Reports

When a PDF report opens in Adobe Reader, all the fonts used in that report must be available. Fonts must be either embedded in the report or installed on the user's computer. If a font is not available in either of these locations, Adobe Reader tries to substitute an appropriate font. This substitution may cause changes in the presentation of the report or some characters may not be displayed.

To ensure that PDF reports appear correctly in Adobe Reader, IBM® Cognos® Analytics embeds required fonts in reports by default. To minimize the file size, IBM Cognos Analytics embeds only the characters (also called glyphs) used in the report rather than all characters in the font set. IBM Cognos Analytics embeds fonts only if they are licensed for embedding. The license information is stored in the font itself and is read by IBM Cognos Analytics.

If you are confident that the fonts used in reports are available on users' computers, you can limit or eliminate embedded fonts to reduce the size of PDF reports. When limiting fonts, you specify whether a font is always or never embedded, using an embedded fonts list in IBM Cognos Configuration.

Procedure

  1. On the Content Manager computer, start IBM Cognos Configuration.
  2. In the Explorer window, click Environment.
  3. In the Properties window, under Font Settings, click the value for Fonts to embed (Batch report service) or Fonts to embed (Report service), and then click the edit icon Actions icon.
  4. If you are not using the default fonts directory or if you want to add a path to an additional directory, in the Fonts to Embed in PDF Reports dialog box, specify the new path in the font paths box.

    Tip: Click Search Now to get a list of the available fonts in the specified path or paths.

  5. For a font that will always be available on users' computers, scroll to the font name, and click the Never check box.

    IBM Cognos Analytics does not embed the font with any reports. Adobe Reader picks up the font from the user's computer when the report is opened.

  6. For a font that may not always be available on the users' computers, scroll to the font name and click the Always check box.

    IBM Cognos Analytics embeds the font with all reports that use it. Adobe Reader uses the embedded font when the report is opened.

  7. Click OK.